10 secrets airlines won’t tell you

Aeroplanes seem like fairly straight forward things. You’re loaded on, get seated and have to occupy yourself for the flight, whether it be short or long haul. But have you ever wondered if there are certain things airlines don’t tell you?

Well, there are many things that the everyday customer isn’t privy to, but we’ve investigated and found out the juiciest secrets in the air.

1. There’s a reason they dim the cabin lights

The cabin lights are dimmed at night so your eyes are adjusted to the dark if you need to find a way out. This is also why flight attendants ask you to put up tray tables and seats at takeoff and landing incase you need to get out in a hurry.

2. Pilot meals

Two pilots are served different meals and cannot share, this is done in case of food poisoning!

3. The tray table is very dirty

If you drop a bit of food on the tray table, you might just pick it up, but don’t! The tray tables are only cleaned once a day and not well. Use a baby wipe to sanitise it before meals.

4. Phones won’t really bring the plane down, but they can distract the pilot

Mobile electronic devices won’t really bring an airplane down but they can be really annoying to pilots because they can hear the interference of phones picking up a signal.

5. You can tip airline staff

Like wait staff at your local restaurant, you can tip your flight attendants for good service. They’ll take care of you if you make the effort to make their day, even if it’s not money.

6. Blankets and pillows are not washed

Those blankets and pillows simply get refolded and stuffed back in the seat pockets between flights. Fresh ones are typically put in the first flight in the morning so be wary and potentially bring your own.

7. Never drink the coffee on aeroplanes

“Sometimes, the vehicle that fills the potable water for washing hands and making coffee is parked next to the vehicle that is used to dump the [toilet] and fill the blue juice for the lavs. They’re not supposed to. Sometimes, they’re parked at a distance from each other, which is policy, yet the guy who is filling the water is using gloves that he hasn’t changed in over 2 years,” said a flight attendant on Reddit.

8. If it seems like flight attendants are giving preferential treatment to certain passengers, it’s probably true

“Flight attendants have a list of who is who and what seat they are in. As well as what level of frequent flyer they happen to be. Or if they are employees or family and friends tickets. This is why you will see them being rude to someone or bending over backwards for jerks”, said another flight attendant on Reddit.

9. There are dead bodies on flights