Thanks to some airline employee’s confessions, we have some tips, tricks, and secrets that will make your flight a little more enjoyable or interesting. Reddit users who shared their experiences they gained from working with airlines revealed some useful travel info.
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Pets on a Plane
“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.”
If you are packing your pooch, make sure his name is visible. A simple strip of tape with the dog’s name written on it will be helpful for those who don’t have easy access to information.
Buy Direct
“You get more customer protections buying directly from the airline. All those third party travel sites are owned by the same company, and you lose a lot of the rights afforded to you in the airlines contract of carriage.”
Tourist Meets Traveler has repeatedly stood by the advice to always buy direct and this confession is a perfect example of why you should skip third party purchases. It’s great to bargain hunt, but always bring up the competing discounted rate to the airline directly. Same goes for hotels!
Extra Arm Room
“You know how all the other armrests can be raised except for the one next to the aisle? Turns out that one can be raised as well via a small button in a divot on the underside of the armrest. Useful if you want to spread out a bit more, though some flight attendants may tell you to put it back in place.”
A useful tip for parents whose kids want to rest across their laps. Remember to be respectful of the staff’s needs and put the armrest down if asked.
Related: Avoid Low Fare Airline Fees With These 8 Tips
Visit the Cockpit
“Yes, you CAN visit the cockpit ON THE GROUND, there’s no law (in the US at least) saying you can’t. That’s up to our discretion. Just ask us. (preferably AFTER we land, if it looks like we’re not packing our stuff to get off the plane) I’ve never turned down anybody that asked and many of us gladly will show people around, it really is nice to connect with passengers interested in our profession for once.”
A smile and patience always goes a long way. If the answer is no, remember to be respectful and try again some other time.