11. “Can I get the whole can of soda?”
This is a popular “life hack” that circulates online, and it falls into a gray area. It’s not inherently awful, but the way you ask is what matters. Demanding the full can comes across as presumptuous. There are valid reasons why flight attendants typically pour drinks into cups: it helps manage limited inventory on full flights, and an open cup is less likely to spill and roll around the cabin during turbulence than a tall, unstable can.
This is a viral sanity check moment. The “hack” works best when it’s not treated as a demand. Politeness is your most powerful tool. Instead of saying, “Give me the whole can,” try a softer, more respectful approach.
A great script is: “If it’s not too much trouble and you have enough for everyone, could I please have the can?” The phrase “if it’s not too much trouble” acknowledges their workload. The phrase “if you have enough” shows consideration for other passengers. This transforms a demand into a polite request that they can easily grant if circumstances permit, or politely decline if they can’t. This small shift in language is a master key to getting better service on a plane.
