People Who Work In The Airline Industry Share 30 Things Everyone Should Know About Flying

On average, 2.9 million passengers fly every day in and out of U.S. airports. But even though air travel has become so prevalent, it remains much more mysticized than, say, driving a car or riding a train.

I guess going 550 miles per hour (885 km/h) over 30,000 feet (9,000 meters) above ground comes with its fair share of mystery.

To dispel it, Reddit user BluPillow made a post on the platform, asking: "People who work in the airline industry, what are some things you think everyone should know about flying?"

Immediately, pilots, flight attendants, and other professionals started sending in their answers. Here's what they wrote.

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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 aquaplaning.

Virgadays Report

Final score:

313points

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Rachel Peterson 2 years ago

We travel a lot and I really appreciate knowing things like this!

73points

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Flight attendant here. I think everyone should know or at least keep in mind that airline travel is difficult.

You and your fellow passenger can expect to have: Stress, An altered food schedule, Lack of sleep, Swelling, Dehydration, Discomfort, Confusion trying to figure out new things, Social anxiety, Changing ambient pressure, Loud noises, Nausea, Being hot or cold, Boredom.

Please remember your fellow passengers are traveling for various reasons. Hopefully it’s vacation but very frequently I run into people going to funerals, going to get medical treatments and commuting to work away from their families.

Everyone has a different story and many of us are having a rough day onboard we all have the same goal. Get there quickly and safely. Including the staff. Have patience with each other and us.

soggy544 , Gerrie van der Walt Report

Final score:

299points

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Leo Domitrix 2 years ago

Thank you for this. :-) This is also true in hospitals. We're not there to give you a spa experience, much as we'd like one, too.

72points

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Former pilot here — turbulence will break your nose or your neck before it knocks the plane out of the sky. Buckle up when the light is on and take comfort in the fact that turbulence hasn’t crashed a plane since the 1970s.

FeelFreeToIgnoreThis , Ed Schipul Report

Final score:

294points

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M K Shaw 2 years ago

THANK YOU for that! I'm a nervous flyer, and this is so good to know.

110points

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Before being a prick to a flight attendant, keep in mind that their actual job is to save your life in an emergency. If I'm flying and know that there are 2 people who will make it a priority to keep me alive even if I'm unconscious, I'm going to make sure I'm on their good side. Just sayin..

The-Gordon-Project Report

Final score:

264points

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oktopus 2 years ago

"Don't be a prick to anyone you interact with" is a good rule for life, anyway.

175points

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I learned that flight attendants don't get paid for the time before and after flights when doing a s**t ton of work to clean up and get people on/off, and frankly, I think that's s**tty. We would never work before clocking in, why is it okay for them?

HairTop23 Report

Final score:

260points

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Robert T 2 years ago

Not true of all airlines. I think I can guess which country this comes from!

71points

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No one is physically capable of opening the cabin door while in flight because of the aircraft pressurization. So take comfort in knowing that if a crazy person gets up and starts frantically trying to open the door in the middle of a flight, they're not going to be able to do it at all. You could sit in your seat and watch them work on it for hours and it still won't happen.

EMPulseKC , Mengliu Di Report

Final score:

242points

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Auntriarch 2 years ago

Well that's good to know. Though to be fair I'm going to be off my face on diazepam just giggling at the crazy person

77points

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If you checked your Dog there's about a 30% chance it's terrified before it even gets on the plane, who knows how scared it gets during the actual flight. Bag room agents will usually try to comfort a scared animal, but all we can really do is talk to it, so if you write your pet's name on their carrier it usually helps a lot.

I've never seen a cat who was scared in the bag room, cats don't give a f**k.

RabbitMix , Tanya Yule Report

Final score:

209points

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M K Shaw 2 years ago

Cats DO give a f**k, they just don't show it. In the wild, they are predators but also prey, so it's in their best interest to not draw attention and show weakness.

170points

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When you are seated, buckle your damn seatbelt. I don’t want you to be paralyzed because we hit turbulence and you smacked your head on the ceiling. So much paperwork.

FatalDeathShart , Gus Ruballo Report

Final score:

198points

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Paddling Panda 2 years ago

It's the paperwork that gets you every time. So just buckle up. People hate paperwork.

67points

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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.

bonestamp , Giuseppe Famiani Report

Final score:

195points

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oktopus 2 years ago

Ryanair would do it anyway to save a couple of cents.

53points

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#10

Not every landing is going to be smooth. Sometimes we purposefully land a little firmer. Just know that if it was a rough landing, the other pilot is making fun of the one who made the landing.

FatalDeathShart , Josue Isai Ramos Figueroa Report

Final score:

172points

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Brandon Marlowe 2 years ago

For what reason would you "purposefully land a little firmer"?

20points

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#11

The reason you are supposed to open your life vest outside the aircraft in case of an emergency ditching is so that you don't float upwards while still inside the plane. This will trap you and increase your risk of drowning.

Always open them outside or immediately before you leave the aircraft, should you need to evacuate on water.

DerSaftschubser , Official U.S. Navy Page Report

Final score:

168points

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MyOpinionHasBeenServed 2 years ago

In this situation I don't think I'd be able to think straight.

51points

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#12

It is NOT a right. It is a privilege.

Be kind, behave, or be gone.

kejovo Report

Final score:

165points

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Joann Pheasant 2 years ago

Not a right. It's a contract for carriage. You (as a passenger with a paid ticket) are party to a contract as a business invitee. The contract is with conditions, lots and lots of conditions. The contract can be voided at any time by the carrier. They may have other obligations to you as the "business invitee" like possible repayment of your ticket when your ticket is revoked but they don't have to board you and they may deplane you too. Sorry, not a right. Contract law.

41points

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#13

We fly with broken s**t on the airplane all the time. We have a list that tells us what can be broken and still be able to fly safely and legally.

FatalDeathShart , Herry Sutanto Report

Final score:

162points

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Leo Domitrix 2 years ago

Very true. Also true of cars. It's pretty amazing we get anywhere alive, really.

60points

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#14

Both pilots are equally qualified — the captain just has more responsibility and more experience (usually). We trade off who is flying and who is monitoring the radios every other flight (sometimes every two flights).

FatalDeathShart , NeONBRAND Report

Final score:

157points

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Niffler_13 2 years ago

Each airline flies a different type of plane. First Officers must train and become qualified to fly, then typically have to fly with the airline for 2 years, or so many hours. Then they can go through the training to be a Captain.

23points

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#15

My husband was a plane mechanic for years and he says that flying is hands down safer than driving.

vyletteriot , Hanson Lu Report

Final score:

148points

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Gregory Gibbs 2 years ago

Trouble is, when two cars collide, it doesn't result in 600 casualties!

43points

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#16

Everything is expensive as hell! If you want your flights to be cheaper, take care of the aircraft while flying. The seat is rented by you, NOT owned! Just a simple tray table fix can cost $1000. The airline industry just passes the cost to the customer. Simple computers can cost tens of thousands of dollars. The FAA sticker of approval can triple, quadruple, or exponentially raise costs of things, hence the $6000 coffee maker.

Nutwinder , Kai Pilger Report

Final score:

145points

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Thomas Sweda 2 years ago

Hey, it almost sounds like the government.

28points

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#17

A flight attendant told me that in the event of a situation where passengers have to cover their heads you do not 'lock' your fingers overhead but place one hand on top of the other. If something falls on your hand/head, you'll still have one good hand to use.

DeviantOffspring Report

Final score:

142points

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MyOpinionHasBeenServed 2 years ago

Make sure your bad hand is on top then.

75points

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#18

Not an airline worker, but when I sit down, during the safety lecture, I count the number of rows to an exit. If an evacuation is necessary, it's a good number to know.

PM_ME_YOUR_ATM_PIN , Nan Palmero Report

Final score:

141points

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Leo Domitrix 2 years ago

This. I'm also this person. I map my exits and often will volunteer to sit in an exit row.

37points

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#19

Interfering with the air crew is a felony. If you have grievances you can address them with the airline after you disembark.

starfishy , ismail mohamed - SoviLe Report

Final score:

134points

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Random Anon 2 years ago

We should have a brig on planes and a lever to send unruly passengers there.

16points

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#20

Bring an unopened bag or box of chocolates for the flight crew, especially on long flights...they'll treat you like a king for the whole flight.

the200sx Report

Final score:

132points

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AnnaBanana 2 years ago

I've always wondered how to approach that. Seems a bit weird to give them something at the beginning of a trip, rather than the end. And if you give them something at the beginning, don't they consider it 'bribery' to get on board perks or something??

29points

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#21

There are no parachutes on commercial flights, so please stop asking. If the plane is going down there is nothing you can do but pray and ask forgiveness for your sins.

Estbolbotkzn , Untitled Photo Report

Final score:

130points

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Autumn Artemis 2 years ago

That, and also pray that you die immediately on impact.

53points

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#22

The captain has almost limitless authority when the doors are closed. He is allowed to arrest people, write fines, and even take the will of a dying passenger.

Virgadays Report

Final score:

130points

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Auntriarch 2 years ago

Can he perform marriages?

80points

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#23

Don't show up to the airport late, give airport staff and security your bulls**t attitude because you couldn't be bothered to get there on time, and then get all offended when they give you your attitude right back to you. Seriously. F**k off with the entitlement.

Sparkheart_52 Report

Final score:

125points

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He-Matt & the MOTU 2 years ago

I wasn't planning to but thanks for the helpful advice.

22points

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#24

As pilots, we are just darn lazy. We focus our attention on finding ways to avoid anything becoming busy, rushed, or any time our capacity might be stretched.

We do everything for a simple life. Sometimes that means using the autopilot as much as we can. Sometimes it means manual flying and looking out the window.

Whilst some of us might secretly relish the opportunity to go off-piste and demonstrate our prowess as great aviators in adverse circumstances, no one wants a sweaty day. The imagery of seasoned sky gods wrestling with the controls are all well and good in the movies, but that’s exactly the sort of stuff we are determined to avoid. In fact, most of us are just plain boring.

Come say hi - either before after. Small kids and big ‘kids’ alike.

Cvrk2 , Rafael Cosquiere Report

Final score:

119points

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Robert T 2 years ago

This may be so, but I want someone at the controls who is prepared to get a bit sweaty when things do go wrong! Like Captain Sully Sullenberger for example.

29points

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#25

Electronics do absolutely nothing to a plane. Your phone or iPad or laptop isn't going to make the plane magically drop out of the sky. It's not going to suddenly make the navigation system go offline. Planes have triple redundancy in EVERY system. Also, all of the sensitive electronics are so heavily shielded against the radiation that the atmosphere produces (which is several factors stronger than your iPhone) so you don't have to worry.

Source: I'm an aerospace engineer and also the a**hole that texts from 35000 feet.

lilitaly51793 Report

Final score:

119points

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Gin. No tonic 2 years ago

But how doest the text reach its recipient? Can a mobile signal reach that high?

20points

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#26

Your tastebuds are reduced by 30-60% on flights. So more salt and seasoning are added to the food so it doesn't seem bland. Might also be the reason so many crave tomato juice or bloody mary mix ONLY on planes.

The air in flight is drier than most of the deserts in the world, this impacts the taste of the food as well as your need to hydrate. Make sure you are drinking plenty of water on the long trans-oceanic or even transcontinental flights.

Flight attendant jumpseats are waaaaaay more uncomfortable than anything you are sitting on and are usually right by a stinky lav. So keep that in mind when you complain to a crew member about your seat. Jumpseats are about as comfy as those old plastic fold-up lawn chairs.

Angelsunrise , Toni Osmundson Report

Final score:

111points

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AnnaBanana 2 years ago

I once sat in a jump seat for a five hour flight. I had food poisoning and the poor flight attendants had no choice but to put me in their seats between the two toilets at the back of the plane, with an airsick bag in case the toilets were occupied. Not my most pleasant flight!!

36points

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#27

Alcohol has a greater effect on people at higher altitudes so know your limits and don’t push them. Even if you have had a drink in the airport it can still affect you during the flight. As flight crew, we do not care that it’s your holiday, birthday, stag party, hen party or that you are nervous, if you are drunk and behaving like a prick it will not be tolerated and you can be arrested get a ban from the airline. And because airlines share their ban passenger list you could find yourself banned from a few airlines.

posh-old-bird , Gary Butterfield Report

Final score:

107points

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Tenacious Squirrel 2 years ago

I think they should just stop serving alcohol on flights. Especially non-long haul - you can survive a few hours without alcohol. If you seriously need alcohol to relax you to fly then go to your doctor and get medication or treat your fear of flying another way.

75points

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#28

Don’t make jokes about the pilot drinking. “Oh, didn’t I see you at the bar late last night hur hur hur”. We then (for safety and to make sure there is no doubt) will take a BAC test to show we are stone sober. It makes s**t unnecessarily difficult.

FatalDeathShart , KOMUnews Report

Final score:

105points

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fire bug 2 years ago

I'm kinda surprised pilots dont have to do this regardless before every flight. It was on the news this past week that a Pilot was ready to take off but was stopped because he was drunk. I'm sure that is extremely rare but still.

44points

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#29

Almost every commercial flight you ride-on has a dead body on board. Possibly 2 if you're on a wide-body (large) aircraft.

m_cake , Riku Lu Report

Final score:

105points

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Marco Conti 2 years ago

As long as they remain in their container and don't try to eat me, I am fine with it.

118points

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#30

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.

D_rock95 Report

Final score:

98points

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Robert T 2 years ago

They get struck by lightning more often than you'd think, and as they are essentially one big Farraday cage, it normally has absolutely zero effect. However, I do distrinctly remember the "thunderstorm" that two of my colleagues took off in, which consisted of precisely one flash of lightning and one rumble of thunder (I live close to the airport), which somehow managed to hit their plane shortly after takeoff, brought on a warning light and they had to return to the airport for the plane to be checked before leaving a second time. Lightning can also temporarily blind the pilots.

21points

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#31

People fake needing a wheelchair to gain boarding priority. 10 wheelchairs get on and only 1 person needs it getting off. We call um miracle flights.

tagt8er Report

Final score:

38points

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User# 6 2 years ago

That's disgusting behaviour.

37points

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#32

As a flight attendant, I am there for your safety! The reason we tell you to put your tray table up (it’s to make egress safer if it’s down you can’t get into your brave position for impact and slamming into the edge of the table during impact can seriously injure you), Is your bags under the seat (allows freedom of movement into the aisle), making sure your seatback is upright (makes it easier for the people behind you to evacuate and the seats are designed to absorb the force of a crash in the upright position, you can also slide under your seatbelt if your seat is reclined). In essence: we are preparing the cabin for a crash and evacuation.

Dependent-Cut-4194 Report

Final score:

37points

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elmortero 2 years ago

Haha "your BRAVE position", must be a typo, but I like It much more than brace position

13points

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#33

Wear earplugs instead of trying to manage noise around you.

Fullsendmoneymoney Report

Final score:

36points

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Ogre Juan Canolli 2 years ago

"But Wearing Them Violate My RIGHTS".

15points

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#34

I only know two things.

There is a database that tracks every plane with damage that is still flying. I must have entered thousands.

when there is a crash, which is rare, every piece is collected if possible to understand what and why.

Worked at Boeing for a few years

Randygilesforpres Report

Final score:

34points

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Robert T 2 years ago

I've watched enough episodes of Aircrash Investigation to know this.

6points

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#35

Your bag is more likely to break flying on a narrow body. Especially 737’s. They don’t have containers so the ramp crew is most likely throwing your bags 30ft underneath the plane. Every bag gets thrown. The sorting system isn’t soft. Containers get filled by thrown bags.

Get a good bag and stop worrying.

Jorelia , Calle Macarone Report

Final score:

32points

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Leo Domitrix 2 years ago

I'm still waiting for American Airlines to find a bag they lost in the early 1990s, so I just don't fly with any checked luggage. If I 'm going somewhere with water and soap, I'll just do some laundry, f*ck that luggage carousel.

13points

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#36

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

obotray Report

Final score:

31points

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jammer 2 years ago

Would this prevent the creep sitting behind from sticking his smelly toes through the space between seat and wall? Asking for wife.

12points

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#37

Aircraft hit LOTS more birds than the 10 o'clock news reports and most never know when they do. Though we do have a very extensive inspection that we have to do when it happens. It is just not an issue and the Hudson River crash was a one in 10 million occasion. Flying is DEFINATELY the safest way to travel, statistically.

Nutwinder , Darya Tryfanava Report

Final score:

28points

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Robert T 2 years ago

Aircraft engines are tested to make sure they can withstand a birdstrike. Something the size of a sparrow or starling isn't going to trouble them. A flock of geese on the other hand...

6points

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#38

Ladies, take your batteries out of your vibrators when you're packing. It's not going on the plane if it's dancing all over the baggage conveyor, and the bigger the airport the more difficult it'll be to find you so you can go in and deactivate it.

bpanio , Gabrielle Henderson Report

Final score:

27points

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Anthony Nizza 2 years ago

It's not just women who use vibrators, just an FYI

16points

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#39

Don't put wine in a duffle bag. I used to work on the ground for a legacy carrier. Someone sat a duffle bag down on the concrete assuming nothing breakable...my hands smelled very good and the bin smelt better than typical but don't put wine in a duffle bag.

Better yet just get a hard suitcase. Protect your stuff. Hardcover suitcases also fit inside the plane better and allow Ramp agents to load more quickly.

Avoid flying with an animal. Just drive. I know it is not always feasible and we would do our best to care for your pet but there's only so much we can do and some people are a**holes.

palmettoswoosh Report

Final score:

27points

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AnnaBanana 2 years ago

The "Don't fly with an animal" coupled with "some people are arseholes" made my hair stand on end. Makes me feel a bit sick to even contemplate what baggage handlers do to our pets!

4points

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#40

Every safety-critical system has dual redundancies designed into the system, and these two systems have to be designed in different ways too. Meaning the chance of both parts of the system failing, at the same time, in a safety-critical time, is literally next to impossible.

CleanedSkiller Report

Final score:

27points

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Thomas Sweda 2 years ago

Dual redundancieS. That means 4 systems ? ( Up above, somebody said 3 systems. We need to get our stories straight.)

-1point

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#41

As a pilot, I don’t know where baggage claim is, I don’t know where your next flight is, I don’t know where the Starbucks is, and often I don’t know why the flight is delayed. I also don’t know what lake we are flying over.

FatalDeathShart , Westwind Air Service Report

Final score:

24points

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Beta 2 years ago

Idk if it was just me but when I first looked at the photo I thought it was a painting

54points

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#42

Former Lufthansa cargo agent here.

Do not EVER drink water on an aircraft that did not come from a bottle. Don't even TOUCH IT. The reason is the ports to purge lavatory s**t and refill the aircraft with potable water are within feet of each other and sometimes serviced all at once by the same guy. Not always, but if you're not on the ramp watching, you'll never know.

gruntman , Son of Groucho Report

Final score:

23points

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Isabella 2 years ago

What I don't know, can not hurt me. 😄 Joke aside: I have most of the time a tea in the plane and I never had issues.

5points

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#43

10 year airline customer service professional checking in. 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.

mollyberry Report

Final score:

21points

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Enna S 2 years ago

Note that the terms and compensation vary by airline. It's a good idea to look up "contract of carriage" or "conditions of carriage" for your particular carrier before you fly.

8points

#44

There are sometimes body parts in the storage area near your luggage (when they are flying transplants for hospitals). Also, your pets are in the same area as well.

oh_sneezeus Report

Final score:

21points

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Guy Incognito 2 years ago

I'm sorry we can't replace your liver. A dog got out of it's carrier and ate it.

14points

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#45

Employees and their families get "ID tickets" (ID is for "industry discount"), which means they only pay taxes and fees and nothing for the actual ticket.

The airlines basically lets them fly for free. And not just with their own airline, but with every airline in any alliance. The tickets are stand-by tickets, so you're not guaranteed to get on board, but you get a seat more often than not. The family members can travel on these tickets without the employee.

My dad worked for an airline in Star Alliance, so I used to get free tickets with airlines in One World and SkyTeam as well as Star Alliance. I usually traveled in business class, all around the world. A return trip between Europe and Japan was something like 200 USD in business class, and maybe 50 USD in economy.

I don't get any perks anymore, as it was only valid until I turned 25.

kjerstih Report

Final score:

21points

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Maria B. 2 years ago

Doesn't allow free/discounted travel on EVERY carrier. Maybe it did then but not recently. I'm married to an airline employee and we have to

2points

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#46

In most European airports, you can enter the business class security lane with any ticket, not just business. The code scans anyway.

DerSaftschubser , Matthew Turner Report

Final score:

19points

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MyOpinionHasBeenServed 2 years ago

I think I did that by accident. I got separated from everyone and went to the security thing I saw people at. It was weird. There were 2 gates, everyone was looking ahead and not making much extra moves, they scanned their tickets like robots. I must have been the only one looking completely lost and confused lol.

3points

#47

We are there for your safety first, your drinks second.

Also: we don't turn right back around after a 14 hour flight. How would that even work? I've been asked that so many times.

DerSaftschubser , Omar Prestwich Report

Final score:

19points

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Bella10 2 years ago

My usual route is an 18 hour shift. The amount of times I get asked if I head straight back is crazy. Not withstanding the time on the ground, that would be a 38 hour shift.

5points

#48

You don't need to queue before passing through from the waiting room to the aircraft and you can also remain seated when you land. There is no way to exit that aircraft until everyone has exited before you...so you may as well remain seated.

mishmishtamesh Report

Final score:

18points

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AnnaBanana 2 years ago

No way do I remain seated when I'm allowed to get up. As an Aussie, the majority of flights we take are long haul and there's nothing better than standing up after the plane arrives at the terminal, knowing that it won't be too long before you get off the bloody thing!!

5points

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#49

Passenger weighing in: If you have a musical instrument NEVER CHECK IT. Take it to the gate with you. If they don't have room on the plane they can "gate check" it and put it on last. When you de-board on your next stop it will be waiting for you as soon as you exit the plane.

Aarondhp24 Report

Final score:

18points

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Pumpkin Spice 2 years ago

*hefts baritone case into overhead compartment* *shoves bass into under-seat space*

6points

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#50

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 flight deck, the rest is for the passengers. The air leaves the airplane via a small hole in the back of the fuselage.

Virgadays Report

Final score:

18points

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Pezor Zass 2 years ago

the smell of airplane air is my least favourite thing about flying other than the cramped conditions.

4points

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#51

There is very little we can actually do to “make up time”. The longer the flight, the more we can do, but still, we're talking 5-10 minutes, not an hour.

FatalDeathShart Report

Final score:

17points

POST

Gin. No tonic 2 years ago

I was on a flight Shanghai-Frankfurt, which was 6 hours late for take off, and arrived only 4 hours late for landing. Which means they made up 2 hours in flight.

5points

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#52

Jet mechanic here and you should avoid drinking coffee on the flight! Those tanks aren't cleaned as often as they should be and when they do get cleaned, they get super cleaned with chemicals... NOT good! $6000 for the coffee maker that makes crap coffee! Just buy the Starbucks before you get on!

Nutwinder , Mr Michael Phams Report

Final score:

17points

POST

Robert T 2 years ago

It's boiling water. Anything in it has been cooked. ;-)

2points

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#53

I want people to put their names, addresses, and destinations on their luggage. If the tag comes off and you didn't give any other info, we're just relying on how well you remember the look and the contents and how well the person who ends up with your bag documents all that s**t.

AMA_viation Report

Final score:

16points

POST

Phil DeBlanc 2 years ago

Maybe meant to say "put it IN your luggage?"

5points

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#54

The size of the airport doesn't matter. Your flight in Watertown, NY still abides by the same departure schedules as JFK does.

LearTiberius Report

Final score:

16points

POST

#55

If you're flying from a small airport, it may be convenient, but it's also more limited on resources. That means if it delays, there's not much to mitigate it. Could go on for quite some time.

grilldcheese2 Report

Final score:

15points

POST

#56

You should know airline employees are very dedicated people.

Distinct-Most-7739 Report

Final score:

15points

POST

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#57

Paramedic here. If you switch on your alarm lights on the ambulance while being on the inner field of the airport (because...well you just get there sometimes) they will totally shut down all incoming and outgoing flights until they know exactly what's going on. My Buddy learned this the hard way. Needless to say people got mad at him...

Ne0nN00dle Report

Final score:

14points

POST

#58

there is only enough oxygen in the emergency tanks for approximately fifteen minutes. also, those tanks do not actually contain oxygen; they contain a substance (barium peroxide) which becomes oxygen when exposed to heat.

another interesting fact is that the bathrooms on airplanes do not actually lock. the metal sign which says "vacant" or "occupied" is actually a secondary latch. people can flip it up from the outside if necessary.

most interesting of all is that every airplane built since 1979 has had a special safe installed in the cockpit. the combination to this safe is only released to the pilot in the case of a reported and confirmed encounter with an alien spacecraft. nobody knows what is actually inside the safe, but many people have speculated that you should include a "serious" tag on questions like this.

max , Calle Macarone Report

Final score:

13points

POST

Dave In MD 2 years ago

I call BS on the last item.

15points

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#59

Once those doors close to boarding your flight, they aren’t opening back up no matter who you are.

inNoutCross Report

Final score:

13points

POST

Ogre Juan Canolli 2 years ago

"Do You Know Who I Am"? NOPE--Don't Care Either !

2points

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#60

I'm not airline industry, but aviation manufacturing...80% of the people building them are questionably competent.....

buttmagnuson Report

Final score:

10points

POST

User# 6 2 years ago

So... the same as in all other industries, then?

12points

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#61

Don’t touch anything. It’s dirty.

kyriakosso Report

Final score:

10points

POST

MyOpinionHasBeenServed 2 years ago

Many things are dirty. I just want to be as comfortable and enjoy my flight as best I can.

4points

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#62

If it says fragile, it's getting thrown harder. If it says this side up, it's going to be upside down. We have to fit freight and 100+ bags in a cargo pit. It has to fit how it's going to fit... I will tell you that when we see "I heart baggage handlers" bag tags... We take special care of your s**t

flipitinthewaistband Report

Final score:

10points

POST

Oopsydaisy 2 years ago

I don't see why something being fragile or needing to be a certain side up is going to make it difficult to fit. Hardly an excuse for treating stuff badly. I bet they don't treat the equipment of famous bands like that.

9points

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#63

It's an FAA regulation to have 1 flight attendant per 50 passengers. Just a neat fact, I'm an aircraft dispatcher for a major airline.

Mountain-King Report

Final score:

9points

POST

Thomas Sweda 2 years ago

So with 51……..?

0points

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#64

I worked for the airlines for a few years. I'd sum it all up as:

Go to the bathroom BEFORE you get on the flight.

Get to your gate BEFORE your boarding time.

Nobody gives two s**ts that you want to be called "Doctor". Doubly true if you're a doctor of literature or some nonsense like that.

You can cancel a reservation on a U.S. flag carrier for free within 24 hours of booking, even if it's "non-refundable".

If you have kids, make them work at the airline. Date a flight attendant. Whatever it takes, but get those flight benefits. It's amazing.

PeteyMcPetey Report

Final score:

8points

POST

Thomas Sweda 2 years ago

So, some doctor really pissed you off, huh ?

1point

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#65

If you fly standby wear a suit not pajamas.

BlueBudda420_69 Report

Final score:

8points

POST

D K 2 years ago

My mother was a United Airlines employee when I was in high school. One summer she took my brother and I to Australia, and yes, we did have to dress up a little more than normal (e.g. no jeans.) But got to fly business class on a 14 hour flight, so no complaints!

1point

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#66

We KNOW your kid doesn't wanna get a peek in the cockpit, stop pushing that crying distressed child inside, dad.

Planes often get delayed due to missing their slots, especially during the busy months, chances are we've been sitting on board for a while too as such a flight can be our 3rd/4th leg of the day, we feel you, yet there's nothing we can actually do about it. -FA.

eliysa_tis1 , Hanson Lu Report

Final score:

8points

POST

oktopus 2 years ago

First longhaul flight I was on, aged ca. 10, I was very happy to be offered a trip to the cockpit (on a 747, no less).

2points

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#67

How to get upgraded:
Be a frequent flier, be dressed appropriately, be booked in a lower but oversold cabin and on a flight that has space available in a higher class. Usually in this case the airline will wear the cost of upgrading people to fit everyone on board. Other than that it’s costly to move people up for free because then there is no incentive to pay and no justification to keep business class in an aircraft which will likely make your ticket more expensive in the long run as business class seat revenue often subsidize economy seats.

Scottzilla90 Report

Final score:

8points

POST

Auntriarch 2 years ago

My parents were on their last flight home (retirement) and some plinker came up and insisted my mother was in his seat (she wasn't) he'd booked that very seat for his own self and wasn't going to give it up, dammit he was a business man and knew his rights. My parents were getting distressed, they were flying business class as a treat to themselves. The chap must have really annoyed the flight attendant, because she said to my parents, I'm sorry but I'm going to have to move you so that this gentleman can sit here, would you mind following me to the first class cabin.... It really couldn't have happened to nicer people than my parents. Actually I'm still smiling and it was 30 years ago

29points

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#68

Read the contract of the carriage!

cidelfastr0 Report

Final score:

7points

POST

Thomas Sweda 2 years ago

What …..?

0points

#69

Worked one preparing meals that go onto planes for a while. The reason why some things sometimes are or aren't on a plane. EX: type of drink or a airlines doesn't have the normal cookie/meal they have on a flight EX: United's delicious white chocolate cranberry, this is never the airline's fault this is ALWAYS the company (the big one that's worldwide is LSG Sky Chef's) fault. Either they ran out and substituted it or they can't find the item in their large freezer.

NorthwestIceman Report

Final score:

4points

POST

He-Matt & the MOTU 2 years ago

Sorry, but I don't have a clue what you're on about.

25points

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#70

The air inside the jet engine of an airplane is hotter than the melting point of any component of the engine.

BarefootSeagull Report

Final score:

4points

POST

Thomas Sweda 2 years ago

???????

0points

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#71

Being gone on a trip for 4 days seems like an eternity. A lot of missed time at home, with kids. When we get home we don’t want to talk about airplanes.

Fullsendmoneymoney Report

Final score:

3points

POST

Roxy Eastland 2 years ago

That's a discussion you need to have with your friends and family. Not sure what I can do with that information.

11points

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#72

Airline pilots generally aren't paid well. A lot of them have difficulties keeping a positive balance and a lot of low-cost companies don't even pay their pilots. Instead, the pilots have to pay the company a sum equivalent of 10.000 euro for every 1000 hours of flight experience. The low-cost companies reason that they provide young pilots with the experience they need to get hired at larger airlines and want to be paid for that.

Virgadays Report

Final score:

-1point

POST

Aahzmandus Pervect 2 years ago

I call BS.

2points

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#73

If there are people who get deported (accompanied or unaccompanied) they are put in the last row of seats. If they are accompanied there will be some sort of air marshall sitting next to him. If they don't pose a substantial threat they will be unaccompanied and look like regular passengers (the only thing is they usually enter through the back doors of the plane). So, if you're sitting next to a sketchy person in the last row, it might be a deported criminal/refugee.

jordicl Report

Final score:

-3points

POST

Oopsydaisy 2 years ago

Refugees are not 'sketchy' and should not be being deported. What a disgusting comment.

15points

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What do you think ?

Kusotare 2 years ago

The bag that is part of the oxygen mask won't inflate. They tell you that in their spiel. What they don't tell you is what the bag's true function is. That bag is to contain your barf that you might upchuck as a result of nausea caused by the sudden decompression. The same sudden decompression that released the masks in the first place. It keeps the former contents of your stomach from clogging your tube and blocking the flow of sweet, sweet air.

Jo Choto 2 years ago

I fly so, so much. My tips would be, take hand sanitizer and some tissues and clean all the wipeable surfaces before you use them. Sanitize after leaving the toilet. Be really, really polite and appreciative of everything the flight crew do, because believe me, they can choose to be VERY unavailable if they take a dislike to you. Always wear your seat belt the whole flight. Don't wear tight shoes because your extremities swell. Hydrate and don't drink too much.

the annoying theatre kid 2 years ago

one thing i know is that you should always wipe down your tray table cause they don't clean it

Steph 2 years ago

A good advice in general, but not always true. I have worked as a flight operation manager: it much depends on the cleaning staff of each airport, not even the airline itself. And also on how long the plane is „sitting“ until next take-off.

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