Q. May I request coffee or tea from a stewardess on a flight?

A. See question 1812 in regards to requesting hot water from a stewardess on a flight where we wrote:
“Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that the most conceivable problematic issue is kashrus, since often the hot water will be served via a metal water kettle or server that is likely washed with the rest of the non-kosher utensils. However, being that the utensil is probably not ben-yomo and plausibly was washed on another prior day, adding that the detergents used are also likely to have spoiled the taste of any remnants of non kosher foods that came in contact with this vessel, reckoning that the amount of water used also probably supersedes a sixty to one ratio in comparison, plus other leniency-oriented factors at play, one can permit using the water served.”
In the case of coffee or tea additional issues of kashrus should be considered, such as kosher milk, creamers and Cholov Yisroel. Although not commonly available in economy, first class passengers may in some flights be offered brewed coffee with milk or milk products (as latte or cappuccino) or specialty teas that may require a hechsher.

Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit’a