Some days just call for mashed potatoes. But what if you’re 30,000 feet in the air?
No problem. A United Airlines flight attendant has got your mashed potato-needing back. All you need is a few items carried on many commercial flights. Then presto! mashed potatoes.
Well, sort of.
United Airlines attendant Rachel (@rachelleahtia) shared her secret for getting that potato fix mid-air. The recipe is inspiring shock and horror.
Rachel’s recipe, posted on TikTok, is simple: Crush Pringles potato chips in a can (though probably any potato chip would do), and add water, coffee creamer, and salt and pepper—all items readily available on many flights.
She describes the mashed concoction as “a lil ghetto but it tastes good.” She noted that she wasn’t on duty at the time.
For most observers, it’s giving prison.
“So now we’re making prison food on airplanes?” wrote one.
“Baby… I know you don’t have a new contract yet, but you not in jail,” a second said.
Why Did Airplane Mashed Potatoes Recipe Inspire Talk Of Contracts?
Many people who commented on Rachel’s post brought up contracts.
“We have got to get you guys a contract,” Meredith said.
Dyeisha LeAundra agreed, writing, “Dear Kirby, please get ya flight attendants a contract asap. They are struggling.” She apparently refers to Scott Kirby, the CEO of United Airlines.
So why is everyone reacting to a mashed potato recipe with talk of contracts? United Airlines is locked into contractual negotiations with its flight attendants. Last month, members of the Association of Flight Attendants‑CWA overwhelmingly rejected the airline’s latest offer.
In addition to raises, trade publication Live and Let’s Fly reports that the attendants are seeking:
- Pay for waiting on the ground between flights
- Less tiring red-eye flying
- No more layover notifications
- More rest on longer flights
- Contract compliance guarantees
- Improvements for reserve flight attendants
- Better layover hotels
- Improvements to health care and retirement benefits
“United’s flight attendants are still in search of a deal and their eight-point demand sheet reveals that the contract gap goes beyond dollars and cents. It goes to time spent unpaid, night after night, hotel quality, rest quality, and at a fundamental level (as one flight attendant told me), respect,” Live and Let Fly concludes. “If United wants to keep its promised premium experience and avoid unnecessary turbulence, it needs to strike a bargain that the union can sell to flight attendants so this long-drawn-out chapter can be closed.
United Airlines didn’t respond to BroBible’s emailed inquiry.
What’s It Like To Be A Flight Attendant?
Since the early days of widespread commercial travel, flight attendants have had a reputation for being glamorous women living their best lives. It’s seen as a career, not a job.
Over time, that reputation has been tarnished by reports of poor working conditions, low wages, and other complaints. These complaints aren’t specific to United Airlines; they’re industry-wide.
Although flight attendants make a median salary of $68,000, per U.S. News & World Report, they complain that they’re not compensated for tasks like boarding passengers and preparing the plane for travel. And some attendants reportedly make as little as $50,000 annually. That’s less than some people make waiting tables.
Airplane Mashed Potatoes Humor Continues
While some brought up the serious subject of contractual negotiations, Rachel’s TikTok had most people cracking jokes.
“Babe..what’s your CashApp ‘cause ain’t no way!” Emilia jested.
“Are you okay? Do you need someone to talk to?” Kim wrote.
“Congratulations on your original experience,” AJ laughed.
Others tempered their horror with praise.
A woman who describes herself as a flight attendant in her handle wrote, “Girl. This is smart but like … no.”
“Low key looks good, but I wanna know what the person next to you was thinking,” another said.
Rachel told BroBible she was inspired to make airplane mashed potatoes after seeing an old video featuring people make mashed potatoes out of boiled Lays chips.
“I have tried them personally, but I do not eat them on a regular basis. They’re not as terrible as people are making it seem,” she said. “I was not expecting such a dramatic reaction from the video as it was posted for entertainment and educational purposes. It’s interesting to see how passionate people are about their potatoes.”