No matter how often we fly, the wonder of air travel never ceases to astound us. Planes are becoming ever more sophisticated and intelligent, and the in-flight experience has come on leaps and bounds since the early days of airliners. We've done all the research and asked the experts – cabin crew, pilots, airline execs – to explain everything we’ve always wanted to know about flying.
Click through this gallery to discover the fascinating secrets of air travel...
Commercial planes generally travel at a lofty 35,000 feet (10,668m). That’s because, the more a plane ascends, the thinner the air becomes, so an aircraft can travel faster and more cost efficiently at a greater altitude. But it isn’t a case of the higher, the better. If an aircraft travels too high, above about 45,000 feet (13,700m), there is insufficient oxygen and this can cause problems with the engine.
In the USA, 14,000 FAA air traffic control specialists deal with the safety of 2.9 million airline passengers every single day. Different departments manage planes as they travel at altitude, approach the airport, or take-off and land – the latter is always done from the airport's control tower. Air traffic controllers issue landing and take-off authorisation and instructions, and they are responsible for warning pilots of nearby planes or potentially hazardous conditions.
According to travel expert Simon Calder, flights are overbooked in order to keep fares down. The thinking is that customers regularly don’t show up for flights so overbooking is an easy way for the airline to make extra profit. It’s also worse for the environment when planes fly at less than capacity. Theoretically, if the flight is 'blown' (has more customers than seats), the airline can offer incentives to passengers who don’t mind volunteering to give up their spot. But this has led to angry passengers being dragged off overbooked flights.
Before you board the plane, the flight attendants will have carried out a safety check and ensured the plane is clean and tidy. They then welcome passengers on board and prepare and serve food and drinks. A lot of time is spent ensuring passengers are comfortable and at ease – and in rare cases, a flight attendant might have to carry out first aid or restrain a passenger.
In the case of a few airlines, cabin crew are only paid for their 'flight hours', meaning their pay is based on when the flight leaves and arrives at each gate. A viral 2020 TikTok video by a flight attendant brought this practice to light, with others confirming the case. That means that other duties like boarding and cleaning the plane aren't counted as part of their work hours and pay. Speedy boarding, anyone?
Those white tracks in the sky are called contrails and there’s some science behind them. When a plane is in flight, its hot exhaust mixes with the surrounding atmosphere which, at high altitude, is much colder and thinner than the plane’s emissions. This causes the water vapour in the exhaust to freeze, leaving icy streaks across the sky.
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The quality of cabin air has been a point of hot dispute for some time, even more so during the coronavirus pandemic. Though most airlines insist there are no risks associated with breathing cabin air, some studies, including safety reports from the CAA, suggest otherwise. The air you breathe on board contains 'bleed air', which is taken from a turbine engine, compressed and conditioned, and pumped into the cabin. Some argue that it can become contaminated with chemicals which contribute to a range of health issues. The debate continues.
If you’ve spent more than a couple of hours on a flight, you may well have noticed that your feet, ankles and legs have expanded considerably. It’s mainly just because you’ve been sitting still for too long, allowing for a build-up of fluid. The change in air pressure and some likely dehydration adds to the reaction. To avoid cankles, make sure you walk around (when the seatbelt sign is off, of course) and drink plenty of water.
There's no need to panic about this one. It’s known as controlled or in-seat rest, and it means that one pilot will snooze (usually for no longer than about 45 minutes) while their co-pilot takes full responsibility of the controls. The resting period will be agreed in advance (during times of low activity), and the co-pilot will be properly briefed and the rest of the crew should be informed.
If cabin pressure falls to a certain point, masks will drop immediately and there is an oxygen reserve that will last around 12-15 minutes. That may not sound like much but don’t worry. Should this occur, the pilot will ensure the plane is brought to a safe altitude as quickly as possible.
The cost of an airline should make absolutely no difference to its safety levels. Although passengers choosing the budget option might take a hit when it comes to comfort, airlines simply cannot and will not cut corners when it comes to the safety of their passengers. Planes operated by budget carriers must adhere to the same regulations and standards as their more pricey competitors, according to the Civil Aviation Authority.
It’s the ultimate travel disaster – you arrive at your destination airport to find your bag was lost in transit and is nowhere to be seen. Most lost luggage is reunited with its owner within a few days and there will usually be some monetary compensation if the bag has well and truly vanished. But what happens if that luggage is never claimed? There are lost luggage auctions which hawk the abandoned goods to eager punters ready for a bargain.
There are a couple of potential reasons why people usually enter and exit on the left side of the plane. Firstly the luggage hold and the fuel tank are (mostly) on the right side, so keeping passenger activity to the left reduces the risk of injury. But some believe this pattern is actually linked to nautical history. A ship’s port would always be on the left and so it's thought that aircraft designers followed this same format.
This has only happened on a few occasions and it’s a real grey area. The newborn's citizenship depends on several factors. In some parts, it pertains to the airspace occupied when the baby was born – the States, for example, recognise any baby born on US soil, including airspace, as an American citizen. According to the UN, though, a baby born in transit should become a citizen of the country that the airline is registered to. In other cases, the child may adopt their parents’ nationality.
Currently, the world's longest scheduled non-stop commercial flight is the Singapore Airlines route between Singapore and New York (flights SQ23 and SQ24). But Pete Evans of air charter broker Surf Air says 24-hour flights won't be far off in the future. "It won’t be long before we could see 24-hour flights as aircraft engines become even more fuel efficient,” he explains.
Founder of Stratajet and former commercial pilot Jonny Nicol says planes stay up by creating lift with their wings. "What causes lift is introducing a shape [the plane] into the airflow, this curves the streamlines and introduces pressure changes. The lower pressure on the upper surface [of the wings] and higher pressure on the lower surface creates lift.”
Take-off and landing are “the most critical phases of a flight”, according to flight attendant and Whistlestops.co.uk founder Leandi Schoonraad. “Passengers can often see more of what’s happening outside the aircraft than the crew can, and they can (and have) alerted us to potential external dangers such as ice on the wing or smoke from the engine. After an emergency landing, it’s also essential that people outside the plane can see and indicate to people inside and vice versa."
“From a safety perspective, [upright seats for take-off and landing] are for a 'just in case' emergency scenario,” says Leandi. “If the seat’s reclined, it's harder for you to get up and out of your seat, and that extra second per person can be a matter of life or death. Also bear in mind that a reclined seat, especially in economy class, impacts on the space the person behind you has. If you make it awkward for them to get out by reclining your seat, you’re potentially risking their life in an emergency landing situation."
“The lights should always go out before take-off or landing if it’s dark outside. The cabin needs to reflect the exterior environment so your eyes don’t need to adjust in an emergency situation,” says Mandy Smith, former Virgin Atlantic air hostess and author of Cabin Fever, a behind-the-scenes account of being an air hostess.
“The double ding as we call it,” says Mandy, “means that the pilot has had the checks in from the cabin manager and the go ahead for take-off.” Pete Evans, COO of Surf Air and former head of operations at Virgin Atlantic, says there are many different sounds and various airlines use them differently. "They're like a set of codes for passing instructions between crew. The most noticeable ones happen during the climb after take-off, telling the crew that it's safe for them to leave their seats."
“Airlines and airports like to be ‘friendly neighbours’,” says Pete of Surf Air. “Power is reduced as soon as it can be to reduce noise. An aircraft needs a lot of power from the engines to get off the ground but once airborne the amount of power needed can be reduced – the climb to cruising altitude will normally be much less steep than take-off.”
Dan Air, flight attendant and Confessions of a Trolley Dolly blogger, says the official line is that devices not on airplane mode can interfere with aircraft equipment. He admits, "But if I’m honest, nothing would really happen. I’ll let you in on a little secret: I often forget to switch my phone off, and except drain my battery, little else happens. However, if 400 people all have their phones on, problems could occur. Plus, if you can’t survive without it for a few hours then you really need to get out more!"
“Most aircraft doors are what we call ‘plug’ doors,” explains Mandy of Cabin Fever. “It means that the door is larger than the hole we walk through, making it impossible to open mid-flight because of pressures within the cabin.” Pete from Surf Air adds: "It would take super-human strength to open a door on a fast-moving aircraft at altitude. The doors usually open out and forward so if anyone attempts to open them, the fast-moving air outside would push it back into its closed position."
“Engine failures are very rare,” says Jonny Nicol of Stratajet. He says that if it was to happen, it’s not actually a major cause for concern. “Part of the assessment of aircraft includes its performance with one engine. Even if you lose all engines, an experienced pilot will still be able to get you down safely. I once landed an aircraft in Santorini after both engines cut out by gliding it down onto the tarmac through a thunderstorm.”
“Typically, a bolt will hit an extremity, such as a wing tip or the nose, and the current will travel through the plane’s metal shell before leaving from another point, the tail, for example,” explains Jonny. “Once in a while there’s superficial exterior damage or minor injury to the plane’s electrical systems, but a strike typically leaves little or no evidence. In fact, you might not even notice it."
“The seatbelt sign is your captain’s way of communicating with you,” says Leandi of Whistlestops.co.uk. “Their primary concern is passenger safety so if the captain sees turbulence coming, the seatbelt sign will be switched on as a warning to you and the crew to prepare themselves. Of course, they do their best to avoid the bumpy air so if the sign is on but you don’t have any turbulence, then your captain did a great job of deviating around the weather. Or he or she forgot to switch it off."
According to psychotherapist and coach Rob Stewart, nervous flyers shouldn’t try to rationalise their fears. “You'll end up playing cognitive tennis and going back and forth between anxious thoughts and rational thoughts, but all the while becoming more introspective and more anxious,” he says. Rob recommends a strategy called attentional focus. “Attentional focus acknowledges uncomfortable thoughts and feelings, but then redirects our attention to something more helpful: a conversation with someone, a book, magazine or film."
“We’d be lying if we said we didn’t [get scared]," says Dan Air. "However, in my 12 years of flying I could count on one hand the amount of times I’ve been scared, and I use that word loosely. We have a job to do on board and are professionals, so it’s not very often you’ll see us crack." Leandi agrees: "We’re scared of a lot of things but flying isn't one of them. The thing that scares me most on board is aggressive or violent passenger behaviour."
“[Other planes] can be as close as 500 feet (152m),” according to Pete at Surf Air. Jonny of Stratajet says there are a lot of regulations that ensure planes are never dangerously close. He adds: "Private jets generally fly at a higher altitude than commercial aircraft (usually around 41,000 feet/12,500m compared to 36,000 feet/11,000m). This allows for a more direct route as it’s out of the more congested area of the sky and the flight is less likely to be affected by adverse weather conditions.”
“[Plane] food is pretty tasteless anyway, even the good stuff up in first [class],” admits Dan Air. “Scientifically speaking however, it’s all down to aircraft pressure. Combine this with the dry cabin air and your taste buds basically go numb.”
“We eat the same food most of the time,” says Leandi. “Crew all have their own tricks – some carry miniatures of Tabasco sauce and other condiments. I personally carry a tin of tuna or an avocado with me to make an otherwise plain salad more substantial and appetising. Remember that bread and fizzy drinks can make you feel bloated, especially on board, so do as we do and avoid!”
“During a flight your body gets incredibly dehydrated,” says Dan Air. “On average during a 10-hour flight it will lose at least two litres of water. Add to that the dehydrating effect of alcohol and if you keep drinking during a flight, you can expect one mother of a hangover the next day!”
“If you find you're an anxious flyer, your threat response part of your brain, the amygdala, will be in a state of activation,” says psychotherapist Rob Stewart. “This controls not only your fight and flight response (no pun intended!) but the same region of the brain for other emotions. So, you become more prone to other emotional states when you’re feeling uncomfortable. Having said that, maybe The Notebook is just that much more real at 30,000 feet (9,000m)!”
“Be polite! You will get the moon on a stick from many crew members if you're nice to us," says Dan Air. "Ask us how our day is going or bring us sweets or goodies (bribery is never frowned upon), and we will bend over backwards to help you. Sadly though the days of free upgrades are becoming more rare as airline bosses clamp down on such behaviour. Unless you’re paying the big bucks to be there in the first place then airlines don’t want to know."
Pete says: “An entire flight could be operated by auto-pilot, but pilots usually perform manual take-offs and landings. An aircraft can be landed automatically all the way to a complete stop on the runway.” In fact, Airbus conducted a series of pilot-less flights in December 2019. But Jonny notes: “Autopilot won’t replace a pilot in commercial aviation because it can’t problem-solve in an emergency. For that you need a well-trained pilot."
Aircraft windows are made in layers. Surf Air's COO explains: "[There's] a glass window on the outside, an air gap, another glass window in the middle (with a little hole) and another layer usually made of plastic, which stops passengers scratching windows. The hole is an important safety feature which allows the cabin pressure to be consistent all the way to the outer window. If the outside window failed, the middle window would still be sufficient enough to maintain the cabin pressure, even with the tiny hole."
It's acceptable to take a spare seat in your respective cabin, says Mandy, but warns: "If you paid for economy then don't move yourself into an upper class or premium cabin. If there's a family travelling with children on their knee, I'd expect people to allow them to take a seat before they laid down and bagged themselves four seats each.” Oh, and it's polite to ask before you move.
The shortest flight in the world is run by Loganair, which serves the Scottish Highlands, and goes from Westray to Papa Westray in the Orkney Islands, in just over a minute. The Britten Norman Islander aircraft accommodates just nine passengers with one extra seat for the pilot.
If money is no object, a basic Boeing jetliner starts at a mere £68 million ($90m). However, for those with deep pockets, the 787 Dreamliner starts at £169 million ($225m). Costs vary on the number of aisles you want, seats and how much fuel the plane can carry. Better start saving now.
One of the main reasons is because the engine of the plane might still be hot from the flight and poses a danger. The other is a security issue – ground staff are subject to major security checks before they are allowed to work anywhere near an aircraft while passengers don’t have the same clearance.
According to the Stern report produced for the UK government, aviation contributes to about 2.5% of carbon dioxide emissions, and is only likely to grow. Plus, the carbon emitted by a plane remains in the atmosphere for around a hundred years. Where possible, it's worth considering train travel versus flights – for example, the Eurostar from London to Paris produces 90% less greenhouse gas emissions than a flight.
There are no legal requirements but on average toilets are checked by a flight attendant every 30 minutes to make sure there’s enough toilet paper, and as a safety function that people aren’t doing anything strange in there. The blue liquid you see in the toilet also acts as a deodoriser. But it’s common that plane toilets are not cleaned to a high standard in the first place. Fingers crossed that the self-cleaning toilet Boeing has teased us with arrives sooner rather than later.
The average cruising speed for a passenger jet is about 575 miles per hour (925km/h), but the fastest commercial plane in the world is the Boeing 747-8i, the largest of the 747 family. It has a cruising speed of 659 miles per hour (1,060km/h) and is currently used by operators including Lufthansa, Korean Air and Air China.
People refer to the 1950s as the golden age of flying, but it also meant flights were only accessible to the privileged few. The cost of flying with Qantas on the Perth to London route back in 1955 would be £18,144 ($23,564) in today's money. Now, you can make the same journey for around £900 ($1,181). In 1958, BOAC (the British Overseas Airways Corporation, a precursor to BA) launched the first one-way fare from London to New York which was £173 ($225) at the time, but £3,842 ($4,990) in today's money.
The interior of many planes is marked with small red or black triangle stickers above the windows, and these align with the aircraft's wings. These markers help the crew quickly locate the best vantage point to inspect the wings for issues, such as ice buildup during winter flights.
Cabin crew have all sorts of nicknames and words for things passengers don’t know about. One of those is a nickname for the people who crowd around the gate before anyone has been called to board. If you hear flight attendants referring to ‘gate lice’, they’re probably talking about those over-eager passengers who seem desperate to board.
It very rarely happens, but to minimise the risk of both pilots being incapacitated by food poisoning, many airlines require pilots and co-pilots to eat different meals. Though rare, mass in-flight food poisoning incidents have occurred, including a 1975 Japan Air Lines flight where most passengers got sick, but the pilots, who ate different meals, were unaffected. Similarly, on a 1984 British Airways Concorde flight, many passengers and crew suffered food poisoning, but the pilots, thanks to different meals, stayed healthy and landed safely.
Hidden away from passengers, crew rest compartments on long-haul flights offer a private space for pilots and cabin crew to recharge. In newer planes like the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350, these compartments are located above the main cabin, while older aircraft might have them in the main cabin or even the cargo hold. Pilots typically have their own smaller rest area near the cockpit with bunk beds, while the cabin crew gets a larger compartment, with six bunks for them to use during breaks.
“Turbulence can come from jet streams (strong wind), wake turbulence (another plane passing by), cloud cover and stormy skies,” explains Leandi. Cabin Fever author Mandy describes it as an “unpredictable creature" with air pockets often being completely undetectable. “I’ve had many incidents where the aircraft drops suddenly,” she says. "I've been injured in turbulence several times during my career and even now I never feel comfortable as a passenger without my seatbelt on."
Levels of severe turbulence could be set to double or triple in the coming decades – and climate change could be to blame. That’s according to Paul Williams, a professor of atmospheric science at the UK’s University of Reading, who has been studying the subject since 2013. Williams and his team ran a number of simulations and found that 'clear air turbulence' – a type which strikes suddenly and can last longer – would increase globally between 2050 and 2080. Higher CO2 emissions are increasing the number of instabilities in the jet stream, which makes clear air turbulence more likely.
It's highly unlikely that planes will crash due to turbulence but "never say never", says Pete of Surf Air. "The reality is an aircraft is designed and tested to go way beyond what we normally expect from turbulence, even if it's severe." He points out that turbulence often feels far worse than it is. "A modest movement of, say, 10 feet (3m) can feel like a huge jolt. It would have to be really exceptional to cause the aircraft structure to fail," he says.
When you see a plane pass above you in the sky, there's a fair chance it has no passengers. A report by The Guardian revealed that 5,000 completely empty 'ghost flights' have passed through UK airports since 2019, plus 35,000 more flying at under 10% capacity. Air travel releases more carbon emissions than any other consumer activity, and the revelations have infuriated climate campaigners, particularly since there is no official explanation for why the flights are flying. The most common theory is that they exist to retain coveted slots in airport timetables.
Etihad Airways significantly increased its pet travel fee in 2022, raising the cost from £178 ($200) to £1,332 ($1,500) for cats and dogs on board. However, falcons are exempt from this increase due to their cultural importance in the UAE. In fact, falcons, the national bird of the UAE, can travel for free in the cabin. Passengers in Economy are allowed to bring one falcon per person, or two falcons per additional seat. In First or Business Class, two falcons per person are allowed, or three with an extra seat. That's a lot of falcons.
Frontier Airlines officially launched its 'GoWild!' all-you-can-fly subscription service in Spring 2023, offering passengers 'unlimited' flights across the US and Central America. Passes are available for both seasonal and annual periods, including a Fall and Winter Pass and an Annual Pass. While the pass promises 'unlimited' flights, it comes with some caveats, including blackout dates and additional fees for baggage and seat selection.
Does your heart begin to race when the seatbelt sign is switched on, thinking you're in for a bumpy ride? According to one pilot, taking off in the morning can mitigate your chances of encountering turbulence. In an interview with the New York Times, Boeing 737 captain Morgan Smith explained that the air coming from the ground hasn't heated up yet, and rising heat is a common cause of turbulence. You can also sit at the front of the plane, where it'll feel smoother.
At some point or other, most travellers have looked through the window and questioned how many planes are in the sky at any given moment. In truth, it's a difficult one to clarify, with things like seasonality, economic factors and time of day and week all playing their part in the exact number. According to Flightradar24 however, there can be anywhere between 8,000 and 20,000 planes in the air at any one time.
When it comes to airports, not all are made equal. People who travel a lot know that some are good, some are bad and some are just OK. According to the Skytrax World Airport Awards, which is based on customer satisfaction surveys for over 550 airports, the best place to fly from in 2024 is Hamad International Airport (HIA) in Doha, Qatar. Knocking 12-time winner Singapore Changi Airport off top spot, one of this airport's best features is its Orchard – a 64,000 square foot (5,946sqm) tropical garden home to over 300 trees and 25,000 plants.