There are plenty of lists floating around about airport and airline secrets, travel hacks, and tricks to make things more comfortable. More fun, though, is hearing from the employees!

What you don’t know won’t hurt you, but it can save you money, make for a more comfortable trip, or ease some anxiety. Take a gander at some of the things airline employees have shared about the flight life.

1. Grace and Good Manners Really Work

   Flight attendants love genuinely nice people and will go above and beyond for polite passengers. That could mean a perk like a better seat, or food from first class.

2. Deceased on Board

   Chances are if you’ve flown regularly, there’s also been a dead body or two traveling in the cargo section of the plane. It’s common for HR (plane lingo for human remains) to be shipped via plane to the place they are to be buried.

3. Cabin Doors are Firmly Sealed

   You’ve seen it in the movies and it’s probably given some people unnecessary anxiety about flying, but the cabin doors cannot open during a flight. They just aren’t built that way.

4. Planes Still Fly with Missing Parts

   Planes keep a logbook of maintenance issues, but mechanics also have a guide that lists the minimum equipment needed (or allowed) for a departure. Backup systems help to keep planes operational.

5. No Middleman Means Saving Money

   It’s incredibly easy and convenient to buy plane tickets from an online travel website, but there are many reasons to book directly with the airline. For one, the fares are often way lower. Two: if there’s a problem, you can handle it directly with the airline versus the third party booking service. Three: you lessen the chance of getting hit with surprise fees and surcharges upon checking in.

6. Oxygen Masks are Not Full of It

   When those masks drop down, it’s not by accident. It’s due to the cabin losing pressure and the need to prevent hypoxia in passengers. There’s about 10 to 20 minutes’ worth of oxygen in those masks, which is just enough time for the pilot to drop down to a lower altitude and restore your ability to breathe normally.

7. Changing Seats is Unenforceable

   Flight attendants can’t force someone to change seats. Asking nicely is pretty much all they can do. But if you’re one of those people who insists on switching to an assigned seat, don’t count on flight attendants to fight for your non-existent right.

8. Airlines Won’t Comp a Bad Weather Hotel Stay

   Considered an act of Nature or God, weather delays won’t earn you a free night or two at the nearest hotel. That’s the reason you see so many people on TV camped out at airports during inclement weather. Unless it’s the airline’s fault, you’re out of luck.

9. Flight Crew Have Secret Sleeping Quarters

   Certain planes have special compartments where staff can bunk up for rest or take breaks. Some are located in the ceiling of first class, others are located under the floor. Go figure!

10. Cell Phones Won’t Cause a Crash

    Cell phone signals do not destroy plane navigation systems, but they are annoying – to pilots and passengers. The reason for the phone ban is to mitigate multiple phone conversations happening in a small space, and to prevent flight crew from becoming distracted.

11. Planes Aren’t Tracked Over Miles of Ocean

    Planes can’t be detected when flying certain distances over an ocean. Radars can’t pick up signals that are out that far. But technology is changing, and air traffic controllers may have that ability within the next two to three years.

Are you ready to book your next trip by plane? Save a few bucks, feel safe, and remember to be nice!

Do you work for an airline or airport and have something to share? Can you relate to one of the experiences mentioned?

Source Reddit