Insider Secrets From an Airline Pilot

With the plane on autopilot so much, do you ever get bored? There are checks that we do all the time. We monitor the time, fuel burn and turbulence; we converse with fellow crew members and communicate with air traffic control. You’re constantly assessing what’s going on. I would never call flying boring; I enjoy it too much. Every few hours on longer flights, we get out of our seats to take a rest break. There are specific rules on how much time you can spend in the seat. If it’s a two-person crew on a domestic flight, you don’t want to spend more than eight hours in your seat. For international flights with relief pilots, it’s usually around three hours. That’s up to the discretion of the captain. You try to balance it so everyone is as fresh as possible. For international flights, there are typically three qualified pilots in the cockpit. On ultra-long flights of more than 16 hours, it’s four who can rotate into the pilot’s seat every few hours.

Is it easy to sleep in flight? That varies by individual. Typically, you don’t get a full night’s sleep; you take an extended nap of two to four hours. But it is a good break. On a long flight, flight attendants have rest areas, too.

Inside the cabin

Should you avoid asking for ice in your drinks because it’s made from old water? No, ice is catered on the airplane at each stop. It is fresh.

Should you avoid coffee on a flight because the coffee machines aren’t cleaned properly? The water tanks are treated and cleaned regularly. I have never heard of anyone having a problem with coffee or tea made with airplane water.

How often are the bathrooms cleaned? They are cleaned after every flight, and deep cleaned regularly, which is every few days.

What are the best places to sit on an aircraft for nervous flyers? Sitting over the wings will give the best ride in turbulence. Sitting in the tail will increase the feeling of movement during turbulence. There is no “safer” seat, they are all safe.

On minimizing air travel woes

Download the airport app. Airports are places that most people don’t go to often. Download the airport app before you arrive. It can tell you where to find coffee and how far it is to the gate. It also provides information for your connection and arrival airports. The apps are free and help you stay informed. You can delete them afterward.

Avoid long walks. I’m an advocate of wheelchair assistance. You have to tell the airline in advance that you have special needs. It should not be an ego thing. If you have half a mile or a mile to get to your gate, you may not want to expend that energy so you arrive exhausted. You can also use an electric cart to transport you to the gate, which you can get through the airline in advance. That will go into your passenger record [for that flight].

Ship your luggage in advance. Luggage-shipping services are excellent and can help you avoid the challenges of carrying on if you struggle to lift your bag into the overhead bin or of checking your bag and worrying about whether it’ll show up at the carousel. You can ship your luggage to the hotel if you have a reservation. I would always advocate taking at least one day’s worth of clothes and medications in your carry-on if you ship or check your luggage.

Use a digital luggage tracker. Whether you ship or check your luggage, put [a luggage tracker such as an Apple] AirTag or a Tile tracker in the bag so you can track it [digitally]. I have AirTags in all of my bags.

Have your airline number handy. I have my airline’s number in the favorites section of my phone’s contact list. When there’s a last-minute cancellation or delay, I call the airline first thing. I find a quiet corner and call to get rebooked rather than stand in a long line at the gate.