Category: airlines

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This Is Why You Can’t Help Yourself to an Empty First-Class Seat When You’re Flying

When you make your way through first-class to your coach class seat, you pass passengers already seated in their wide seats, relaxed, with beverages and their noses stuck to their devices or magazines.

You squeeze yourself into your middle seat and shove your carryon under the seat in front of you because all the overhead space was taken by the time you got there.

Nodding at the guy next to you, you mentally calculate if he’s the kind of guy that would deny you elbow space on the armrest later in the flight.

Photo Credit: Flickr

You also mentally calculate if you could sneak into first class and take one of several empty seats you saw.

The answer? No.

Why? Because it’s stealing.

Photo Credit: Flickr

You’ve paid your fare and it was for coach. Why should you be the one to get an empty first class seat over another passenger?

Recently, on Twitter, United Airlines put it another way when a passenger tweeted this question: “What’s the point of empty seats if they can be filled and your customers can have a better experience?”

Because, United answered, “… If you were to purchase a Toyota, you would not be able to drive off with a Lexus, because it was empty.”

Something else to keep in mind, flight attendants know who is supposed to be in their first class cabin. If they do note someone taking a seat they didn’t pay for, they can confront that passenger.

In forums, tales of passengers getting charged for the upgrade or even getting arrested are frequently discussed.

Photo Credit: Wikimedia

More legroom and a free cocktail doesn’t seem to be worth the hassle, does it?

If you’re really determined, you can try asking the flight attendant if you can move up. Don’t count on a warm reception to the idea, though.

The post This Is Why You Can’t Help Yourself to an Empty First-Class Seat When You’re Flying appeared first on UberFacts.

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This Is Why You Cry More Easily on Planes

Are you an emotionally stable person? Someone who doesn’t cry easily?

But what about when you’re on a plane? Have you noticed that you tend to tear up over nothing?

Recent research shows that this is absolutely normal. There are scientific reasons why you might suddenly be overcome with emotion – and not just because flying can be scary.

Let’s break it down. The main reason is altitude. It’s not often you’ll find yourself at 30,000 feet in the air, so when you do fly, the altitude makes your body react differently to how it usually does. While cabin pressure  make passengers a little more comfortable, it doesn’t fix everything – including the emotional aspect.

Kate Sullivan, MSc, Head of Experience at Secret Fares told Reader’s Digest, “It’s a bit like having climbed a pretty high mountain.”

Oxygen is thinner the higher the elevation. So for someone like a mountain climber (or airplane passenger), there is a lower amount of oxygen in the bloodstream.

“With less oxygen available, your body goes into conservation mode,” Sullivan explains. “It takes care of essential functions first, like your circulatory and respiratory system, and ramps down some of the less crucial functions…including emotional regulation.”

But that’s not all. The air is extremely dry while flying. This can cause dehydration. Send in the drink cart!

“Because the air circulated in the cabin is very dry…we get pretty darn dehydrated on a plane,” Sullivan says.

And yes, the stress of flying itself can cause emotional disruption. Maybe you almost missed your plan or you said good-bye to a loved one before boarding. Whatever the reason, your nervousness may heighten, leaving you tired. And once you’re in the air, the altitude strips your body of some of its normal capabilities for regulating emotions.

Photo Credit: Unsplash, Bambi Corro

“From a psychological perspective, the mere act of flying can make you more likely to cry,” Sullivan says. “Even if you’re not afraid of planes, it’s a stressful situation.”

There are ways to combat stress and emotions, though. Drinks lots of water before and during the flight. Staying hydrated may mean more trips to the teeny tiny flight bathroom, but – hey – at least you’re not crying in the aisle to get there. You can also break out a sudoku or crossword puzzle to keep your brain occupied. And, lastly, kick back with in-flight entertainment. Watch movies that are light-hearted and comedic (your emotional side will thank you).

So no matter the reason for pesky tears to surface, know it is okay! This totally normal.

Everything is under control.

The post This Is Why You Cry More Easily on Planes appeared first on UberFacts.

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In 2013, during Christmas, more…

In 2013, before Christmas, more than 250 passengers on Calgary-bound flights were part of a “Christmas miracle” done by WestJet. Santa Claus appeared on life-size screens at boarding gates and asked passengers what they wanted for Christmas. When the planes landed the gifts were on the baggage carousel.

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In 1987, an Alaska Airlines 737 collided…

In 1987, an Alaska Airlines 737 collided with a fish in midair. Today, the company flies a plane affectionately named the Salmon-Thirty-Salmon. The fish was dropped by an eagle, which the airport manager attributed to “the law of the jungle” and “as the larger bird approached, the smaller bird dropped its prey.” 10