Long-haul flights are already a test of endurance—cramped seats, recycled air, and hours spent in close quarters with strangers.
But one woman’s 16-hour journey became exponentially worse when the couple next to her unpacked what might be the most inconsiderate in-flight snack combo imaginable.
Woman Documents Smelly In-Flight Meal Nightmare
TikToker Jordan Hel (@jordan_hel) shared her experience sitting next to passengers who ate notoriously pungent foods on a 16-hour flight. Her video has more than 1.2 million views.
The video shows Hel with her hoodie pulled all the way up over her nose, clearly trying to escape the smell.
Then she turns the camera toward her seatmates (who appear to be a couple). Viewers can see an extensive spread of food including two bowls filled with hard-boiled eggs. Hel speculates there are about a dozen eggs in each bowl.
A tray visible in the video shows a small mountain of eggshells waiting to be thrown out, suggesting the couple peeled all the eggs right there on the plane. Alongside the eggs sits a homemade bowl of steamed broccoli, another food known for its strong odor.
“Who did I piss off in a former life?” Hel wrote in the caption. “(That is, in fact, two dozen peeled hard boiled eggs which were consumed beside a homemade bowl of steamed broccoli for the entire 16 hour flight).”
What Foods Are Allowed On Planes?
While the Transportation Security Administration technically allows passengers to bring hard-boiled eggs and steamed broccoli through security, that doesn’t mean flight attendants want to see them on board.
According to Reader’s Digest, solid foods like sandwiches, pizza, and yes, hard-boiled eggs, can all pass through security checkpoints. The TSA’s general rule is simple: if it’s solid, you can bring it. Spreadable items and liquids are limited to 3.4 ounces unless checked in luggage.
But just because you can bring something doesn’t mean you should.
Flight attendants have been begging passengers to reconsider their in-flight meal choices, according to a viral Reddit thread shared by Yahoo Creators.
“Anything with a fishy or eggy smell,” one crew member wrote, while another shared a horror story about a passenger who “consumed a total of 3 egg salad sandwiches on a 1.5 hr flight. I nearly threw up.”
Hard-boiled eggs specifically came up multiple times in the thread as one of the most dreaded foods. The smell of eggs and broccoli lingers in the recycled cabin air and can make flights miserable for everyone nearby.
But What’s Appropriate ‘Flight Food’?
Etiquette experts agree that smelly foods are a major airplane no-no.
“The most important etiquette rule on an airplane is that you’ve got to stay within your bubble,” Nick Leighton, co-host of the etiquette podcast “Were You Raised By Wolves?” told AllRecipes. “Physically stay within your bubble. Sounds need to stay within your bubble. And, of course, smells need to stay within your bubble.”
Foods to avoid on planes include tuna, hard-boiled eggs, stinky cheeses, garlic- or onion-heavy meals, fish, seafood, curry, and fast food. Broccoli, cauliflower, and beans are also discouraged since they can cause gas in the pressurized cabin environment, according to AllRecipes.
Flight attendants recommend bringing neutral-smelling options instead: granola bars, fresh fruit like grapes or apple slices, veggie sticks with hummus, simple sandwiches with turkey or chicken, trail mix, and crackers, Yahoo Creators reported.
@jordan_hel who did I piss off in a former life? (that is, in fact, two dozen peeled hard boiled eggs which were consumed beside a homemade bowl of steamed broccoli for the entire 16 hour flight)
Commenters React
“Eggs and steamed broccoli should be considered a flight risk,” a top comment read.
“Sorry you got seated next to mr and mrs fart,” a person said.
“People are so disrespectful and disgusting. There is no way that they thought this was normal??” another wrote.
“Only thing missing is microwaved leftover fish,” a commenter added.
BroBible reached out to Jordan Hel via TikTok direct message and comment. We’ll be sure to update this if she responds.