If you’ve ever wanted to learn what the flying professionals of the skies really know, now’s your chance. Discover what’s real from the food, to free drinks to even protecting your baggage and checking it for free. We’ve scoured the internet for the best airline confessions and have 1 – 15 listed below. Recently the following question was posed on Reddit and it got tons of airline pilots, agents and professionals confessing online.
“Flight Attendants, pilots, or engineers, what are some secrets that passengers don’t know when you ride on planes?”
1. A LOOPHOLE SO YOU NEVER HAVE TO PAY BAGGAGE FEES.
You can almost always gate check baggage (unless it’s abnormally large) take two large carry-ons and ask then to gate check one. It’s free and I never pay fees.
2. LIGHTNING AND THE POWER OF A PILOT.
“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.”
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.
3. THOSE LAVATORIES UNLOCK FROM THE OUTSIDE.
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.
4. REGARDING FOOD ON THE PLANE.
My dad works for a large airline, he told me a few little things
- 2 pilots are served different meals and cannot share, this is done in case of food poisoning.
- Stealing food, even if they are going to throw it out can get you fired instantly. You can ask your supervisor, but you cannot take food. They don’t want people messing with it.
5. THE TRUTH ABOUT FLYING WITH PETS.
I am an aircraft fueler.
One thing I cannot 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 cannot 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.
6. WHAT FLIGHT ATTENDANTS REALLY DO AFTER TELLING THE PLANE TO TURN OFF THEIR ELECTRONICS.
My sister is a flight attendant, she says after she tells everyone to turn off all electronics, she goes to the back and pulls out her phone and starts texting.
6. A TRICK FOR MAKING MORE SPACE FOR YOURSELF.
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.
7. DON’T DRINK WATER ON A PLANE THAT DIDN’T COME FROM A BOTTLE.
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 being the ports to purge lavatory sh*t and refill the aircraft with potable water are within feet from 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.
8. TIPPING COULD GO A LONG WAY.
My girlfriend is a flight attendant. NO ONE tips flight attendants. If you give your FA a fiver with your first drink you’ll probably drink for free the rest of the flight.
9. PLANES WITHOUT ENGINES CAN STILL GLIDE FOR A REALLY LONG TIME.
A pilot told me if both engines fail, a plane can glide 6 nautical miles for every 5000 feet. So at 35,000 feet, a plane can glide about 42 miles without power. Its why most accidents happen landing or taking off.
10. WHY IT’S ALWAYS EASIER TO JUST TAKE THE BATTERIES OUT.
Women: if you pack a toy in your bag, take the batteries out. Because if I’m loading your bag, and I hear it vibrating I have to tell my lead. Then my lead has to come pull you off the aircraft and you have to open your bag and turn off your toy in front of a bunch of giggling grown ass men.
11. EVEN THE HEADPHONES THAT COME WRAPPED UP AREN’T NEW.
I used to work for warehouse that supplied a certain airline with items. The headsets that are given to you are not new, despite being wrapped up. They are taken off the flight, “cleaned”, and then packaged again.
12. A FLIGHT ATTENDANT REVEALS JUST HOW DIRTY EVERYTHING TRULY IS.
I worked for Southwest as a flight attendant. Those blankets and pillows? Yeah, those just get refolded and stuffed back in the bins between flights. Only fresh ones I ever saw were on an originating first flight in the morning in a provisioning city. Also, if you have ever spread your peanuts on your tray and eaten, or really just touched your tray at all, you have more than likely ingested baby poo. I saw more dirty diapers laid out on those trays than food. And those trays, yeah, never saw them cleaned or sanitized once.
13. HOW YOUR CHECKED BAGS ARE REALLY TREATED.
If it says “fragile,” it’s getting thrown harder. If it’s 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 sh*t.
14. THE TRUTH BEHIND TURNING OFF ELECTRONICS.
Pilot here. Having to turn off electronics on a plane is totally useless.
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.
15. SKY MALL IS ONE BIG RIP-OFF.
Secret: All of the stuff in Sky Mall can be purchased on the internet for much less money.
Those were just a few of the airline confessions we found online. If you have a question about travel that you wan answered share them below and we’ll get them answered in our next installment of airline confessions soon.
