Everyone has some kind of secret they don’t want people to know. What happens when the secret is costing people money? Airlines everywhere have little secrets they keep from customers to make them think they are getting more.
According to TLC Family’s website, one sneaky secret is airlines will overbook a flight so when people drop that flight the company won’t lose money. A ticket for a flight does not mean a guaranteed spot. When the flight is overbooked they ask random customers if they can move to a new flight, which can cause them to wait longer and possibly miss connecting flights.
On the bright side, if being ‘bumped’ from a flight causes you to be over an hour late, the U.S. Department of Transportation requires the airline to pay you for your meals, cash, or a ticket voucher for another flight. At least you won’t go hungry while you’re stranded.
Airlines always stress safety in their airports and planes, but we can only be so safe. Our pilots have been flying for who knows how long and could be falling asleep at the wheel. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) domestic flight rules, there is no limit to how long a pilot can be on duty, there is just a mandatory eight hour rest period and they can only fly for 12 continence hours every 24 hours. This rest period does not mean they are sleeping like they should be. It could include driving, eating, and getting ready for their next flight. The FAA has discovered two cases of air traffic controllers sleeping on the job. This means that the airplanes we are riding on are landing without advice or assistance from the ground. Clearly the airlines need to invest in some five Hour Energy drinks.
Sending that last text or tweet before the flight is on everyone’s minds. The airlines insist passengers to turn off phones during flights. According to the FAA, a cell phone will not cause any plane to fall from the sky. The electronic devices do not interfere with the avionics in the cockpit. Sadly, I highly doubt you will be able to get any cell service up in the air. On the bright side, some airlines are now making Wi-Fi available. But of course most of the time passengers have to pay a fee to use it.
If you are a germaphobe it is highly suggested that you stay away from the coffee served during the flight. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the water airlines use for their tea and coffee is the same water that comes out of the lavatory sinks. Drinking the coffee or tea is just like going into the bathroom and drinking out of the sink. The water is pumped into one main water system for the plane and it is then used for everything. The water is refilled at every stop so there are multiple waters all mixed together in one tank.
Lastly, when the pilot announces your flight will be delayed a couple hours due to the fact they have to put on a few more bags on to the plane, this may not always be true. It could be them putting sandbags on the plane. According to AOL Travel, with the new bag fees, people are bringing fewer bags on to the plane which means there is less weight on the plane. Airlines are forced to add sandbags to the bottom of the plane to even out the weight.
It is pretty clear that the airlines are becoming ridiculous. From kicking people off flights to having air traffic controllers fall asleep, flights are not what they use to be.