Flying Smarter: Air Travel Explained

In this episode, Andrew answers the question of why you can’t board a flight after the gate closes even if the plane is still sitting there. He then chats with Michael Hilliard, a conflict journalist who has travelled to many unconventional destinations around the world, gaining unique experiences and insights on air travel. Why can’t you board a flight after the gate closes even if the aircraft i...

In this episode, Andrew starts off by talking about departure and arrival times as well as North Korea’s airline. Then he talks about three important safety features that all happen to be yellow, looking at how they work and what you need to know. What do departure and arrival times actually mean? Do they refer to your gate departure and arrival times, takeoff and landing times or something else?...

This episode starts by discussing invitation-only airline loyalty tiers and the difference between non-stop and direct flights. Andrew then chats with former flight attendant and pet travel expert Gayle Martz about bringing pets into airline cabins. Some airlines have special tiers in their loyalty programs for their highest spenders and most influential customers. We take a look at some examples...

In this episode, Andrew answers questions about how airlines determine their scheduled flying times and why they pad their schedules. Then, he dives into the past and future of supersonic air travel. How do airlines determine flying times for their schedules? It’s a little bit more complicated than doing a calculation with the aircraft speed and route distance. Learn more in this episode.  Why do...

This episode of Flying Smarter starts off by looking at why you have to take your shoes off when going through airport security in the US. Airline pilot Greg Krino then comes onto the podcast to talk about how pilots are trained.  Why do passengers have to remove their shoes when going through airport security in the United States? This requirement only exists in a few countries and has been in pl...

In this episode, Andrew starts off by answering the question of why some airplane window shades are “upside down” and retract downwards. Then he talks about who is actually operating your flight by exploring airline partnerships and what it means for travelers.  Why do some airplane window shades retract downwards instead of upwards? Find out in this episode and keep an eye out for it on your next...

In this episode, Andrew starts off by talking about the return of Flying Smarter before diving into what happens to uneaten airline food. Then he looks at the hectic world of air travel in the summer of 2022. What happens to food at the end of a flight? While some of it can be saved for later, many perishables end up being thrown out. However, some airlines are coming up with ways to reduce food w...

This is a unique episode because it doesn’t follow the normal episode format. Andrew spends the entire episode chatting with flight attendant Jennel Senior about cabin safety. Topics discussed in this episode include: Passengers often don’t pay attention to the safety demonstration. How much of it do we actually need to know? Why do we have to store bags under the seat in front of us or put our ow...

This episode starts by covering why airliners don’t have parachutes for passengers. Then, learn about how airports make money, who owns them, and why it matters to travelers. Why don’t airlines carry parachutes for their passengers? Parachutes are expensive and heavy, but the reasons go way beyond that. Find out why air travelers don’t get parachutes and what would happen if you parachuted from an...

In this episode, Andrew answers the question of which airline in the world is the safest. He then chats with Gary Arndt, an award-winning travel blogger and writer who has travelled to over 130 countries. What is the safest airline in the world? Some airlines have better safety reputations than others, but does this really matter? Find out more in this episode.   What’s it like flying around small...

In this episode, Andrew starts off by answering questions about how planes avoid mid-air collisions and why airlines overbook flights. Then he talks about how you can get upgraded on your next flight. How do planes avoid colliding in the air? Mid-air collisions do happen, but there are a bunch of different safeguards put in place to prevent these unfortunate incidents. Learn more in this episode....

This special episode of Flying Smarter looks at the top five non-pandemic air travel stories of 2020. There’s no doubt that it has been a rough year for the aviation industry. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on air travel, and news headlines have been filled with how the pandemic has impacted aviation. But it hasn’t all been bad news and there have been some other exciting things going...

This episode of Flying Smarter starts off by looking at whether or not airplane doors can be opened inflight. Travel writers Felice and Peter Hardy then come onto the podcast talk about flying and skiing. Is it possible to open an airplane door during your flight? We’ve seen scary scenes of this happening in movies, but the reality is quite different. Learn more in this episode. What’s the largest...

This episode starts by answering questions about soft versus hard shell luggage and the difference between pilots, co-pilots, first officers, and captains. Andrew then takes a look at why the Boeing 787, also known as the Dreamliner, has won the hearts of airlines and passengers alike. Should I use hard shell or soft shell luggage? There are advantages and drawbacks to both and this episode begins...

This episode is special because it doesn’t follow the normal episode format. Andrew spends the entire episode chatting with airline pilot Owen Zupp about turbulence and what you need to know about it. Topics discussed in this episode include: Turbulence makes some passengers a bit nervous and there can be some discomfort in the cabin when a plane hits some rough air. But what happens in the flight...

In this episode, Andrew starts off by answering questions about how far in advance you should buy a plane ticket and why Singapore Changi Airport is considered the world’s best airport. Then he talks about airline alliances, looking at why they exist and what the benefits for travelers are. How far in advance should you buy a plane ticket? The answer to this isn’t as clear as you may think it is....

This episode of Flying Smarter starts off by answering questions about how high planes fly and how to get into airport lounges. Airline industry expert Dr. Kerry Tan then chats with Andrew about COVID-19’s impact on airlines and what the future holds for passengers. How high do planes fly? Commercial jets fly within a certain altitude range. Find out why this is the case and how it compares with o...

This episode starts by answering questions about why there are carry-on liquid restrictions and why airlines fly empty planes around. Then, learn about duty-free shopping, what happened to SkyMall, and why things are so expensive at airports. Why are there restrictions on bringing liquids through airport security? Restrictions on liquids at airport security are just a regular part of flying these...

In this episode, Andrew answers questions about airplane sewage and finding the best seat. He then chats with Alyssa Cerchiai about the world of points and miles. Where does airplane sewage go? You may have heard stories of frozen toilet waste landing in people’s yards but do we really jettison human waste into the sky? We take a look at what actually happens to airplane sewage once it’s flushed d...

This episode starts by answering questions about birds and planes as well as in-seat power. Andrew then takes a deep dive into low-cost airlines, explaining how they work and what you need to know about flying with one. How dangerous are birds to planes? When a bird hits a plane, it is known as a bird strike. Our episode begins by talking about the dangers that birds pose to planes and what aircra...

Andrew starts this episode off by answering questions about runway numbers and where planes go when they are retired. He then chats with Flying Smarter’s very first guest, Flight Attendant Joe Thomas, who shares valuable insights from his time as a flight attendant and gives some tips to make your flying experience a bit better.  How do runway numbers work? Each runway has a giant number painted o...

In this very first episode, Andrew introduces himself and the podcast, and then talks about ash trays and the best day of the week to buy a plane ticket. He then takes you through the journey of your checked luggage and talks about how your bag gets lost. Why do brand-new planes still have ash trays? Airlines in the United States are even required by regulation to have them on their planes. We tal...

Welcome to Flying Smarter! In each episode, we will delve into the fascinating world of air travel, answering your questions and exploring different topics. By sharing our knowledge and our guests’ wisdom, Flying Smarter will expand your horizons and make you a smarter and savvier air traveler. Whether you are looking to make the most of your next flying experience or are a naturally curious learn...