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Honored Contributor
Posts: 12,413
Registered: ‎02-02-2015

16 Secrets You Wish You Didn't Know About Airlines

The editorial team of Easyvoyage posted on the Internet (12/6/16) an article you might find interesting. Every time I see one of these about airlines I think, well, I knew that or I've read that before. Although some of this may be duplication of others covering airlines, I found a few things I didn't know (like, did you know that people actually steal the life jackets?). And maybe you haven't read some of the others, so here we go again! Smiley Happy

 

 

WE BREATHE THE AIR FROM THE ENGINE

According to one anonymous pilot, the oxygen you breath on a plane is effectively pressurized air, which comes from the engines. Around 25% of that air goes to the cockpit, whilst the rest is circulated around the cabin. Air leaves the plane via a small hole at the back of the fuselage.

 

YOU CAN UNLOCK THE TOILETS FROM THE OUTSIDE

You may have already seen a steward doing this. But one particular cabin crew member told Reddit that on many planes, you'll find a hidden mechanism behind the 'No Smoking' sign on the door. Just lift the flap and slide the lock to open.

 

LIGHTS OFF TO PREPARE YOU FOR AN EMERGENCY EVACUATION

When the pilot switches the lights off for landing, it's not to help you sleep. One steward revealed that when a plane lands at night, they dim the cabin lights in case you have to evacuate. Your eyes are already adjusted to the dark so you'll be able to see better once outside.

 

THE PILLOWS AND BLANKETS ARE NOT WASHED BETWEEN EACH FLIGHT

As well as those, it's likely that your tray table is also harboring a bunch of germs. One air hostess with over 20 years experience said she had never once seen the tables cleaned or disinfected when she worked at Southwest. Nevertheless, she claimed to have watched mums changing their babies before watching passengers later in the day eating from the very same table.

 

ON BOARD, THE PILOT IS KING

According to an English co-pilot, once the doors are closed the pilot has absolute power. He is authorized to place passengers under arrest, give out fines, and even grant dying passengers their last wishes.

 

YOU CAN BE UPGRADED TO FIRST CLASS, EVEN AFTER TAKE OFF

According to an anonymous hostess, she is allowed to offer upgrades to first or business class once the doors of the plane are closed. She adds that it is not done often, mainly because most airlines ask for a report explaining why a passenger was moved, though also because they must have an extra meal prepared or sometimes because the front cabins are already full.

 

PILOTS SLEEP DURING THE FLIGHT

One retired pilot admitted that between 43% and 54% of all pilots admit having fallen asleep whilst flying a plane full of passengers. Rather precise statistics, but nonetheless a scary thought.

 

PEOPLE ACTUALLY STEAL THE LIFE JACKETS

One aviation expert said that people have often been known to take the life jacket found under their seat as a souvenir of the flight. It's a punishable crime and particularly horrendous because airlines don't necessarily check each life jacket before take off. A plane can make several journeys a day, during which a passenger could steal a jacket and put the lives of subsequent fliers in danger.

 

WHAT ARE THE HANDLES ON EITHER SIDE OF THE EMERGENCY EXITS FOR?

According to the same expert, they are for cabin crew to hold on to during an evacuation. Once panic sets in, airlines have realized that the cabin crew members placed either side of the door are pushed, shoved and even pushed out of the plane by passengers in their urgency to leave. The handles are there to make sure that the crew remains close to the doors.

 

ASK YOUR HOST/HOSTESS FOR A WHOLE CAN OF COKE

A hostess working for a French airline said that when passengers ask for a coke or a juice, it is usually served in a plastic glass that's smaller than the entire can. Usually the passenger is satisfied and the airline saves money. However, you are entirely within your rights to ask the steward for the entire can and they must give it to you.

 

THE YELLOW MASKS ONLY GIVE YOU 15 MINUTES OF OXYGEN

Once the oxygen masks are deployed, they provide roughly 15 minutes of breathable air. "Reassuringly," says one pilot, "that's more than enough time for the pilot to drop the plane to a much lower altitude where you can breathe normally without assistance."

 

YOU CAN EITHER SLEEP OR EAT

Sometimes the cabin crew will hold off on serving dinner in the hopes that passengers will fall asleep. "On nighttime flights," says a hostess for a British airline, "we serve the meal at the last possible moment, hoping that passengers will fall asleep and we'll have less to do."

 

NEVER TOUCH THE WATER ON BOARD

One steward, Gruntman, says that you should NEVER drink water on board that doesn't come from a bottle. Don't even touch it. Basically, he explains, the drainage system for the toilets and the drinking water tank are just inches from each other, and often both are cleaned by the same technician.

 

CABIN CREW ARE ONLY PAID ONCE THE PLANE DOORS ARE CLOSED

According to one anonymous hostess, certain airlines no longer pay their crews from when they arrive at the airport. Only once the plane doors are closed does the clock start. Therefore, if your plane is delayed, your cabin crew is probably just as annoyed as you are, if not more. Apparently not all companies are the same, but often it's a way of saving money.

 

THE TWO PILOTS ARE NEVER SERVED THE SAME MEAL

To ensure that both pilots don't fall ill at the same time, they eat different meals and are restricted from sharing. Rest assured, there'll always be one around to land the plane safely.

 

HELLO?

The cabin crew isn’t obliged to follow the same rules as passengers when it comes to their mobile phones. Air hostess Audrey commented that as soon as the crew has ordered everyone to turn off their electronic equipment, they all go to the back of the plane, get their phones out and start sending texts to their families to let them know that the plane will be on time.

 

Trusted Contributor
Posts: 1,038
Registered: ‎12-20-2015

Re: 16 Secrets You Wish You Didn't Know About Airlines

My husband is a Captain for AA. I can tell you unequivocally that at least some of those are not true. I will ask him about this list when he lands today.

Honored Contributor
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Re: 16 Secrets You Wish You Didn't Know About Airlines

"THE PILLOWS AND BLANKETS ARE NOT WASHED BETWEEN EACH FLIGHT"

The airlines I have been on the blankets & pillows are given to you in a "sealed" plastic bag.

 

"ASK YOUR HOST/HOSTESS FOR A WHOLE CAN OF COKE"

I do ask each & every time on domestic flights.

International flights I don't have to ask.  I always get the whole bottle ie: soda, wine, water, etc. w/o asking.

"Never argue with a fool. Onlookers may not be able to tell the difference."


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Respected Contributor
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Re: 16 Secrets You Wish You Didn't Know About Airlines

I’m kind of glad to read the toilets can be unlocked from outside - I’m always afraid I’m going to get locked in there! 

Honored Contributor
Posts: 8,159
Registered: ‎05-08-2010

Re: 16 Secrets You Wish You Didn't Know About Airlines


@BirdieGal wrote:

My husband is a Captain for AA. I can tell you unequivocally that at least some of those are not true. I will ask him about this list when he lands today.


@BirdieGal  Did you ask your DH about these questions?  I am dying to know what he had to say about them.

Fear not Brothers and Sisters! I have read THE BOOK..........we win!!!
Trusted Contributor
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Registered: ‎12-20-2015

Re: 16 Secrets You Wish You Didn't Know About Airlines

 

@tends2dogs

 

Yes! And actually he is going to get on here and answer himself in a little while. He is outside enjoying some MAN CAVE time 😉

Honored Contributor
Posts: 8,159
Registered: ‎05-08-2010

Re: 16 Secrets You Wish You Didn't Know About Airlines

Can't wait, @BirdieGal.

Fear not Brothers and Sisters! I have read THE BOOK..........we win!!!
Trusted Contributor
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Registered: ‎12-20-2015

Re: 16 Secrets You Wish You Didn't Know About Airlines

[ Edited ]

Hi, Ladies! This is your Captain speaking. I am the husband of the girl you think is writing this.  I am a Captain at a major airline so I would like to address these spurious "facts." They basically fall under 3 categories: True, False and Yeah, so...?  So, if I may...

 

1. Yeah, so..? It is actually outside air. But it enters the engine at the front and has fuel added to it in the combustion area of the engine and is converted to the thrust that makes the airplane go.  BUT... BEFORE it gets to the combustion chamber it is siphoned

off the compressor and cooled, conditioned a made real pretty and then piped into the cabin to provide pressurization and air conditioning.

 

2. True. That is for safety puposes.  If someone goes in there sick and passes out, attendants and/or medical personel need to be able to get in.  Btw, so can your bathroom at home.

 

3. False-ish. The pilots do not control the cabin lighting. The cabin attendants do. The policy of on or off for takeoff or landing is STRICTLY an individual airline deal. Mine does not have an on/off policy for takeoff/landing.

 

4. False. But again, that may depend on the airline. At mine, if they are removed from their plastic wrap, the aircraft cleaners remove them after the flight and they are cleaned, reconditioned and repackaged and loaded onto another aircraft.  They may or may not be available in coach on your flight.

 

5. True. Except everything after the word "King."  Basically everything else in that statement is B.S. AND I can't turn water into wine either.

 

6. True. But don't expect it.

 

7. FALSE. In this country that is STRICTLY forbidden.  Some country's gov't authorities allow short, strategic naps by one pilot at a time on longer flights. I'm not sure where this quoted pilot got his percentages.  I'm pretty sure those are made up.

 

8. True. But please don't. They are expensive and when they have to be replaced, it cuts into my profit-sharing...

 

9.  Actually, they give the cabin crew something to hang on to when opening the VERY heavy cabin door so they don't get pulled out by it.  It is a long way down.

 

10.  True.  Been that way as long as I can remember.

 

11.  True, generally.  They are there to provide supplimental oxygen just during the time it takes to descend from cruise altitude to 14,000'.  When it needs to happen, probably won't take more than 10-12 minutes.

 

12.  False.  On my airline anyway.  They get their service done early on so they can take a break.

 

13.  False. But good advice... Blech..

 

14.  True.  This also applies to the cockpit crew.  THAT is just the nature of the beast (industry).

 

15.  False.  That used to be a policy but that has been obsolete for-- I don't know-- 30, 40 years..?

 

16.  False.  But, in practice, may be true...

 

I hope this cleared things up a little.

 

Your Captain

 

Trusted Contributor
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Re: 16 Secrets You Wish You Didn't Know About Airlines

Teeheehee...he called me “Girl”❤️

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Posts: 5,463
Registered: ‎03-12-2010

Re: 16 Secrets You Wish You Didn't Know About Airlines


@BirdieGal wrote:

Hi, Ladies! This is the Captain speaking. 

 

15.  False.  That used to be a policy but that has been obsolete for-- I don't know-- 30, 40 years..?

 

 


Surely, airline pilots must be required to watch the film classic “Airplane!”?!?!?

 

Thanks for your comments.  One has to wonder (1) where do people get this stuff and (2) if some of these items actually are true in other countries!!