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40 Things Pilots, Flight Attendants And Airport Workers Know About Air Travel That Passengers Don’t
Every year, billions of people take to the skies. From security lines to boarding gates, most travelers experience the same routine—double-checking their passport, hoping their slightly oversized carry-on goes unnoticed, and settling in for the flight ahead.
But beyond the familiar rituals of air travel lies a world most passengers never see. Luckily, across several Reddit threads, airline staff, pilots, and crew members have spilled some fascinating behind-the-scenes secrets about what really happens when we fly. So, if you’ve ever been curious about the hidden side of aviation, keep reading. There’s plenty of tea to go around.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Passengers have no idea how complicated a flight is from a pilots perspective. Let me walk you through it.
We show up around an hour before the flight and get the paperwork. Is the weather ok? Is the forecast for the destination going to be above our minimums? Is it above minimums, but requires an alternate airport to be listed in case the weather doesn't go quite as planned? What equipment is broken at the airport that might affect these minimums? How about the departure airport? Do we need to plan for an airport to go to if we take off and have a problem, but can't get back into our departure airport due to weather, slippery runways, etc.?
How about the airplane? Is everything working? Certain systems are allowed to be broken. Are there any of those on this flight? How will it affect us? Will it change the weather minimums we checked out earlier?
Where is my first officer? And the flight attendants? I guess they must be at the airplane. I'll go there.
Nope, they're not at the airplane. It's getting close to boarding, I'd better find them. Called scheduling, they said that they are on an inbound flight that just arrived, but on the opposite side of the airport. It'll be 10 minutes for them to swim their way through the terminal.
I'll do the walk around while I wait. What's that on the belly? Must be hydraulic fluid, that's about all that is around there. Better call maintenance.
First officer and flight attendants are here now, that's good. But we're 10 minutes past boarding now.
Maintenance shows up and checks out the mystery fluid. It's hydraulic fluid they say, but it's old. They wipe it off. If you see any more when you get to your destination, let us know. Probably just spillage from when they serviced the hydraulics last.
Tell the gate agent we're ready to board. It's 10 minutes to departure time now.
5 minutes pass. No passengers get on.
A passenger is being wheeled down the jetway in an aisle chair (a narrow wheelchair designed to fit in the aisle of the airplane.) Takes 5 minutes or so to get him situated. The rest of the passengers file on.
Meanwhile, the first officer is getting our clearance. Bad news, there is a ground stop at our destination. We can't leave, and we don't expect any more information for 30 minutes. Not that we can leave in 30 minutes, just that we will get an update in 30 minutes.
The passengers have all filed on at this point. I make an announcement apologizing for the slight delay in boarding, we needed to have maintenance come out to check something, but we're all good in that regard. Unfortunately, ATC is telling us that we can't depart yet due to weather and traffic, and we will know more in 30 minutes.
You can hear the grumbles from the cockpit.
30 minutes pass, during which the first officer and I get the checklists done as far as we can, and get to know each other a bit. After all, I've never seen this guy before in my life. There are thousands of pilots at this airline, we don't all know each other.
The first officer calls to find out about the update. Good news, you can leave, but you have to be airborne in 5 minutes. S**t. We're still at the gate with no engines running. Can we get them both started, run the checklists, and taxi to the runway in 5 minutes? Better have a go at it, otherwise we might miss our slot.
We scramble and get it done. We take off 40 minutes late. Not too bad considering the situation.
Halfway through the flight, we see a group of thunderstorms on the radar right along our route, blocking it and any options to the left of it. We as ATC for a deviation to the right to get around that line.
"Unable due to traffic" is the reply.
Great. Now what?
"Center, we can take higher or lower if needed, but we need a deviation to the right."
"Spudmunkey 17, uh, descend and maintain 14,000, passing 16,000, deviations to the right up to 20 degrees approved. Advise when direct to wherever."
S**t, we're still 2 hours from our destination. If we descend to 14,000 feet, are we going to have enough fuel?
A quick punch in the flight management system, and we do, but barely. If anything else happens, we're going to have to go to plan B.
Luckily, nothing else goes wrong, and we land, although the extra weather deviations and lower altitude result in another 10 minutes added to the flight. We land 50 minutes late.
We park at the gate and open the cockpit door. Various comments come in from the passengers ranging from the most common: an apathetic "thanks," to the occasional "this is why I don't fly your airline" or any other variation of it.
The plane is empty, and we have to start the process all over again for the next flight.
The problem now is that we didn't start it all 1 hour before departure. It's departure time now, and the gate agent is asking if you are ready to board. You haven't even looked at the paperwork yet.
So, you want to be a pilot?
EDIT:
I'm not looking for sympathy. I merely meant to answer the "what's something people don't know..." part of OP's question. People tend to think that pilots just roll in at leisure and hit the autopilot button. I meant to educate those people a bit.
My situation is hypothetical, the numbers are arbitrary, but the point still stands. This is not an abnormal day for a pilot. It's not a good day, but it's not a bad day either. Throw in a diversion or a ramp with no gates approaching the "passenger bill of rights" times for being "held hostage" on an airplane, and things get a LOT more interesting. Like we want to keep you on the airplane. Because we're evil like that.
And thank you for the gold, random stranger. I genuinely appreciate you supporting this fine web site on my behalf. It needs the support. And I'm proud to have inspired it.
Pferdchen 1 month ago
I happened to read a bit about flying over the Alps, into Saint Moritz in particular. I learned about the pilots having to be well versed in Mountainous Terrain Escape Routes (MCOS) and Minimum Obstacle Clearance Altitudes (MOCA). I read conflicting reports about the airport which I don't know whether to attribute to updates or AI nonsense. Example one: whether or not the airport supports Instrument Landing Systems or only Visual Flight Rules. The other was apparent conflicts between the runway length and required runway lengths for various Gulfstream models. Don't go getting jealous or indignant about private jets - I was researching this for a story I am writing 😀
MushroomHead22 1 month ago
this sounds as accurate as it can sound, albeit this seems it comes from someone flying commercially in the USA. I work for an airline that lands on gravel runways (i'm not a pilot). what this person describes is just an ordinary day for them, imagine throwing gravel runway, 0/0 visibility, extreme cross winds, and more. some pilots can land in crazy weather conditions.
David Brand 1 month ago
Then they get in the cockpit and and realize a instrument doesn't work and flight is delayed for hours while technician fixes something that should have been checked and hour ago.
Tommy DePaul 1 month ago
And then I cash my $400,000/year paycheck and I've completed exactly 0 days of college. Yeah, boo hoo.
Tommy DePaul 1 month ago (edited)
And because I suspect that you're dying to know: with 6 years of college+ 2 years supervised work, I work 2000 hours a year providing therapy for adolescent s*x offenders in a locked unit for $25/hour.
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#2
When a plane is landing at night, they dim the interior lights **incase you need to evacuate** upon landing... your eyes are already adjusted to the darkness so you'll be able to see better once outside the plane.
Auntriarch 1 month ago
When I was a pup I thought it was so we could sneak past the anti aircraft guns, yes I watched far too many war films
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Kelly Scott 1 month ago
And of course, there's always that ONE passenger who has to light up the place with his megawatt light phone. But you can always follow the kid with the sneakers that light up when he walks. You'll know him when you see him because he's been running up and down the aisles all night while everyone else has been trying to sleep. Thanks, checked out parents who should never have had kids.
#3
Will probley get buried but i am an aircraft fueler.
One thing i can not stress enough is how your pets are treated.
While your airline will take the best possible actions, some things cannot be avoided, like the noise on the ramp.
I can not stand out there without ear protection, and imagine your pet sitting out there on the ramp waiting to be loaded onto the plane being exposed to the same amount of noise i am.
Please people, think twice before flying your pets.
-------------------------------------------------
Edit: Ahhhh so much karma, was not expecting this.
So many questions too, so ill try and just hit some main points.
- Flying with pets is sometimes unavoidable, I am in no way saying that flying your pet makes you a bad owner, Just bare in mind the conditions that they will be experiencing. (They might need some extra cuddles when they get back)
- A lot of baggage handlers I have seen are really good about pets, but not everything. The people that are moving your pets onto the plane are not very well paid, at least what they deserve.
- Every airline is different, check with your airline and see what their pet policy is, and ask about any VIP or in cabin options, while not the best, it may be more comfortable for your pet.
- The people who I have seen that look after your pet before they are loaded onto plane are really great guys, and love what they do. Again, results may very from airport to airport.
Kelly Scott 1 month ago (edited)
I flew my dog back with me on vacation twice because it was cheaper than boarding him two weeks. His crate was last on, first off. In San Francisco, they made me show the bottom half of his ticket (top part tied around the crate door) before they would let me have him. Thank you, guys, I really appreciated knowing no one else could walk off with him. That really eased my mind. We had a two hour layover in Denver once. They let me take my dog out of his crate but we had to stay in the baggage area. I put my coat down and my dog curled up and slept on it for two hours. I still remember seeing his crate outside the plane ready to be loaded. The baggage handler was bending over, obviously talking to my dog. I wish I could have told him thank you for that. And people, if you are going to fly your dogs, please, please, please, have them crate trained BEFORE they go to the airport. There's stress enough without fighting to put your dog in a crate he's never seen before.
Kelly Scott 1 month ago
I forgot to say, this was Western Airlines in the 80s.
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Agfox 1 month ago
Some quick Googling reveals that baggage handlers in Australia earn between $26.94 & $40.36/hour. For context, the National Minimum Wage is $24.95/hour
Ace 1 month ago
That really doesn't give much context, TBH. Are you saying that they're well-paid because they're earning more than the minimum or badly paid because they're earning just a bit more than the minimum?
Load More Replies... #4
Pilot here. Late to the party as usual. But, sometimes the passengers may be having a nice quiet flight in the back while the pilots are upfront dodging thunderstorms and yelling their heads off.
We transport live transplants, like hearts and lungs. I particularly like the live transplants because we get to cut to the front of the line for takeoff and we get all the short cuts to our destination.
Tip for those who get motion sickness: try not to move your head around. Pilots move their eyes instead of their heads to look at the instruments in the flight deck. Also try to sit in a seat over the wing. This area of the plane doesn't rotate as much during climbs and decents.
Flight attendants can't do pilot's job, but pilots can't do flight attendant's jobs for sure. We aren't hired for our people skills.
Don't take off your shoes to go to the bathroom. People pee on the floor all the time.
Phantom Phoenix 1 month ago
Do people really need to be told to not go barefoot in a public loo? That's so gross 😫
Lukas (he/him, it/its) 1 month ago
Yes, for transplants. You don't want a dead heart or lung going into someone you're trying to save!
Load More Replies... #5
The tail rotor diameter of a Robinson R22 helicopter is 3' 6". This is because that was as wide as Frank Robinson's kitchen oven would go, where he had to bake the first rotor. It hasn't been changed.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 1 month ago
These are what almost every helicopter in the USA trains on. They are the Cessna 172 of helicopters.
Ace 1 month ago
172? That's posh, It was mostly 152s when I was doing flying training. Mind yew, that was a long time ago, and I think I flew a 172 a couple of times as well, and once with a friend in a 152 Aerobat - now that thing was fun.
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Michael Melfa 1 month ago
This feels like an "Americans using any other unit of measurement" joke.
#6
Flight attendant.
Pilots don't fix the plane. They fly it. If it's major, they call maintenance. Stop asking the pilots to just fix the plane. Sometimes it takes awhile. I'm sorry. Deal with it.
My day is long. So long. Please be nice. I see hundreds of people in a day. If I'm abrupt with you in any way, I apologize. I'm trying to 1) expedite the boarding process so we can leave on time 2) I'm running on very little sleep and I'm cranky 3) I've dealt with too many jerks and/or delays that day and my spirit is utterly crushed. You'll rarely see me upset, but many other FAs are jerks. I am sorry. They don't love their job like I do.
We only get paid when the main cabin door is closed. I make less than 20K a year. This is common.
I know that you know how to put on a seatbelt. I still have to do a safety demo. It's a liability issue.
Don't treat me like a waitress. I'm not. I get paid less and my hours are longer, and the job involves MUCH more than serving you a drink and some peanuts.
I personally don't care if you use your electronic devices. HOWEVER, don't be talking on your phone during taxi. If I can't see your phone I don't care if you're playing angry birds. We're not going to crash. Many airlines have changed their rules but mine has not and I have to enforce the rules.
People vent their frustrations about flying to me. It's hard being complained at knowing you caused none of the problems. Believe me, it's in our best interest to keep you happy. Why would we want otherwise? The FAA makes the rules, not your flight crew. We're just the crew. Every decision comes from above. Remember that.
BE NICE.
Michael Largey 1 month ago
Asking the pilot to fix the plane is like asking the mechanic to fly it.
otiose 1 month ago
I don't believe this. Maybe they are part time? Insane and/or independently wealthy (because getting abüsed for that amount of money and saying you LIKE your job!) I knew an FA (many years ago) who made quite decent money per hour plus per diem for away from base. Lived comfortably in Miami, not a cheap COL place. I don't know any reason for OP to lie, but a quick Google shows FAs make (base wages, starter for both) more than teachers do in Michigan (with no degree required).
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Mel in Georgia 1 month ago
Be nice to FAs, folks. They're trying their best to be nice to you, and so much is out of their control.
#7
I used to be an Operations Control Center manager for a regional airline. (about 900 flights a day) Ultimately, I was the guy that decided if your flight was going to cancel. Most people don't know I exist. When passengers hear "cancelled due to ATC or WX or MX", its really just a small team of people deciding if your flight is going to make it and often its not even your plane or flight that has the problem.
In the case of ATC and weather, we will be allowed X number of arrivals and hour. We decide which ones are going and which ones will stay or re-position to another city. Passengers are usually one of the last items of consideration. Safety is always first, we won't send it if there is reason to believe it is unsafe and if we can blame it on weather we will. It's much cheaper for the airline if it is blamed on WX since they don't have as many benefits for the customer, (food vouchers, hotels etc.) Next most important is which crews will time out, and how critical it is that they get to their next stop. The way crews are routed we often have to cancel something today to save 3 flights that would need to cancel tomorrow if the AC and crew don't get to the right place by the right time.
Next is where the AC is routed since they are often carrying mx items that expire at a certain date and can only be fixed in specific bases.
After that is cargo and bags. Bags cost a LOT more to get re-routed than passengers. (the reason for this is that passengers can go on the next plane, but if their bags dont make it we deliver them to you. Not the airport that you were going to. Couriers can get expensive quick so its better business to have your bags waiting for you rather than the other way around, even if that means kicking you off the plane and taking your bags.)
Last is passengers, sometimes based on a "priority list" of VIPs and sometimes based on doing the most good for the largest number of people.
Ultimately, regional airlines only have one customer. The major airline they serve. They are paid based on a number of metrics to summarize their performance and there are tiers for "penalty" and "bonus". The airline knows EXACTLY (to the minute) where they are in relation to these goals, and we will often sacrifice one for the other. Example: if we are near penalty for on-time departures within 0 min of scheduled departure time but have a good cushion on completion factor, we will cancel a flight just to make one go on time.
**TL;DR** I got a D in ethics, but I'm really good at math.
otiose 1 month ago
Explains some of the reasons I won't take a cattle car in the sky!
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Mel in Georgia 1 month ago
This is a really good explanation of how this works. Just remember, safety is #1.
Michael Largey 1 month ago
"Passengers are usually one of the last items of consideration. Safety is always first." If you're putting safely first, then the passengers are far from being one of the last items of consideration. We place quite a high priority on not dying in a crash.
Peeka_Mimi 1 month ago
Good to know I don't matter at all and you will do anything to save money and leave me stranded without vouchers. You sir are a d¡ck.
Valegro 1 month ago
Well, it is their job. Sometimes you have to do what the higher-ups demand or you lose your job
Load More Replies... #8
The air inside the jet engine of an airplane is hotter than the melting point of any component of the engine.
cvtopher12:
The components in the hot section of the engine have cooling systems which bleed off air from the compressor and direct it through holes in the part surface, creating a film of cool air that protects them from the high temperature of the combustion gases.
EmbersAreOut 1 month ago
Yup! It’s a really interesting aspect of aerospace engineering design. One of my fav lectures i have had was on this topic.
nottheactualphoto 1 month ago
So that you can tell at a glance whether the rotor is turning.
Load More Replies... #9
Some airlines don't pay pilots or flight attendants for flights that cancel. Which doesn't sound so bad until you start thinking about the safety implications of it.
A little short on the rent this month? Then I don't see that hydraulic leak, I can't afford to have the flight cancel.
Child needs to see the doctor? Maybe I don't report the torn up carpet that you might trip on in an evacuation, because carpet takes too long to replace--so the flight would cancel.
...not saying this happens all the time, because most crews are true professionals and can put their job ahead of their paycheck, but it happens enough to give you the goosebumps. Throw in some seriously low pay (sub $20K a year for many first year pilots) and you've got a subtle incentive to overlook safety issues.
Mel in Georgia 1 month ago
There are so many incentives for flights not to cancel. But the captain in commercial passenger flights is the king. If they say no, the flight doesn't go. Their #1 priority is safety, at least in the US, and most have a union at their back. Commercial safety records speak for themselves.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 1 month ago
$20K a year for a PILOT! Which airline is that because I don't want to share teh same hemisphere!
Bored Sailor 1 month ago
Not sure but I can say I went to combat training with a Delta pilot who maintained a six figure annual pay while deployed and not even flying.
Load More Replies... MushroomHead22 1 month ago
this all seems incorrect. the pilot has final say, but not if there are any mechanical or weather issues. the pilots do have protocols to follow, and limits that they can and cannot operate in. flights can also be MEL released meaning they can operate with the mechanical issue (can be anything from like they said ripped carpet, broken seatbelt, a certain sensor that prevents them from flying at a certain altitude). and a sub 20k pay per year for a pilot wouldn't be someone on a large aircraft, it would be a very low passenger count aircraft.
Onan Hag All 1 month ago
Maybe, if you lived in a civilised country, you wouldn't have to worry about the cost of taking your child to a doctor?
nicholas nolan 1 month ago
Cool, are you sponsoring? How about hiring with a visa incliuded? F**k sake, imagine acting like a f*****g lone pilot can change the direction of a whole a*s country.
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#10
This will get buried, but there are cracks all over the turbine blades. Crack growth is a pretty well-characterized science, and part of the point of inspections every X flights is to make sure the cracks haven't grown to a point where they're actually concerning. They'll take a look at them, measure them, and if they think they still have say... 2000 hours until failure, they'll send the plane back out and check it in a few hundred hours of use.
Bob Brooce 1 month ago
FYI - The total lifespan of turbine blades can be as little as 10,000 hours or as much as 40,000 hours in new engines. Thinking one still has 20% of the expected life seems fine to me. Thinking it probably has 5% of its life left seems like too low a margin of error, so I'd hope the next inspection isn't after 20% of possible remaining life has gone by.
Scott Rackley 1 month ago
Like most engineering, there is a fudge factor involved. The "life" is the time until an unacceptable percentage of the time the blade will fail. Not the time until it is guaranteed to fail.
Load More Replies... Lee Gilliland 1 month ago (edited)
For those who are concerned - plane travel has, by far, the best safety record of any form of travel. You are actually, statistically, safer flying than walking. I am PETRIFIED by air travel and have spent YEARS researching this. You are safer on on a jet than you are walking to your local 7/11. It's ridiculous.
#11
My dad's been an airline pilot for almost 20 years, and apparently planes get struck by lightning all the time. Also if a passenger is causing a scene in the jetway he can refuse to let them on and take off without them.
Robert T 1 month ago (edited)
Generally planes are complete unaffected by lightning strikes - they are designed to take them - and the passengers are safe as they are effectively in a big Farraday cage. However, lightning can temporarily blind the pilots, which makes things.... difficult. It can also bring on warning lights forcing planes to land ASAP - I remember one very brief thunderstorm we had here, which consisted of one flash of lightning and one rumble of thunder - some friends were flying out that day and it hit their plane just after takeoff, and the pilot returned it to base and they had several hours wait whilst they fixed it.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 1 month ago
That's why it's a good thing planes are skinned in metal. Also why the electrical switchgear that keeps the plane alive is so well engineered.
Otto Katz 1 month ago (edited)
Better than skinning them in cottage cheese, or so I've been told.
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Janissary35680 1 month ago
Actual Q for any electricians, electrical engineers etc reading this: When lightning strikes an aircraft, where does the electricity "go" afterwards? What is the circuit?
moggiemoo 1 month ago
It carries on towards the ground like any other lighting bolt. It might hit the wing, spread over the exterior skin, then carry on from the tail.
Load More Replies... Kelly Scott 1 month ago
I wish he could just throw misbehaving adults and kids off the plane, literally, in midflight.
TCW Sam Vimes 1 month ago
Oc they get hit by lightning and are well protected against it. Basic physics.
#12
- When you experience a hard landing in bad weather it wasn't because of a lack of pilot skills but it is in fact intentional.
If the runway is covered in water the airplane has to touch down hard in order to puncture the water layer and prevent aqua planing.
- Mobile electronic devices won't really bring an airplane down but they can be really annoying to pilots. Just imagine sitting in the flightdeck descending to your destination and hearing the interference of a 100+ cellphones picking up a signal. I have missed a clearance or 2 that way.
- The air you breathe on an airplane is actually compressed air taken from the engines. A large portion (25% to 50%) is blown in the flightdeck, the rest is for the passengers. The air leaves the airplane via a small hole in the back of the fuselage.
- The captain has almost limitless authority when the doors are closed. He is allowed to arrest people, write fines
- At most airlines the only difference between the captain and the co-pilot is their rank. They divide the workload fairly and switch the roles of pilot flying and pilot non-flying each flight.
Mel in Georgia 1 month ago
So - not all hard landings are intentional. My husband was a commercial pilot. Our kids and I were on his flight. Our son was bragging to other passengers that his daddy was the pilot. His landing was ... not great. Silence from the passengers around us. Yeah, thanks dad. 😆
SheHulk 1 month ago
The most terrifying landing Ive experienced, I have flown a lot in my life, was coming into O`Hare from Copenhagen in rough weather. The plane was rolling and yawing then we hit the tarmac hard and bounced a few times. I am ashamed to admit that I screamed as well as a few other passengers and was comforted by my then 6 year old son, "it´s alright, mummy". They don´t call Chicago the windy city for nothing!
Kelly Scott 1 month ago
Then there's the little old lady who asked the pilot if they landed or were shot down.
Kelly Scott 1 month ago
A pilot after landing an airliner and taxiing past a little Cessna: "What a cute little plane. Did you build it yourself?" The Cessna pilot: "Yes, and after another landing like yours, I'll have enough parts to build another one."
Lee Gilliland 1 month ago
I did love one landing in Dallas-Ft. worth where the pilot was yelling "woah bronco!" When he brought us up to the gate, though. Everybody applauded!
#13
I'm a flight attendant. Not really any secrets that haven't already been said... But when we are in the aisles serving drinks, you should *reaaalllyy* try to wait until we are out of the aisles to get up and go to the lav or whatever. Also, if we are in our jumpseats because of the turbulence I would suggest you be in your seats as well.
Howl's sleeping castle 1 month ago
There was a period in my life where I had constant stomach issues and I needed to pee frequently. I used to book either the front or the last row aisle side seats.
Voidified 1 month ago
Yes, the flight attendants have to go all the way back or forward just to let u go to the lav. Hold it in.
otiose 1 month ago
So I need to "hold it" so they are not inconvenienced At least OP said "try to wait", implying if you couldn't then go for it.
Load More Replies... #14
As an Air Traffic Controller we are constantly swearing and yelling at pilots when we’re not on the frequency and then when we key up we use our nice guy voices.
Robert T 1 month ago
Sometimes it boils over... "Tell the little Fokker to get out of the way". ;-)
Kelly Scott 1 month ago
And the pilot back to ATC: "Wasn't I married to you once?"
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#15
One of my all time favorites is the Captain accidentally broadcasting his passenger briefing (welcome aboard, weather in chicago and so on) on frequency instead of the aircraft PA system, blocking up ground, ramp, tower, etc. for a solid 15 seconds. You automatically become the laughing stock of the airport.
Kelly Scott 1 month ago (edited)
I thought the funniest one was where the pilot forgot he was still hot on the microphone and said, "Wowee, now all I need is a beer and a redhot". The flight attendant went running up to the cockpit to let the captain know he was live and all the passengers were shouting at her, "Hey, you forgot the beer!"
Hobby Hopper 1 month ago
Question from a non-pilot: This was ground frequency right, not approach/departure or any air frequency? I would think 15 seconds could be really dangerous if you're blocking ATC and there is high traffic or an emergency. Sorry if I'm way off base on any of this; like I said, I'm not a pilot.
#16
Your bags are thrown and dropped very frequently. Then they are put in tiny cargo compartments, where 50-150 other bags are set on top of them. Then they slide around until you land. Then they are dropped and thrown and finally, you retrieve them.
z8vgjv598k 1 month ago
Not a secret. Anyone who has flown, or been in an airport, or even just seen an airport on TV knows this 'secret'...
Auntriarch 1 month ago
I can totally understand the temptation to try on the camel suit though Agfox.
#17
Posted this in a similar thread a while back.
I have a friend who's a commercial pilot. Around five years ago he was doing a flight from LA to Tokyo when an anonymous caller phoned in a threat while they were over the middle of the Pacific. Apparently they have procedures for this kind of thing, but there was nothing anyone could do in this situation except stay calm and not alert the passengers (obviously). He said for the rest of the flight every bump of turbulence made his adrenaline spike. They took this case especially seriously because there was a group of foreign dignitaries sitting in the first class cabin.
UnclePanda 1 month ago
Because they're in the air, I'm going with pterrifying.
Load More Replies... #18
Bring an unopened bag of or box of chocolates for the flight crew, especially long flights...they'll treat you like a king for the whole flight.
Ace 1 month ago
I simply do not believe that this is a thing, no matter how many times it gets posted.
Steve 1 month ago
It works. My friend's sister, who is an FA, told me about it. I tried it and didn't have to pay for my beers during a two-hour trip.
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Mel in Georgia 1 month ago
Pilots who gift the FAs with something nice get the best treatment and reputations. It makes a difference on the job.
Julie Thigpen 1 month ago
This works especially well with fancy macarons too. I do it all the time. It’s scored me a few bumps to first class, but mostly feee drinks and tons of snacks on short flights
Wang Zhuang 1 month ago
I've done this several times actually just to see what would happen. Each member of the crew usually made a point to stop by my seat to say thanks, but I didn't really receive any special treatment that I can remember. They were just as courteous as always, which was fine by me. I think flight attendants are some of the hardest working people in the industry. They do a lot for little reward
Verena 1 month ago
I am surprised that they are allowed to accept it. But good to know, will try that next time
Michael Largey 1 month ago
They certainly shouldn't eat any until the flight has landed.
Load More Replies... #19
That if the cabin were to depressurise, there is only 12min of oxygen available from the masks, this needs to last for the descent from the depressurisation (usually flying at just under 40k feet altitude) to a 'safe' altitude of 10k feet, this time includes a hold at 14k feet of around 7 and a half minutes.
EDIT: Also, the reason why they tell you to put your oxygen masks first and then assist children is because at an altitude of 40k feet you will only have 12-20 seconds of breathing normal air before you become unconscious. There is no problem if a child becomes unconscious for a few seconds as they will regain consciousness when the oxygen mask is put on.
Bob Brooce 1 month ago
If the pilots can't get from 40k to 10k in 12 minutes the oxygen probably won't matter. Also, I wouldn't describe it as "breathing normal air" if there a full loss of pressure at 40k. The air still has the same chemical composition as at sea level, but the pressure will be less than 1/4 of sea level pressure. Of course, total pressure loss is very rare.
#20
Not really a secret, but as a baggage handler if you don't use a regular suitcase with handles on the top and bottom, I absolutely hate you
Edit: Also, those of you who travel the world with your body sized backpacks are the spawn of the devil. I can't decide which is the worst piece of luggage to try and stack in an orderly manner, those huge backpacks, car seats, or golf bags.
The Majestic Opossum 1 month ago
Mental note, don't use giant backpack when traveling (was guilty of that when I traveled abroad a few years back)... A belated apology to my baggage handlers on that flight!
Robert T 1 month ago
Bad English. Larger suitcases normally have handles on the top and one side.
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#21
I am a commercial aircraft fueler. At my airport we get a lot of small jets (crj200,700,900, erj 145, 737's, MD 88,95,DC 9). One of the main things as a fueler is having to over wing a plane. We do that when the single point on the plane is inop and have to pump 600-1000 gallons of jet a into the plane. This is when you see us (1 on each side) take a small fuel pump (usually the ones you put in your car) and balance out the fuel on each side. It's a long process, usually 2 gallons/sec. Fueling is labor intensive but no where near as bad as the ramp agents.
I also was a ramp agent for united, and most any ramp agent will tell you, don't buy expensive luggage. When your bag weighs 30-40 pounds and I have 50-100 bags coming to me at once, I can't treat yours with love and care that you would like. They usually want small jets out in 20 minutes ( this includes scanning bags, downloading, dropping off, scanning new bags for departure and loading and pushing back).
Another tidbit, if you are pushed back and sitting there it's because either your wheels up got pushed back or your delayed. Pilots don't get paid when brakes are set. They get paid pilot pay when the brakes are released.
You can only be pushed away and sitting there waiting to leave for 2 hrs, after that you return to the gate and this way you can take care of business .
Your flight will get delayed or cancelled if your coffee pot is broke or inop.
Planes break, it's unfortunate but respect it. The airlines care very much about safety, they will ground your plane for the smallest issue. I have seen a plane cancelled because the lave was clogged. But at the end of the day you should be thankful.
First time poster but I love my job, and planes and decided to give some insight.
DH 1 month ago
I only have anecdotal evidence of this, but it rings true, that if the plane is delayed and the reason given is "technical" this can mean stuff like no toilet paper or other necessities. It just sounds better.
Zig Zag Wanderer 1 month ago
Or perhaps a lack of lemon-soaked paper napkins? (HHGTTG scenario 😅)
Load More Replies... Pferdchen 1 month ago
I beg to differ on one point: I once sat on the tarmac for six hours (Snow storm at Newark 1/1/1990). It may have actually been 8 hours but I don't want to exaggerate. Either way, it was a very unpleasant way to start a six hour trans-Atlantic flight, which was immediately followed by a train ride from Brussels to Amsterdam.
Kelly Scott 1 month ago
My dad was a pilot. I know more about plane crashes than anyone wants to know. If the pilot for ANY reason wants to cancel or delay a flight because he thinks it might be dangerous not to, he or she has all my support. And if anyone complains, I'll give you a fist to the mouth. Because sometimes the difference between being dead or alive depends solely on one person and their knowledge. Respect that, shut up, and be grateful professionals fly planes.
#22
Pilot here.
We only get paid when the doors are closed and the push back has commenced. If we’re delayed or sitting with the door open, we’re just as annoyed as you are.
At altitude we’re constantly in contact with air traffic control and change to different “center frequencies” (or control for other than US locations)
We’re also doing fuel checks to make sure the fuel burn isn’t abnormal, dodging weather, and probably complaining about scheduling.
Rtblast66 1 month ago
My wife and I were on a flight from San Francisco to NYC , 2006, round world trip. Anyway, there were no films on this flight, but radio. The pilot, or 1st officer, told everyone they could tune into X frequency and listen to the pilots talk to various air traffic control and other flights. It was amazing. I can't remember who had the hole in one at some golf course :)
Mel in Georgia 1 month ago
How did you tune in? Radio talk is fascinating and to me mostly indecipherable.
Load More Replies... #23
-Prisoners are transported on commercial airline flights sometimes (law enforcement officers are escorting them)
-On days with low ceilings/visibility and overall bad weather, we may end up being within minutes of making the decision to divert due to fuel, especially if we end up having to hold. This isn't to say we don't have enough fuel. Legally, we must have enough fuel on board to shoot an approach to our destination, go around, fly to & land at our alternate airport if we have one, and even then, still have 45 minutes of fuel on board.
-Armed law enforcement officers on board sometimes (not escorting anyone)
-Flying faster to get there earlier if a crew member has a commute to catch home
-Chatting/joking with ATC (if frequency isn't busy)
-Delta pilots reporting light chop
-Pilot making PA announcement over frequency rather than PA
-Yes, the meowing on guard, as well as other nonsense
-Asking ATC how the rides are only to be told they suck at all altitudes. We try to get away from the turbulence but it's not always possible. And we can't predict it, and can't see it. Can only make educated guesses as to where it may be
-It's hot back there (during the summer mostly), we know, we have it blowing as hard as it can and cold as it can, we're sorry it ends up feeling like a baby's breath. Meanwhile our air vents are keeping us cool (if we're lucky)
-The iPad you may see us in the cockpit has all our manuals, approach plates, maps, checklists etc. Basically almost everything we need, it really is incredible. Just hope that they both don't decide to brick themselves at the same time in the air
-Yes, there isn't a single cloud in the sky where we are now, meanwhile our destination is encompassed by a massive thunderstorm. We don't like being late either. But we're paid to deliver living passengers. And we can't collect that paycheck if we're also dead
-There's a chance your flight could be a pilot's very first flight in an actual jet. He could be fresh out of training, out of the simulator, and actually flying that jet aircraft. Scary, right? Well that pilot could probably explain every single system of that aircraft in-depth. Guys that have been flying the line for years? Maybe not quite as in-depth. Oh and that brand new jet pilot is flying with a check airmen, who is there to further teach that new pilot about flying on the line.
-The autopilot can fly for a majority of the flight. We have to atleast take off and land (auto land isn't used for everyday normal operation). Different airlines have different rules on autopilot use. We must have the autopilot on above FL200 (20000ft) unless it is inop. So we can hand-fly up to that altitude, and sometimes do. If we never go above that altitude, we can hand-fly the entire flight, never turning the autopilot on, which we also sometimes do, and is often encouraged to maintain piloting skills.
-you could be asleep in the back while the pilots are battling caution messages about some system that decided to throw a hissy fit
-Planes often have broken equipment onboard, it's just the nature of the business and things break. Can't always fix it, so there is an approved list of things that may be broken, and how long they may be broken before they must be fixed, could be something that doesn't affect us much, like a brake temperature sensor isn't working, or be something that requires some the crew to account for it, like a thrust reverser being inoperative, or navigation GPS inop. Not stuff that makes the flight unsafe, just maybe more work for the pilots. Also, the Captain can always reject an aircraft if he feels it is unsafe
-If you ask us not to turn on the chemtrails this flight we are legally obligated to comply
>(Yes it's a joke, no one has asked, but if you do, I bet the pilots would get a kick out of it. Also, they are called Contrails)
-We're not customer service, we don't know where your flight is leaving out of, or how to help your problem, we'll try to help, but will usually try to direct you to a gate agent or actual customer service who can help you. We're not trying to be rude, we just really can't help you.
-Another person may be sitting upfront with the pilots in what's called the jumpseat. It could be a pilot commuting to or from work, a check airmen observing, or an FAA jumpseater observing to make sure we are following regulations
-Pilots and their families get flight benefits (same for Flight Attendants), we can fly for free(or discounted). We list on a standby list, and only after all paying passengers are onboard, standby passengers may be boarded.
-It's hours of boredom interrupted by moments of sheer terror
-When a fatal aircraft accident happens, all pilots mourn. Pilots are a close knit group, we may hate each other's guts at times, but never wish the worst.
-The view from the cockpit is amazing. Sunsets, Sunrises, lightning storms at night, flying over mountains and landscapes never gets old.
-The Captain (Pilot) and First Officer (Co-Pilot) are both fully capable of flying the aircraft. Each pilot is designated a role, either Pilot Flying (PF) or Pilot Monitoring (PM). PF is the one actually flying, PM is monitoring what the PF is doing, to back him/her up. Usually crews switch roles every flight or every two flights, so captain is PF for first 2 flights, then FO is PF for next two flights. Yes the FO actually does fly the plane.
Mel in Georgia 1 month ago
Great post. If you've landed in a hot climate, closing the shades really helps keep the plane cooler for the next passengers.
David Paterson 1 month ago
Oh, so that's why we have zero visability out of the plane's windows for the entire descent. Makes a mockery of getting a "window seat".
Load More Replies... Pferdchen 1 month ago
Some airports, such as DCA (Reagan), require an armed security officer on every general aviation flight using the airport.
nottheactualphoto 1 month ago
What if both seats are already taken in my Cherokee 140?
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#24
1. One split second of instinct combined with piloting skill decides if you land on the runway or on the side of it. Most of the runways are 45 metres wide and on a gusty summer afternoon or during thunderstorms I take god's name more than pope himself.
2. A smooth landing is not necessarily a good landing. One can make a smooth landing and it will feel good for passengers but it could be a risky landing if the pilot decides to use extra runway. Never shout at your pilot for a bad landing unless he crash lands. And if he crash lands and you can shout at him, understand that you are alive because of him.
Bonus Fact: Many a times aircrafts coming in to land go back up in the air. This is a scary experience for many as engines, after being relatively quiet for a while, roar back to life and aircraft is pulled back up. This is called a go-around. This happens because either the runway is not clear, weather is something that can't be negotiated properly for landing or the pilot is not at the right place and right configuration. Go-Around is something that is emphasized by all the senior trainers and authorities as it is better to go back up in the air than to be in a precarious position while forcing in to land. So whenever your pilot does a go-around, be happy that he is a safe pilot.
Bill Swallow 1 month ago
"A GREAT landing is one where you can safely fly the airplane again."
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Robert T 1 month ago (edited)
Touch and go, the wheels touch the runway - a practice landing essentially. Go-around just means an aborted landing at some point and go around to try again.
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#25
You are able to unlock airplane lavatories from the outside. There is usually a lock mechanism concealed behind the no smoking badge on the door. Just lift the flap up and slide the bolt to unlock.
z8vgjv598k 1 month ago
This is such a useful tip if you ever wanted to see a fat bloke taking a dump on a plane...
Ace 1 month ago
Thank you for that - I'm sure that image will leave my head in a few hours...
Load More Replies... Zig Zag Wanderer 1 month ago
It pretty obvious, because the FAs usually check and lock them all for take off & landing.
I am the rat in your walls 1 month ago
im guessing this is a safety feature in case somebody gets in cardiac arrest or smth
Mel in Georgia 1 month ago
Passengers have no need for this. It's for emergency access by FAs.
Robert T 1 month ago
Not just emergency. FAs routinely lock the doors for take off and landing after checking there is no-one in there.
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#26
Pilot here, most of the time the passengers are not given the full answer on why a flight is delayed or cancelled. Airlines will typically blame cancellations on unrelated events (weather) instead of mechanical issues so they don’t have to pay for hotel rooms/meals etc...
Also, chemtrails are not real. For those of you who believe they are real, give your head a shake.
Michael Largey 1 month ago
We were told our flight would be going out Chicago late because it had arrived late due to "weather". We had all seen it sitting right there at the gate for at least an hour and a half. So we missed our connection in San Francisco for New Zealand and were trapped there at 2am. The airline - United - would do nothing for us because of their weather lie.
CaliPanda 1 month ago
It may not have had anything to do with the aircraft. They may have been waiting on inbound crew that was delayed because of weather. No crew, no flight.
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Archibald Cunningham 1 month ago
Two chemtrail believers, Loren and Galen, died in a tragic car accident and then were sent to heaven. St. Peter told them they had a special this month where they could ask God one question and receive his answer. Loren said: " Okay God tell us the truth. What's the real story with chemtrails?" Your voice came booming from the heavens "Chemtrails are a total nonsense conspiracy theory. They are not and have never been real!" Galen looks at Loren and says "Wow. This goes higher up than we thought!"
#27
Arm Rests - aisle and window seat : Run your hand along the underside of the armrest, just shy of the joint you'll feel a button. Push it, and it will lift up. Adds a ton of room to the window seat and makes getting out of the aisle a helluva lot easier. :).
nottheactualphoto 1 month ago
I've never seen one where you had to push a button. Just lift the armrest.
CaliPanda 1 month ago
It’s on the aisle seats, and sometimes it’s a lever. Armrests on the aisle are stationary, unless you know how to release them.
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For All Pedernity 1 month ago
Just travelled in a pretty new Recaro seat and couldn't find the button. Very annoyed!
Zig Zag Wanderer 1 month ago
Yes, found ot decades ago. Not all buttons can be found, however, dunno why.
#28
An instructor told me that he and his training buddy BOTH fell asleep for about 45 minutes at the same time, while gaining hours for licensing. The plane was in complete auto pilot mode, clear skies, zero turbulence. They both swore if they ever flew again they would “hand off” sleep like handing off the controls
EDIT (for further context): He told me that after both of them awoke, they were terrified. Neither had no idea what had happened, even *if* anything had happened. Luckily, it was over the Gulf of Mexico and at a low enough altitude where it wouldn't impact commercial airliners. Their trim was set before "the nap", so they only gained a couple hundred feet of altitude. But rest assured, each were not happy with themselves. They immediately contacted ATC, verified their position, and turned around to go back to the airport, white palming the yoke the entire way. Oh and this was at night too (they needed the night experience).
EDIT 2: They were in a Cessna 152. This wasn’t an oxygen issue. It was just two buddies not communicating with each other and both assuming the other was flying
EDIT 3: You’re right. C152s don’t have autopilot. By autopilot I meant trim, which would confuse people. They were also very lucky the trim was set to gain altitude, not lower. I was just speaking in layman terms for the non pilots to understand better. Like I said, they were definitely thoroughly freaked out and both admitted how badly they messed up.
Bob Brooce 1 month ago
FYI - when you let go of all the controls the plane will continue (to the limit of its performance) to do what it was doing immediately before releasing the controls. Turning with radius of 1 mile and other controls properly set to maintain altitude? Then the plane will keep turning circles at that altitude until the controls move or the fuel is used. Good thing neither of them bumped the yoke while napping.
#29
Aluminium, unlike steel, doesn't have a lower stress limit for fatigue cracking. In layman's terms this means that whenever you apply load to it, it cracks. Planes are designed so that under normal loads the cracks are microscopic, but they'll always be there and they grow with repeated stress cycles i.e. Every time the plane is flown the cracks grow. Maintenance crews are responsible for knowing where they are on each individual plane and tracking their growth.
(Source is my Mechanical Engineering professor from college days).
Robert T 1 month ago
This is now a known quantity and the number of pressurisation/depressurisation cycles is monitored. One of the reasons for this is a well known accident involving a Hawaiian aricraft which did a lot of short journeys between the islands, and so didn't have a huge amount of flying hours, but did have a lot of cycles. The result was that a large part of the front section of the aircraft "blew out" - amazingly there was only one fatality, one the of FAs, and the aircraft landed safely.
Ace 1 month ago
Metal fatigue was heavily implicated in some crashes in the early days of jet airliners. The British de Havilland Comet was the first commercial jet airliner, but three of the original model crashed within a couple of years of its introduction. Later models had addressed the problem, but by then other manufacturers had entered the market place.
Geobugi🇰🇷🇰🇭 1 month ago
Wasnt it because the windows were rectangular instead of round?
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#30
10 year airline customer service professional checking in...here are a few tips:
1. The "FAA regulation" on carry-on bags is actually an airline specific choice. They set their own requirements and commit it to policy, and they are then held accountable through audits (FAA, TSA, internal) for compliance.
2. Customer service agents will bend over backwards to help you when you take the time to be respectful and courteous. I cannot tell you how many times I have broken a rule or made an exception for someone just because they were nice about it.
3. If you want to bring booze onboard, just ask the flight attendant to pour for you. This is so they have control of your consumption, and can cut you off if you start to get lispy. The altitude affects your blood oxygen levels and you will get drunker faster thank you are used to at sea level...the rule is "one on the ground equals two in the air".
4. We are required by law to offer up to $1300.00 in a check if we involuntarily deny you boarding due to an overbooked flight. The offer for volunteers will always continue to go up. It is based on the fare you paid, and the amount of time it takes us to get you to your destination as opposed to when you would have arrived had you been able to take the flight you had purchased.
edit: words.
Otto Katz 1 month ago (edited)
First time I flew in a very long time, Hartford ct to Chicago, husband ordered 2 double White Russians for me. My God I got so stöned. We got up to the car rental counter, guy says, 'she's not driving, right?', I say of course not, can't you see how drunk I am? Lol
#31
There's a special frequency called Guard that all aircraft are supposed to monitor. It's for emergencies, or for when an aircraft ends up on a wrong frequency and the controllers need to get contact with them to change them to the right frequency.
It's full of pilots meowing at each other, and people accidentally asking for gate assignments and making other radio calls.
#32
My uncle was a pilot. He says that most people don’t understand how much of the airplane is run by computers. The pilots are necessary but a lot of the elements of flying are automated nowadays.
Mel in Georgia 1 month ago
The day will soon come when there will be only one human in the cockpit to monitor the automated system instead of 2 or 3 flying the airplane. It will probably be safer and cheaper. But jobs will be eliminated.
Jihana 1 month ago
I am not so sure, because if something goes really wrong you need at least two people to handle the situation.
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z8vgjv598k 1 month ago
No way! Computers run complicated machines? Tell me more...Next, you'll be telling me that there's a computer in my car.
#33
I worked with a pilot that was really old. He couldn't stay awake in flight. The first officer kept having to poke him and wake him up. We kept feeding him black coffee but it didnt help much. I asked him if he was retiring soon but he said he couldn't afford it because our airline has no pension program and the pay scale is pathetic.
Pretty scary.
Mel in Georgia 1 month ago
As for the health of senior pilots, every pilot has to undergo a yearly flight physical. If they don't pass they don't fly. Most pilots, even senior ones, are very healthy.
nottheactualphoto 1 month ago
The first-class medical exam - the one airline pilots have to pass - is quite rigorous. And it's every six months for us 40-and-older types.
Load More Replies... Pferdchen 1 month ago (edited)
This story would make me worry about CFIT (Controlled Flight Into Terrain). It's worrisome that it's a common enough occurrence that there's an acronym for it.
#34
We sat in a backed up (Queue) for hours in Denver one time. The weather had the airport socked in, nobody was going anywhere until this giant supercell cleared the end of the runway.
During that time suddenly there appeared a mechanic at the front of the cabin on the PA holding up a two foot long piece of metal he had pulled from one of the tires. He explained if the plane hadn't been sitting waiting he might have never spotted it. It could have come flying out during take off roll and penetrated the planes wing, igniting fuel, or whatever...
...everyone cheered him, what a hero, he possibly saved our lives.
To this day I have no idea why they let him come on board and tell us this.
Robert T 1 month ago
This is what downed one of the Concordes - debris from another aircraft on the runway which was kicked up by the undercarriage and penetrated the fuel tanks.
Capn Dad 1 month ago
Oddly enough, it was the vibrations from the initial impact of the debris that did it. They reverberated through the tank, amplfied, and blew the front of the tank/wing out.
Load More Replies... #35
The stress on an aircraft's tires is much greater on takeoff than landing. Mostly because the plane is then at or near it's maximum weight due to fuel. Landing is no problem, even though the tires screech and smoke as they accelerate very rapidly, as the overall weight is much lower. Second fun fact: MOST of the tires planes are running on (maybe 70-80%) are NOT new but have been retreaded, many several times. The carcasses are strong, the treads wear away quickly. Source: self, worked in the aviation tire business long ago.
#36
Ex airline employee here. Often we'd have someone on board with terrible body odor. You can set the temperature in one end of the cabin hotter and it localized the smell to one part of the plane. If you see coffee filter bags hanging anywhere its because someone smells somewhere on the plane.
FAs often talk about the "hot guy in 23B" or whatever seat he's in.
Pilots mess around a lot up front. They'll take pictures, post on FB, watch movies, automation has taken over a lot of the work on long flights.
Edit: Not really on topic, but don't ever walk barefoot or in socks on an airplane. The same mop that mops the lav, mops the galley.
#37
On some 747s (Air France and possibly others) the upper deck economy class seats have a little extra room (and storage) on the Window seats. They have a tiny bit more legroom too iirc. Air France used to block these off for picking seats ahead of time unless you have a higher tier card. If you check in a bit early you can get them.
It's so probably been mentioned but seatguru.com is *the* resource for checking seats for whatever steel you're flying on.
Edit: Additionally, if you order any kind of special meal, you get your meal first. Diabetic meals, low salt, kosher, vegetarian, whatever.
Awkward lady 1 month ago
True about the meal. H/b is vegetarian, he always gets his meal first.
Zig Zag Wanderer 1 month ago
Seatguru dot com WAS the go to. It's a bit sad recently, and others have overtaken it. Perhaps it's mainly US based now, though.
#38
My cousin is a flight attendant, its not mid-flight, but airplane lines will fly attendants all over the country just in case there needed elsewhere. My cousin had to fly out from Portland to Seattle and some other places all in one trip, never having to work. Also, if you are sick you have to show up anyway and let the people in charge decide if you can fly or not. If you don't, you get 3 warnings then your fired.
#39
You can bring mini bottles of liquor through TSA. If you want to save some dough but still booze a mile high, bring a few along.
Bob Brooce 1 month ago
If you want to have enough money to buy cocktails on a plane the TSA doesn't care if you rob a bank. The FAA doesn't care if you rob a bank, either, but their opinion about drinking your own alcohol on a commercial flight is strong enough that the penalties can include 5 figure fines, arrest, being diverted to a different airport, and getting yourself on the no-fly list. The more severe consequences are usually the result of doing stupid drunk things, but even the smallest sip of an alcoholic beverage that wasn't served by the crew is illegal and can result in penalties.
The Majestic Opossum 1 month ago
I didn't know this, but it makes sense. Since they serve alcohol, it's similar to if you brought your own alcohol to a bar (which is against the law).
Load More Replies... #40
Not airline secret but airport. You know that 1st class line at security? Yeah, thats an airline thing not TSA. Economy passenger? TSA doesn't care. Step right up.
Mel in Georgia 1 month ago
There is no 1st class line at security. There is precheck and other pre-cleared, paid for access to shorter lines that the TSA definitely monitors.
Robert T 1 month ago
In most countries you can pay extra for fast-track security, which just means a shorter queue. This is typically included on business and first class tickets, but even Ryanair let you pay for it.
Load More Replies... UnclePanda 1 month ago
I sneak my foot under the velvet rope and put my foot on the 1st class carpet every flight. Oooh, the luxury!
OneHappyPuppy 1 month ago
My aunt is a ground agent at my home city's airport. She gets me through the line, security and TSA swiftly
What do you think ?
Verena 1 month ago
A lot of "USA only". Salary at many airlines is monthly, independent from "closed door"-situation, plus overtime. Salary sounds low in figures, but do read on, at a lot of airlines the benefits are weighing it out. And in most European countries, solid health and social care is covered by taxes and a low monthly contribution.
SheHulk 1 month ago
My ex BIL was a commercial airline pilot and I remember staying with them when the phone rang ( a landline), and he came running yelling "DON´T ANSWER!". He was on standby and apparently if the airline rang and the phone was picked up, he was contractually obliged to go to work.
Verena 1 month ago
A lot of "USA only". Salary at many airlines is monthly, independent from "closed door"-situation, plus overtime. Salary sounds low in figures, but do read on, at a lot of airlines the benefits are weighing it out. And in most European countries, solid health and social care is covered by taxes and a low monthly contribution.
SheHulk 1 month ago
My ex BIL was a commercial airline pilot and I remember staying with them when the phone rang ( a landline), and he came running yelling "DON´T ANSWER!". He was on standby and apparently if the airline rang and the phone was picked up, he was contractually obliged to go to work.
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