No Liquids Means Thirsty Passengers

It’s no secret that the air inside an airplane cabin during flight is dryer than the Sahara. Back in the good old days before the liquids and gels ban, I’d bring on a liter of water, a tube of Burt’s Bees and enough moisturizer to make a sharpei’s skin look like Joan Rivers’.

Now, I don’t expect that airlines are going to start passing out travel-sized tubes of Laura Mercier Mega-Moisturizer (princesses prefer it) on the jetway. But what of the coveted bottles of water that we must now chuck before boarding?

The New York Times asked the same question and was met with a “you’re making mountains out of molehills” response from the airlines. But I have to agree with intrepid Times reporter Michelle Higgins. The airlines need to pay more attention to keeping passengers hydrated in the face of all these new restrictions.

And it’s not just to keep my skin looking fresh, it’s primarily a health issue. People get sick on airplanes not just because of the re-circulated air, but because the arid environment causes their mucus membranes to crack and be more susceptible to a germ attack. For travelers with compromised immune systems or other health issues, this can be a major problem.

Update: I forgot to note that Jetblue passengers can enjoy moisturizer kits from Bliss during travel. Lemon and sage body butter…yum!