Wave farewell to overpriced in-flight beverages with this fantastic travelling tip.

Negotiating the discomforts of economy-class air travel, passengers are all too familiar with being squished next to strangers, confined spaces, and a dire scarcity of legroom.

And sometimes, on particular flights, you may not even be offered complimentary snacks or refreshments.

However, there is a sneaky manoeuvre that promises your preferred hot drink on your next flight – absolutely free of charge – sidestepping the need to spend any money while airborne.

The crafty tactic comes courtesy of a TikTok user named Ellie, whose video guide has taken social media by storm.

In her viral sensation, Ellie is seen armed with a simple cup of hot water and her choice of Starbucks caramel latte mix. With a quick pour and stir of the sachet contents, she rewards herself with an indulgent coffee mid-flight.

Ellie confidently advises in the footage: “Travel hack – take coffee sachets on the plane and as for a cup of hot water (it’s free).”

Alongside the video, her accompanying message drives home the value of this penny-pinching strategy.

Not only does it save you from splurging on aeroplane drinks, as hot water typically costs nothing, but it also liberates you from the often dull array of flight beverage selections.

This thrifty trick permits a pick-and-mix approach, letting travellers bring along anything from their favourite tea infusions to speciality coffees to sumptuous hot chocolates, all chosen from the comfort of their local store shelves.

In a clever revelation on social media, Ellie divulged: “Our airline didn’t have the best coffee options, so this was a lifesaver – but we also saved paying £3/4 each!”

Online users were mesmerised by her ingenuity, with many confessing it had never crossed their minds, though it appeared glaringly obvious once suggested.

More savvy travellers indicated that a similar approach could be taken with certain food items like instant noodles and porridge for an in-flight nibble.

Some commenters advised caution as hot water may not always be gratis depending on the airline. Yet, in instances where a nominal fee is charged for water, customers could still land themselves a bargain compared to forking out for the airline’s coffee, enjoying cost savings and sipping on a preferred beverage.

One enthusiastic flyer commented: “I do this, but I take a water bottle, and they fill it no problem,” while another endorsed the trick, saying: “That’s a great idea!” A fellow passenger lamented his missed opportunity: “Wish I thought of this, they charged me £4 for my coffee!”