Comments on: Why do so many people order tomato juice when they're flying?

Question: Why do so many people order tomato juice when they're flying?

mikemonteiro — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 18:00:08 -0800

Every time I fly I notice that people order an inordinate amount of tomato juice from the sky waitress. It's out of proportion to the amount of tomato juice I see people drinking on the ground. What gives?

By: JakeLL

JakeLL — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 18:02:43 -0800

Good question, maybe availability?

By: blue mustard

blue mustard — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 18:04:19 -0800

It's not a drink that I typically drink with meals, but it does go well with salty snacks like peanuts and pretzels.

By: JohnnyGunn

JohnnyGunn — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 18:04:25 -0800

I often order it in the sky and not on the ground. I think it is because of the alternatives. Soda is not viable for me, apple juice has too much sugar and orange juice in the sky is usually from concentrate and watered down.

Tomato juice or bloody mary mix are pretty consistent and not the alternatives. I do think you are right that statistically the amount ordered is an anomoly.

By: kcm

kcm — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 18:08:03 -0800

It's a meal in a can. There's not much ordered in FC, where the good stuff is free too (and the food is passable).

By: obiwanwasabi

obiwanwasabi — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 18:11:49 -0800

I only drink tomato juice in flight and at airport lounges, but nowhere else. Sometimes I mix it half and half with OJ, and add a shot of tabasco. Ditto with "drinking dry" ginger ale or bitter lemon - these seem to be flying-only drinks for me. Why do I crave "savoury" drinks? Why do they hand out savoury snacks like nuts, rather than sweet snacks like jelly beans? I think you've stumbled on a deep mystery.

By: kcm

kcm — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 18:21:31 -0800

Salty snacks encourage you to drink water and hydrate, which is more necessary at altitude with the dry air in the cabin.

By: MonkeySaltedNuts

MonkeySaltedNuts — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 18:25:01 -0800

Cheap bastards? At the grocery store tomato juice is like 4 times the price of soda or beer. I wish they would serve clam juice on flights.

By: LarryC

LarryC — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 18:35:37 -0800

It is to mix with the vodka in my flask. I assumed that is what everyone was doing.

By: Eater

Eater — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 18:40:36 -0800

I order bloody mary mix because, as the flight attendant approaches taking drink orders, I overhear people near me ordering it and that instills a powerful craving. By now it's probably conditioned behavior -- I don't think I've had a tomato beverage on the ground more than twice in the last ten years, but flying feels weird without it.

Also airplanes are loud, cramped, dry, and generally abusive to the body, and tomato juice tastes restorative to me.

By: bingo

bingo — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 18:58:07 -0800

I order it with vodka and make my own quasi-bloody-mary. The bloody mary mix has high fructose corn syrup in it.

By: randomstriker

randomstriker — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 19:04:51 -0800

A lot of people don't like pop because it's sweet, and these are often people who might have a beer instead. Somehow the idea of paying for a beer on the plane seems like a rip off (even though you'd pay for it on the ground), so tomato-juice is the next best non-sweet drink.

By: bigmusic

bigmusic — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 19:07:53 -0800

Another reason for ordering it is they never seem to have freaking V8 on the damn planes that I take.

By: nadawi

nadawi — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 19:16:09 -0800

I've noticed this too! My last flight I got all excited that they were serving booze only to find out that everyone just wanted bloody mary mix.

My guess would be the quality control of it like Johhny Gunn suggested.

By: dweingart

dweingart — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 19:17:14 -0800

I order it because I love tomato juice, but rarely think to buy any when I'm at the grocery store. So I guess it boils down to availability.

By: hatsix

hatsix — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 19:34:21 -0800

Could it be that you have to buy 6 at the grocery store, but you never really want more than one at a time (unless it's a red beer)...

By: theredpen

theredpen — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 19:53:14 -0800

I think it is just association -- I almost always order tomato juice, or wish that I had. It's a meal in a can, as mentioned, and I agree that you hear other people order it and remember it. There aren't usually choices like plain iced tea, which I drink when not on a plane.

Mmmm, tomato juice. I am going to see if there's any vodka left.

By: saladin

saladin — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 19:58:01 -0800

Ditto dweingart.

By: aneel

aneel — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 20:10:42 -0800

I also habitually order tomato juice or bloody mary mix on planes and practically nowhere else. One reason is that they'll usually give you only a cup of OJ or apple juice, while they'll often hand you the whole can of tomato. Another is that the salt seems to make me less likely to have to get up to go to the restroom. It definitely goes better with pretzels than soda does. And it coats the ice cubes really well, which makes crunching them after finishing the drink much more satisfying. (They don't feed me nearly enough on planes, especially these days.)

I discovered it when I was on a V8 kick. The plane didn't have that but the stewardess suggested bloody mary mix instead. I've fallen out of the V8 habit, but I still order tomato juice on planes.

Like obiwanwasabi, I also tend to order ginger ale on flights, but not much on the ground. I have no idea why.

By: hammurderer

hammurderer — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 20:12:53 -0800

I always used to wonder why people did this, and then one day I gave it a shot. Now I'm one of those crazy tomato juice guys. And I never drink it when I'm not flying. I don't even drink Bloody Marys. I have this perception that tomato juice keeps me more hydrated than water. Water seems to... uh... flow right through... whereas tomato juice has a much longer hangtime.

By: hoborg

hoborg — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 20:14:02 -0800

I've noticed the same phenomenon, except with Ginger Ale. I've always sort of attributed it to the fact that I don't usually consider buying it at the store, but when presented with the choice, it sounds pretty good. Unconventional.

I guess it could be the stomach-soothing effect of Ginger Ale, which is the exact opposite of the way Tomato Juice makes me feel.

By: Joh

Joh — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 20:18:04 -0800

I ordered it last time I flew, and the steward was keen to point out that it hydrates you almost as well as water, but without making you pee as much as drinking water does. That would seem convenient for flying, since the toilet is always occupied. No idea if its true though!

By: Big Fat Tycoon

Big Fat Tycoon — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 20:26:39 -0800

Hahah, this is hilarious. I didn't realize it was so common. I love me some Clamato on Air Canada flights, you Americans lose.

By: necessitas

necessitas — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 20:29:13 -0800

Wow, I thought it was just me. I always drink tomato juice on planes, but never on the ground. I had no idea it was so common, likewise, I have no idea why I only order it in the air.

By: aclevername

aclevername — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 20:43:16 -0800

I get it in flight because it's "complimentary" whereas on the ground it's $4 a glass. Plus, on the ground I like beer, where in flight it's usually not free.

I just love tomato juice and take advantage where I see fit. Like necessitas I thought it was just me. I didn't realize so many others ordered it in the air as well.

By: joeblough

joeblough — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 20:56:18 -0800

is clam juice, like, the juice from a clam? that sounds totally gross :)

By: elle.jeezy

elle.jeezy — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 21:32:24 -0800

i don't think i'd ever finish a six pack if i purchased them for home. i never thought of it, but yeah, it's like "food" to me as well.

By: sciatica

sciatica — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 22:50:34 -0800

I have noticed the same thing, mostly from older people. I always figured they were just having a virgin bloody mary.

I did find this article about this exact question that goes into some of the history of ginger ale/tomato juice on airplanes.

By: MonkeySaltedNuts

MonkeySaltedNuts — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 22:50:48 -0800

is clam juice, like, the juice from a clam?

clam juice $2.45 for 8oz. Clamato $4.39 for 33 oz. So obviously the pure stuff is more valuable that that stretched out with tomato juice.

(the above prices don't include the real profit Amazon makes from shiping)

By: sdis

sdis — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 23:01:37 -0800

I overheard someone order bloody mary mix on one flight, and I immediately thought "wow! that's a great idea!", and now I order it every time they ask. Good question. :)

By: A189Nut

A189Nut — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 23:06:13 -0800

What's the difference between TJ and Bloody Mary mix?

By: ClanvidHorse

ClanvidHorse — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 01:54:56 -0800

So you actually drink clam juice or is it more as an additive to soups, etc?

It seems to me that it would be like drinking fish sauce (tasty as it is thai food) and be close to unbearable. My stomach heaves at the thought.

By: about_time

about_time — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 03:24:49 -0800

I also order the bloody mary mix every time. It seems to be the most delicious and nutricious item you can order, especially on flights with no meal. This turns out to not exactly be true.

I looked up some values from fitday.com for comparison. These are for 8oz of fluid.

ginger ale: 83 cal, 21g carbs
cola: 102 cal, 26g carbs
apple juice: 117 cal, 29g carbs
orange juice: 105 cal, 25g carbs
tomato juice cocktail: 46 cal, 11g carbs

TJC was also the only drink of the five with significant values for the following additional categories:
656mg sodium (27% of RDA!)
57% vit a
112% vit c
13% folate
24% copper
17% vit b6

"Tomato Juice Cocktail" appears to be V8. Click this page and then click the red "Show Nutritional Information" box on the lower left.

Straight tomato juice had similar values, though just slightly less in all categories. So, unless you are watching your sodium, the cocktail or straight tomato juice seems like the way to go.

I couldn't find Blood Mary Mix at fitday.com, but googling it shows less exciting results. E.g., this page for Tabasco brand mix indicates no serious vitamins, but at least confirms the lower cals and sugars. This brand has similar results (note 4oz serving).

By: boosh

boosh — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 04:19:54 -0800

Tomatoes are believed to prevent airline passengers from developing DVT. A quarter pint of tomato juice provides adequate protection against clots, apparently.

By: toastchee

toastchee — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 07:32:15 -0800

I swear this scenario just happened to me a month ago. I was all set to order ginger ale, but someone else said tomato juice, and it sounded so good I had to do the same!

By: srah

srah — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 07:48:45 -0800

Tomato juice is one of those things that I don't really like but I feel like I should like it... so I try it in situations where it's free or where you aren't committing to a lot of it. I can enjoy a few sips of tomato juice, but not a lot. The tiny airplane cups are usually just enough for me to enjoy, then realize why I don't like it, then be finished.

By: vagabond

vagabond — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 07:50:27 -0800

I noticed that I would usually get a full can of tomato juice, but only the small cup of anything else on a flight. Don't know if it was just a coincidence or not, but it has kept me ordering the tomato juice in air.

By: stray

stray — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 10:46:58 -0800

I pretty much only drink tomato juice on flights--mostly because I generally take long flights and have little food, so the tomato juice just seems like a sensible choice. Now it's engrained and I always drink it. I get exta happy if the steward gives me a full can instead of just a glass. Wee!

By: [@I][:+:][@I]

[@I][:+:][@I] — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 10:51:30 -0800

I get bloody marys on all my flights. I do it because I actually _don't_ like plain tomato juice and vodka very much at all, and it keeps me from downing my tiny drink in like, a minute, and having to wait an hour for another one.

By: randomination

randomination — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 15:14:32 -0800

On a flight I took on Lithuanian Airlines about three-quarters of the passengers ordered tomato juice. I thought it was just a Lithuanian thing, but obviously not...

By: nev

nev — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 18:30:21 -0800

This is the greatest thread of all time. I am a tomato-juice person, and my fiance is sitting here yelling, "But what about ginger ale?"

Neither of us has an explanation.

By: craniac

craniac — Mon, 26 Jun 2006 09:29:23 -0800

More filling than pop, and no post-sugar crash. Meals are rarely provided on planes.