Flight Secrets That Are Never Told To Passengers

I have a pilots license and my BS degree is in aviation safety. We studied aircraft accidents a lot in school. This video is very correct about sitting in the back half of the plane near the tail, but it did not say why that is. Reason is because in an impact the tail section almost always breaks off and lands away from the wreckage. Those strapped in the seats that were inside the tail section that broke off, almost always survive. Also in an impact the fuel in the wings will splash forward and incinerate everything in front of it and because the tail is behind the wings, the tail section does not get soaked in burning fuel. Always sit near the tail.

As a travel agent I would usually ask the customer if they had a preference in seating. One older gentleman always asked to sit in the back. Asking him why, he responded with he’d never heard of an airplane backing into a mountain. Lol

I am 61 years old, my father who was killed in an accident when I was ten, helped design the Sikorsky helicopter . He told me as a very little girl to always sit behind the wing of an airplane because that’s where they break. This video confirms for me a 50 plus year old warning from father to daughter insuring her safety in the event of a crash. I feel so grateful for my dad and thanks for this video.

Many good tips here. I was a professional flyer. One big tip is just be patient. Don’t let things that are minor (in the grand scheme of things)) stress you out. Remember that the guy in the very back of the aircraft arrives at the airport at nearly the same time as the guy in first class. Business upgrades are worth it when crossing an ocean. Definitely. Be nice to your cabin crew. They are underpaid (because of the perks) and have a fairly stressful day anyway. You will personally benefit from this because the flight attendants will know immediately who the professional flyers are. Time of day. If you absolutely need to get somewhere, leave as soon in the day as a flight is available. If weather or mechanical issues come up, the extra 3-4 hours you bought yourself will be worthwhile. Always, always, keep your seatbelt on when seated. And when you do need to walk to the WC always keep in mind that clear air turbulence comes without notice. Keep one hand on seat backs as you proceed through the cabin, and with the other, stretch up as if trying to reach the roof of the plane. If the plane suddenly loses altitude (which is usually the case) it will save you from striking the ceiling of the plane with your head. Keep your gear securely under the seat in front of you. If you have an empty seat next to you, use the seatbelt to secure your pack, or purse. Know the scheduled times for your flight. If you are scheduled for a 6 pm arrival, it is customary for the pilot to begin the enroute descent precisely 30 minutes out. Get up and head for the WC just before that, particularly on a lengthy flight. Stay ahead of the crowd. Noise cancelling headphones are definitely a must, particularly for long flights. We used to consider one hour aloft to be equal to abbot three hours on the ground in a noisy office. It leads to wear and tear on the body, and added stress. I find that preordering a seafood meal used to get you a better meal in the average. May have changed today. Participate in a frequent flyer lounge membership. It gives you a place to avoid the noisy airline terminals and get some rest either before or during layovers. And their staff will make sure you make your flight! Just remember the most important element: Remain patient. Your personal stress will not make things go better. Face up that weather issues and mechanical issues are simple fact of life events. They are out of your control. Let the flight crew deal with the stress. Relax! You’ll soon be there!

Some airports even release falcons to scare all the other birds away, then the falcon comes back. Highly effective!

You actually showed what the thumbnail advertised FIRST. That is so rare and refreshing. I still watched the whole video to the end. You also have a very gentle way of speaking unlike so many other similar channels that use hyperactive obnoxious speaking. These videos are actually relaxing and informative without obnoxious and annoying gimmicks. Well done with this channel. I didn't plan on watching the whole video, but got sucked in with the pleasantries of it all that I couldn't help but watch it all. Keep up the great work. I'm going to subscribe because of this. :)

There is an exception to the "board last" rule. If you got hand luggage and expect the overhead lockers to be full once you board, in this case go earlier.

The problem with boarding last is that the overhead storage around your seats become full as passengers carry luggage more than allowed and then you have to walk around looking for empty storage space.

Overhead bins tend to fill up, mostly due to people who bring more than their allotted bags and airline personnel who refuse to enforce those limitations. For this reason, it might make sense to board as quickly as possible.

I used to be a flight attendant and let me tell you, not all airlines treat cabin crew so nicely. We were expected to sleep in regular economy class seats on long haul flights with only a curtain separating us from the rest of the cabin and no seats on flights less than 6 hours, so you eat standing or in galley jumpseats if there were any. Our airline was awarded 4 stars on skytrax and considered one of the friendliest airline (crew). And when we were all mass terminated, most of us found out via social media!! No package and not even a reference letter. Heartbreaking💔. Next time you book a flight to the friendly islands in the South Pacific, remember most of the staff get paid less that USD 15000 per annum and work under not so ideal conditions.

I always aim to board first. Boarding last means you have to still wait for all the slow people blocking the isle, sorting their luggage into overhead storage, sorting their kids, etc… rather stressful. By getting to my seat first which is always the window seat, I avoid the hassle of asking people to stand up to let me in. I can also spread out to sort all my stuff for the flight, iPad, drinks, snacks, look at the inflight menu, etc. Once settled, I put my headphones on and start a movie on the iPad, oblivious to the other chaos around me! Less stressful.

In my airline (Lufthansa) the pilots could choose from the First Class Menu. No difference between pilot and co-pilot. It depended also on catering. Priority was of course given to the passengers, so only what was left could go to the cockpit. And since the flight attendants are the ones who control it, the cockpit crew had to be nice to get some of the delicious first class food. I used to work mostly in business class. I avoided to work in first class because to me it was all a bit too much there (maybe because I come from a regular working class family). The businessclas meals in my company were generally speaking very good. No need for caviar! And on the occasions that there was no first class, the cockpit had to share the leftovers meals with the cabin crew. On some flights, where it was known that almost always all the meals were distributed under the passengers and no meals were left, we had the possibility to order crew-meals one hour before the flight, for which we had to pay ourselves.
About that list... this is a first that I hear about it. In my company there was as far as I know no such thing.
About the difference in price between the classes, it is not only the service on board, but also the service outside and the extra amounts of bagage you can bring. First class passengers have their own lounge at many airports, they can board the plane faster than economy passengers or even businessclass passengers and are also the ones that can get off board first. I don't recall all the extra's you have as a first class passenger, but it is plenty enough to make it count. Rescheduling your flight in First or Businessclass is always free, whilst many economy tickets it is costly to do so.
It happened once to me, many years ago that a man died on a flight from Frankfurt to New York, just after the first meal. After his death was affirmed by medical doctors, I carried the body, together with one of his sons (he was an old man) to the back of the plane, where we had the last row emptied and put him to rest there. It was a strange thing, as it was the first time that I ever held a dead person... That was about 30 years ago, as I'm already retired for 10 years.... but something like that you'll never forget.

As a flight attendant thanks for this video! Always be nice to your FA’s and Pilots. Even if there is a delay. The delay 10/10 has NOTHING to do with the crew members. Trust us, we are just as mad as you about not leaving on time due to the fact that we do NOT get paid while you are boarding the flight. We are simply helping without even getting paid for it. So please remember to be kind and that if there are any delays, it most likely has to be an emergency and we all rather be safe than sorry! Thank you all! ❤️

I once boarded near the last similar to your first suggestion. It was the first (domestic) leg of an international flight. They ran out of overhead bin space and demanded I check my carryon luggage to my final destination (Europe)My carryon had essentials for my LONG layover. I begged them to let me try to fit it up top. I will NEVER delay boarding again.

I always bring along a few gift cards, usually Starbucks since they're in just about every airport nowadays. I give them out to the Flight Attendant(s) that are working my section, as well as the pilot when leaving, if possible. I don't expect anything in return, it's merely a sincere gesture of thanks for everything they do to make sure I have a nice flight. But, I have noticed I'll occasionally get an extra soda or blanket, or complimentary wine/shot. Common courtesy goes a long ways, and it's always nice to show appreciation for the people who do an awesome job to make your trip better. 😊 Start your trip off fun, and make someone's day!

A lot of US Navy Pilots Find their Way into the Commercial Airline System after getting out of the Service. You can actually tell if you have one of these Pilots on your plane because when they land, there's always an initial bump when you hit the tarmac but it's usually pretty smooth. The reason for this is because they are used to landing on Aircraft Carriers and they are looking to catch the tail hook out of force of habit. Also You know you've been in good hands with those pilots because they go through rigorous military training to get good at what they do

One of the bad things that happens these days is people who sit in the back put their carry on luggage in the first available overhead space. By the time you get to your seat there’s no place left to put your own luggage. Airlines need to stop allowing passengers to put luggage anywhere except where they are sitting.

The narrator made me laughing hard on some of his extra comments. Very entertaining. I’m used to flying long distance like 15 hours nonstop flights and these tips are very helpful. The death on board creeps me out though . Never thought of that happening. Thank you for bringing them up .
I do wait last for boarding, no sense of waiting in line long time . International flights are pretty strict with carryons luggage , so no one really have 10 extra plastic bags with them like they just came back from the mall lol
Tip on hydration on long haul flights : Bring your stainless steel water bottle on board , empty of course. Then , ask your stewardess for extra water and ice and fill up your water bottle. In this way , you will have cold water to sip on whenever you like throughout the flight without calling for it . It work for me on long flights.

I had a SSSS on my tickets on both my flight from Australia to America and on my flight back. As I was a single female travelling alone for the first time with pre paid extra baggage on the return trip. I knew I had nothing to actually be nervous about but oh my word was that one of the most stressful experiences of my life!!

I always board last. I can't stand being stuck on the plane with other people's recycled farts any longer than I absolutely have to be.

The problem today with “boarding last” is that you will NOT have overhead space on most flights, which are typically packed. If you’re checking luggage it’s fine, but doing that adds as much as an hour on both ends of the flight.

If you board late, the overhead compartments are often full and you end up having to check your luggage.

Great! Especially the gentle presentation of your choice of words to describe one's option to travel sitting next to a corpse on a long hall flight. This was brilliantly presented ! With some very useful tips. Thanks,
Amar

Was seated by a former TWA flight supervisor on an Aer L flight NY to Dublin. It was a real blessing, as she had great stories and the "flight" "flew!!!" She told of one experience where a passenger had died on vacation, and to save the expense and hassle of going through a funeral director, lead lined coffin, etc., his best friend seated him on a wheel chair, booked him as disabled and wheeled him on board!!! They were already in the air when the ruse was discovered...

My father worked for an airline for more than 30 years. When traveling with my parents, I was up in First but when alone, I was always in Economy and my favorite seat was always, last row window seat at Left. Even though people would queue up to use the washroom, the rest of the time, it was the quietest, most private area and on a number of carriers you would get your meal served first instead of watching the trollies starting at the front. A lot of times, you could stretch out on all three seats because this was not a popular row and the crew would often stop and chat and offer extra snacks and drinks. I don't travel anymore because I hate the crowds but aside from safety issues, the last row was great!

I used to travel overseas in business class often so I had elite status with all the perks but on one particular trip I was flying economy with my husband for a vacation. The agent at the gate called me up and said she will upgrade me to business class since a passenger with a broken leg needs my aisle seat. I asked if my husband can take my seat upgrade instead since he has to finish some work on his laptop and would appreciate the extra space and she said sure. However, my lovely husband wanted to sit next to me on the flight so he told the agent to give the business class seat to the passenger with the broken leg instead. A few minutes later she called both my husband and I back to the gate and said, "Right answer! You're both upgrade to business class."

As regards birds: the airport of Bologna, Italy, used two hawks (seriously), which were kept in a facility near the landing strip. Common birds like pigeon were obviously reluctant to get near the airport, and if they did, the hawks were likely to solve the problem before a collision with an airplane did.

As a regular flyer in the US, I can say that if you have carry-on luggage that you don't want to have to check and retrieve on the gangway, DO NOT board last. I can only remember two flights I've taken in the last 3 years that there were enough overhead storage for everyone, and both of those flights were 1/2 full at most. Because of how rediculous checked back fees have become, almost everyone travels with the largest possible "carry-on", which will result in all the overhead bins being full at about 60% - 70% passenger capacity at most. If you don't mind checking your bag at the gate/gangway then that's fine.
Also, if you are going to puposely board the flight at the end, please book an aisle seat so that you aren't purposefully making other passengers have to get out of their seat to let you in. I prefer to book a window seat and board as early as possible to avoid this and people that can't seem to remember to use the restroom before boarding the plane or can't go 3-4 hours without a bathroom break.

The problem with boarding last... which I have personally encountered, particularly at the holidays, is that your carry-on baggage may wind up not only disallowed in the cabin, but on a later flight. The last flight I took, not only my luggage but the carry on luggage of eight other people who were last to board, was put on a later plane. Luckily I was going home and not to a vacation destination, the way I was when I traveled to Spain and was without clothes and toiletries for 3 or 4 days. I would rather stand up by the gate for a few minutes, waiting my turn to board, then relaxing in a seat and not have my luggage when I arrive.

The morning before I was to return to the Midwest from my trip to Seattle, I acquired a back injury. The attendant at the check-in noticed and asked what happened. I told her that I was leading a child on a horse and the horse copped an attitude with me and tried to bucked the kid off and there was no way in Hades I was going to let that happen.
Shortly before boarding I was informed that I had been upgraded to first class. I didn't fly too often so I was extremely surprised, and grateful. It will very likely be the only opportunity I will ever have at flying first class.
I had the salmon.

The thing I love the MOST about flying is the take off. It’s like ur going 1mph…and suddenly the engines kick in and it’s like a rush for me….the speed and power…I love it. It’s like that Pink Floyd song learning to fly: “ There’s no sensation to compare with this”
For me, it rings so true.💯❤️

I love being in the first boarding group. I love getting seated and putting my luggage away and pulling up my laptop and getting another 15 to 30 minutes of work in while everyone else boards the plane around me. Being one the first on is one of the biggest perks to having status with an airlines in my opinion.

One cultural difference I love about Scandinavia is that First Class boards *last.* It is considered a privilege to get on after everyone else is already settled. Something about that cracks me up.

that pilot that landed the plane during a hailstorm needs a raise! Big thanks to all the pilots that train hard to keep us safe.

BTW The tanker which collects the contents of the holding tank is known as the "Honey Wagon" and is usually the first vehicle to service an aircraft after it lands.

I cannot agree with the first point of boarding last. It happened to me so often, that I ended up with my backpack either in an overhead compartment far away from me or, even worse, under the seat in front of me, what minimize the little space I had, even more. That‘s why I try to board as earliest as possible and I don‘t mind sitting longer in the airplane, being one of the firsts in line is for me less stressful, than not being close with my belongings or have even less space for myself

I’m 12 and on my first time on an airplane there was a lot of turbulence and I was calm but a lot of people were freaking out and I was so confused. Later I found out that the toilet over flowed. That’s it , it wasn’t the turbulence,but the toilet. Also I had a free soda in economy and so much leg room like I can have my bag on the ground and watch a movie (the movies are free) and the ticket was cheap to. Idk why but my ears didn’t get plugged and the food was great. If any of you go on a plane the worst thing to do is be scared, just relax. When the plane turned the soda I had in my cup was not moving it was just staying in the same position it was so cool. Have a amazing day!

To all pilots & staff: Thank you for your service. For sharing flight secrets, appreciate you greatly for sharing the helpful valuable TIPS.

the one that surprised me the most is how you said that a plane crashing has a chance of 1/3b happening and im so happy I heard that because I keep seeing these "saddest plane crashes" vids on youtube. Thank you really much

00:01 Boarding last can minimize the time spent on board
03:09 Airports use various methods to prevent accidents caused by birds and extreme weather conditions.
06:27 Airplane toilets don't empty waste into the sky, but accidents do happen.
09:38 Airplane food tastes bad due to low humidity levels in the cabin.
12:41 Safest seat in a plane is middle seats in the rear with 72% chance of survival
16:00 Window triangles indicate best vantage point for viewing wings
18:57 First-class and business class tickets have minimal differences in service but a significant price difference.
21:47 Pilots falling asleep while flying is a dangerous problem

The secret of boarding SouthWest, where there are no seat assignments is to wait until about half the passengers are on board. Passengers always take the window, then the aisle seats, leaving the middle seat empty. The plane will be full, there is no hope of an empty seat next to you. Now as you walk down the aisle you have the choice of all the middle seats and can choose your travel partners according to your own criteria. I select mostly on body mass!

I was taking flights twice a year for my 4 years of college and never got searched. Then after I joined the Marines I have been searched every time I've flown since. That's not a coincidence

I appreciate your comments regarding first vs. business class. Truthfully, in the US, it is almost not worth it to fly first class at all, and many times it isn't really worth flying business class either. For long haul flights, particularly those over 10 hours, business class is definitely worth it - especially for anyone who is a little older, or has trouble sleeping on a flight, or is immuno-compromised in any way. Note, however, that some of the newer business class flights may actually be more than twice an economy fare.

I had the 4 SSSS on my boarding pass from Zürich to Iceland to Orlando. Almost missed the connection. Have no idea why a mom (me) in our family of 4 got singled out. Husband’s work (which has a travel agency division to book flights) paid for our family’s tickets. I was treated like a criminal and separated from my family. My kids were in tears that I would miss the flight!

It's convenient to board last, but not if you're hoping for a space in the overhead lockers for your wheeliebag.

Another secret (in regards to in death flight) but that was not mentioned in this video is, when a flight attendant passes becomes aware of a inflight death they will say the code word “Jim Wilson.” If you ever hear “Jim Wilson” by flight attendants or “passenger Jim Wilson,” that means a passenger died on flight, but obviously that code is used to not scare or freak out other passengers, and also that not everyone knows that, but another food for thought.

Wife and I always board last and exit last. My carry-on is cloth and flexible, my wifes carry-on is also small enough to go under the seat infront of her. Sometimes the grounds crew will even take our bags and when on the ground, our bags are waiting on the gangway. We also thank the flight crew for a safe ride everytime we enter and exit.

Imagine that; a bird can put a huge dent in a plane but they expect you to believe that a plane can cut through concrete and steel.

On my trip from Alaska to Utah they found a tire on the runway after our plane and 4 others took off. We couldn't find out if we were the plane that lost the tire til we landed. We circled the airport for about an hour to rid fuel in case we crash. We landed a very rough landing! The plane jerked left so hard I thought we crashed. We even had to brace for a crash. The pilots were so good they corrected the plane and we safely stopped. People clapped their hands and celebrated. We were the plane. It was the back left wheel.

I've never been in a seat higher than economy but I would definitely try business or first depending on what is offered to me especially when I'm travelling more than 24 hours

Boarding last can be a problem. I prefer to go last and avoid the queue, sitting comfortably, and not having to crowd onto the plane. However, if the flight is over-sold, somone might be in your seat - also holding a valid ticket for that seat (happened twicw to us). Second issue is that overhead bin space may well be an issue.

You generally want to board flights as soon as possible if you have a carry on. The bins often fill up and crew start demanding items get checked for later passengers. Late boarding means you’ll have to stow your carry on far away or check something fragile or important you don’t want to have below and possibly get damaged or lost. 😞 Besides there is no advantage to waiting at the gate vs waiting in your seat- all settled and comfortable and free of the responsibility of keeping track of time, etc.

I worked in airfield management in the air force. Part of our job was bird control. We had all kinds of flare guns we would shoot to scare them off. That was always fun.

1. Boarding last equals no overhead space left to put your carry on. Many passengers have more than one carry on and take up extra space.

The OLDER I get - the MORE I want BUSINESS CLASS on a long-haul flight. I worked for it and frankly, I think I deserve it! ♥♥♥♥

As far as airline food goes; I work for a popular airline catering co. The food is NOT freeze blasted , whatever that is.
It’s prepped the day of or night before, depending on what time the flight leaves.
Aaaand, the pilot and co-pilot get meals from the same menu class! They are different because it’s the law. They have to be different in case the pilot gets sick from their meal. The co pilot who didn’t eat the same thing, therefore not sick, can fly the plane.
You’re welcome. ;)

5:38 don’t let that scare you, pilots usually land blind because, what’s more effective; windows that are angled up so you can’t really see the runway somewhat close to the front of the plane (due to the plane needing to be aerodynamic), or some several thousand dollar instruments designed specifically for landing?

In the UK we have airport Falconers, who fly birds of prey to scare off birds from the runway.

Once I flight as a passenger from Seattle to Minnesota it was night time. The airplane was flay above the clods there was raining, but the sky was total in fire. I was looking back and forth and there was't a minute without lighting and thunder. But the airplane was flying above this dangerous fire. I was thinking what can be when we'll go to landing, but the airplane passed through clouds absolutely safety, and we land normally. Thank God!

All the crazies out there and you thought it be a good idea to tell about the secret bathroom unlock latch. You’re a genius!

The insight about the boarding pass was a real eye opener.

Never board last, your overhead storage compartment will be filled by another passenger. Then try to find where to place your carry on luggage without an argument.

It is truly amazing how 'Be amazed' has improved a lot over 7 years ( as of 2023 i believe ) Just stay strong, don't give up and Keep up the amazing work!

Gee I remember smoking on flights, passengers getting drunk, putting the headset on upside down and kids being given fun packs.
No more cockpit visits allowed ( I wish I had gone when offered)

Am I the only one who actually enjoys airline food? Like anytime I'm taking an international flight I actually get excited for that part

The Record Locator DOES NOT contain all the information you state. It's a randomly generated code that only links to your reservation.

Flight meals have actually improved drastically! Flying in a few days and will follow these tips!

My father worked for Delta for 33 years. Number one tip: the friendlier, more patient, and more understanding you are, the nicer your trip will be. They will bend over backwards for an easygoing passenger. Volunteer for those “can we get a volunteer for a later flight…” opportunities, they come with a hotel stay usually. If you need to stay 36 or more hours in a busy airport, the best thing you can do is stay quiet and still. Security will like you a whole lot more.

I don’t think that airline pilots are the most stressful jobs you can have. Are you kidding me? The people who work in the control towers are the ones that have extremely high anxiety

Every time I have tried this , all the overhead bins are full and they require you to check the luggage.

@16:14 also for good weight distribution, for middle of the wings and center of gravity. So the flight crew can know where to put heavier luggage or passangers,

As an ex flight attendant, I ate a lot of airline food. Our meals were good! However, this was 50 yrs ago. The food was fresh and hot meals were heated in our ovens. Now it is very different. We gave much better service then.

My very recent experience was the captain have told us in midair: We have discovered some issues with the landing equipment …… looks like the problem is fixed, we will find out when landing.

11:15 Pilots are not warned about eating the same meals. They are not even cautioned. They are simply advised that it is a good idea to eat different meals. In the USAF, it was a requirement. But, in my 34+ airline career, there never was a warning. At my major airline, there were specific meals prepared for the pilots, usually beef and chicken. First and business class meals were an option if there were any left after the passengers had theirs. Also, Captains did not have a 'do not fly with' option. This was only available for first officers (we only had 2 pilot airplanes).

I think this is good info but I always try to get on board as soon as possible so I can go to the back and get an aisle seat and overhead bin space.

SSSS is basically on every reprinted ticket. I used to travel internationally for business and we'd always get these if we had to reprint the ticket, be it we're electing to take an earlier connection, buying an upgrade, or just losing the original ticket. It was especially bad in Frankfurt, Germany. There were always people who were late for their flights with these in that queue, it was pretty entertaining watching people begging to be let through.

People try board early to get the space to place their hand bags, which in some cases u don't get the place to put them near ur seats due to people overload their stuff by boarding before you.

What if everyone sees your video, and everyone stays back? There will be pushing each other to be the last one to get in. 😂

I really loved this educative and humourous😂 video. I'm now a more confident flyer.❤🎉

Boarding towards the end is fine if you have no carry-on. On many flights I've seen the overhead storage completely filled before passengers assigned to the nearby seats enter the airplane.

My favourite IFE is simply pre-booking a window seat, 6 or 7 rows behind the right wing and simply watchin 'the stuff' - ailerons, flaps, spoilers etc. do their thing - AND IT'S FREE! Having said that, on one long-haul (Denver->Dublin [good to be home] trip), someone asked would I mind swopping for a centre seat as she'd never really flown 'window' so I figured yeah, why not? Ended up playing a ton of interactive games with other passengers with me in steerage, whoops sorry, 'economy' - great fun! Point being, sometimes it's really ok not to be close-minded. As is being polite and actually listening & thinking. "Time flies and so shall we". Just sayin'.

Boarding last increases your chances of finding some hostile Karen in your assigned seat and decreases your chances of finding room for your carry-on.

At TFN Tenerife North at Tenerife Island they use falcon birds to hunts unwanted birds!
I used to fly there when active pilot.

Quite enlightening. For 35 years I have been on an intercontinental flight at least once a month followed by a few regional flights before boarding the return transcontinental flight. Typically these flights would originate in Europe, Africa, North America, Oceania or Asia with destinations in these places as well. e.g. Schipol, Amsterdam to JFK and back etc.
Most of this travel was paid for by my employer or our client, and I got the frequent flyer points.
Between 81 and 87, it was all economy class travel, followed by business class as I climbed the corporate ladder. My travel enrichment schemes were therefore tailored to my class of travel.
My inflexible rule was to be attired in decent business clothing.
FLYING ECONOMY
At check-in (in the days before seat selection at booking) I would request for an exit row aisle seat in the pleasantest way possible. Then as the check-in baggage was being tagged, my request would be for my bag to be tagged PRIORITY (which meant that my bag would come out with the business and FC passengers at the destination). Nine out of ten times the check-in clerk would oblige.
I concur with the last to board idea while travelling economy. Cabin crew seeing a smartly attired person, even as they heave a sigh of relief that it would be 'blocks off' time in a few minutes would greet me with some enthusiasm. The spinoff benefit is that while on the ground, the air exchangers / ac etc are not working at full capacity till take off. In the tropics you want to bake for as little time as possible, even as you breathe stale air till take off.
My carry on would just have one of those heavy old word processors, toiletry and some papers to deal with on the flight. Most importantly a track suit, sarong and a pair of carpet slippers. Even before the 'arm doors' command came over the intercom, sarong wrapped around the waist, got my pants off and into my jogging pants. Shirt, tie and jacket replaced by a sweatshirt. The suit and dress shirt in a hangar neatly draped over my knee, even as the cabin crew strapped themselves into their jump seats for takeoff. My sheepish opening line would be, 'cant afford to iron a crumpled suit' with a rueful grin. Some trivial pleasantries later, the seat belt signs would go off - and more often than not the Flight Attendant would ask if I wanted my suit hung up (another upper class perk). I would take the opportunity to ask for a customer feedback form, so I would say to compliment the airline for the generous service. And sure enough the graciousness of service shot up several notches.
There are many more tips and tricks to make the most of flying economy, but the primary one is to be different without being arrogant, being pleasant and treating cabin crew with pleasant politeness. I have seen far too many passengers being boorish, petulant, demanding and querulous.
As my frequent flier grade kept going up, I found that my on the ground treatment was upgraded with invitations to the lounge , automatic Priority baggage tagging etc. I can recall many special journeys where the cabin crew made my journey memorable, but not a single trip was ever unpleasant during my Economy class days.
BUSINESS CLASS
My rules remained unchanged, dress smartly while boarding, slip into comfortable stuff and the clothes would be hung up even without being asked. I am reminded of the Mary Poppins song 'A spoonful of sugar....'. Being pleasant begets pleasantness.
While entitled to buy economy class tickets, on many a trip I had used my upgrade vouchers to fly Business - I daresay I liked it. Aside from all the perks on the ground, the main bonus was the air quality in the business class cabin. With fewer people per air exchange vent, the air felt less oppressive than in an economy class cabin (or was it my imagination). The better seating, the amenities kit and the higher attendant to passenger ratio was all well and good. What I missed most was the pre-take off and pre-landing chats with the cabin crew seated in the jump seat.
I would try to get into my seat as early as possible so I could partake of my pre-take off aperitif of a mimosa (OJ and champers). Typically I would buy a bottle of Dom Perignon from the Duty Free, and request the cabin attendant to chill it, saying I 'prefer this' when s/he would say 'why? we have champagne on board'. Long and short of it, more often than not I would have a gutsful of champagne and before landing the crew would bring me back my bottle saying that we got you Dom from the FC stock. Enjoy this when you get home.
In the nineties United who I almost invariably flew on US domestic routes had only FC and Coach. There was a particular ticket booklet with a very special fare called VUSA (visit USA) and though there were some rules the pricing was magic. I used to buy FC vouchers, and frankly though the price difference between FC and coach was small, I felt it not worth the difference. While service on long haul flights had a certain graciousness, domestic flights were perfunctory.
By this time the Star Alliance and One World alliance had come into being, and if you were at the top tier in terms of miles racked up, your perks were carried across to another airline.
At the risk of becoming more boring than I have already been, let me list the airlines that flew me around during the period 1989 to 2013, I promise to summarise my experiences in a few words.
British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, Sri Lankan Airlines, Swissair, Alitalia, Japan Air Lines, All Nippon Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Qantas, Air New Zealand, Lufthansa, Air Nuigini, Hang Kong Vietnam (Vietnam Airlines), Thai, Air Asia, Air France, KLM, Malaysia Airlines, Aeroflot, El Al, Varig, Royal Brunei, Philippine Airlines, Gulf Air, China Airlines, Emirates.
All on Business or First (voucher upgrades).
They all pretty much fly the same planes, Airbus or Boeing. comfort levels are generally similar in Business. Some are newer in design while others are older, but the human experience is similar. Post 9/11, the overall experience has been on a decline mode and I hung up my air travel boots. Train or private vehicle is my travel mode, and since I no longer travel for work I am in no rush to get into an aluminum alloy tube.
Resumption of travel since the pandemic has brought service levels and passenger behaviour to a new low, I am told.

Fact: there is an increase in flatulence on planes. HAFE stands for High Altitude Flatus Expulsion - Airplane cabins are pressurized to between 6,000 and 8,000 feet, which is a significant altitude change for your body if you’ve come from sea level and, just as the air in your water bottle expands at higher altitudes, the gas in your intestines can expand on a plane, growing to take up about 30 percent more room than usual.

Thx so much for this, I learned so much I never knew I didn’t know!

If the plane is crowded, they may check your overhead bag for you, and you may never, never see it again.

I always wondered about the lavatory door trick. Many years ago, my mother was flying LAX to DTW, non stop. About half way, a woman was walking back from first looking for her husband. My mother noticed flight attendants were helping the woman, and trying to get a lavatory door opened. Her husband was in the lavatory, and had died. An announcement asking for a doctor wasn’t successful and the plane started to descend immediately. My mother said anything not secured was flying around the cabin. The flight landed at a smaller airport somewhere in Kansas. Meanwhile, my dad and I were at the airport to pick my mother up. The board kept saying her flight was “delayed” and the gate agents were of no help not giving any information. My mother said after the flight landed, an ambulance crew boarded through the rear, confirmed the death, and began taking the man off on a stretcher. My mother said his wife must have been in shock because she then decided to go back to her seat. A flight attendant had to tell her she had to accompany her husbands body. Once the flight was airborne again, they were now almost 3 hours late, my dad and I were getting nervous. When the board finally said her flight had landed, we made our way to the gate. I was relieved when I saw my mothers red hair walking through the jet way. When she saw us she was shaking her head and finally told us what had happened. I’ve known 3 flight attendants and none of them ever had a death on one of their flights.

I remember one flight vividly,my first flight/tour to Iraq back in 2004. My Texas Guard unit had our whole battalion onboard,no civilians,we were allowed to have our weapons onboard(M-4s & M-16s) the entire 16 hr flight. It was an infantry unit,everyone was on their BEST behavior because our 1st Sgt and C0 were also onboard. LOL. AND boy was that first deployment HELL. Won't go into details,but it was BRUTAL !!! We bonded very well tho,the guys were more like my BROTHERS than fellow soldiers. It's sooo NICE to know someone has your back 100% and you have theirs. SEMPER-FI.

I have always boarded last. Not a fan of herding. But my carry-on fits under my seat (no need for overhead).

That death deflying one was wild!

Being a tall person, mile long legs, space on planes is my priority. First class gives me that much needed leg room (2nd priority, having space from people). I’ve flown business class and the leg room is maybe a couple of inches better than coach. I don’t care how they separate the classes, just give me my much coveted leg room (and preferably space between neighbors; alas even leg room trumps the distancing). Those privacy pods looked amazing.

When I was 17 I was flying from India to America, all on what we then called "jumbo jets". On one leg of the trip my seatmate was a flight attendant on another airline. She played her "I'm special" card and got permission to take me on a tour of the plane. We started with the cockpit where I got to meet the pilots and finished up with that little secret room. It was very cool.

I have balance issues, occasionally use a cane for stability so last time I flew I took advantage of the first boarding option, buy seat at back of plane. Didn't mind seating in plane for longer time in order to be sure my carry on is at my seat and to avoid pushy people getting to their seat.

😂 fairly good information. If you have ever been bumped because you were the last one on ..... I always board asap if my bottom is in the seat and someone else arrives with the same seat assignment. Well, I'm not leaving. Yes that has happened too

I remember when me and a friend were coming back home from Slovakia after a football match. We were too hungover to stand in the queue when they called us in, so we let everyone else go ahead of us, so when we went to the check in area, they had no seats left in the economy class so they ended up upgrading us to first class with no extra charge. So we were there in our sweated out Wales shirts stinking the place out with our ragged clothes, massive hangovers and zero sleep the night before sharing the place with businessmen and women. It was so nice actually having leg room for once so we made sure that is our plan for every other flight.

I’ve had the opportunity to sit in first class a few times. It was while I was in the military flying stand-by. It wasn’t one of the super deluxe individual pods that the fancier airlines have, just the larger seat first class. But, if I ever have the means, I would definitely fly first class all the time! It’s so much nicer and less stressful!

I always aim to board first. This means I never queue. I wait. The people behind me are queuing.

"Bad airline food" is an old generalization, it's gotten quite good in the past 15 years on some airlines, e.g. Qantas.

SSSS gets printed on all boarding passes at some airports for people simply connecting and need to go through security again in their connecting city. Example: Flying from Kiev-Frankfurt-Chicago ... your FRA-ORD boarding pass will have SSSS printed on it since they don't trust the security in Kiev, so you'll be re-directed at the gate in FRA to go through security again