If you've ever wondered what the little holes in airplane windows are for and where the dirtiest part of the plane might be, read on.
Travel expert Megan Gougeon, who has taken more than 300 flights in the past decade, reveals a selection of things 'NEVER told' to airline passengers in a new YouTube video.
While airplane blankets may feel soft and cozy, Megan warns viewers to stay away from them and in another part of the video she explains why wearing socks is always a no-no.
Take a flight down to learn more airline trade secrets that may make you look at things differently the next time you board the plane.
Travel expert Megan Gougeon, who has taken more than 300 flights in the past decade, reveals a selection of things airline passengers have 'NEVER been told' in a new YouTube video
Safest seats on the plane
For passengers concerned about safety, Megan recommends choosing seats “in the middle of the last row at the back of the plane.”
She says these places have the “highest survivability in a crash.”
While the seats may be the safest, Megan notes that they are also the least comfortable places to sit on the plane because they don't have the reclining feature. [and] they are also close to the bathrooms.'
That's why Megan says she would never choose to sit in the back row, preferring extra comfort over a “potential safety benefit.”
Seats 'in the middle of the last row at the back of the plane' have the 'highest survivability in a crash'
Direct flights are safer than multiple flights
Instead of enduring a long flight in a terrible seat, Megan says, “Another way to increase your chances of a safe trip to your destination is to pay for a direct flight instead of booking multiple connecting flights.” .'
She emphasizes that choosing a direct flight is not just about convenience, 'it is also about safety.'
This is because, the globetrotter notes, “most plane accidents happen during takeoff and landing, so choosing a direct flight means you only have to go through this risk-sensitive part of flying once.”
Holes in the windows
Have you ever noticed a small hole in the bottom of an airplane window and wondered what it was for?
Megan says this feature is something that “airlines don't talk about, but it plays a huge role in keeping us safe and comfortable during the flight.”
She goes on to explain that the round exhaust is known as a “vent hole” and that it is “crucial for regulating cabin pressure to keep the window strong and prevent it from fogging up.”
Windows on commercial aircraft typically have three panes (outside, center and inside) made of acrylic and glass.
The round exhaust known as a 'vent hole' is 'critical for regulating cabin pressure to keep the window strong and prevent it from fogging up'
The plastic window on the inside of the aircraft is intended to prevent passengers from gaining access to the center and outside windows.
There is a center pane of glass with a 'vent' hole in it, then an air gap, followed by an outer pane of glass.
To maintain cabin conditions, it is necessary to control the pressure between the inner window and the actual window, so that the outer window bears the load of the pressure difference.
If the window was sealed and there was no hole in it, all the pressure in the cabin would act on the inner window.
If this pressure blows out the outer glass, the inner glass is still strong enough to hold the pressure and gives pilots time to descend to lower altitudes.
Common flight routines are actually important
Frequent flyers, says Megan, will be “all too familiar” with takeoff and landing procedures, including stowing personal items, closing the tray tables and opening the blinds.
Although these may seem mundane rules, the travel expert emphasizes that they have been introduced to ensure everyone's safety.
She explains: 'Personal items and electronics are stowed away as they can be incredibly dangerous if they fly through the cabin in an emergency.
'The sunshades must be open so that emergency responders can have a good look into the aircraft from outside in the event of an emergency landing'
'An open table top can block the way if we need to get out quickly and the cabin lighting is also dimmed to allow our eyes to adjust to the dark, in case we have to leave the plane in the dark.
'Passengers are also not asked to open the sunshades so that everyone can enjoy the view, but instead the sunshades must be open so that emergency responders can have a good look into the aircraft from outside in the event of an emergency landing. '
Megan says these prompts should provide “a little more motivation to follow the rules and make sure everyone around you is following the rules.”
ALWAYS check under the seat
Another thing airlines don't tell passengers about, Megan says, is the fact that there must be life jackets under every seat.
She reveals that 'passengers sometimes walk away with it', so it's worth checking your seat is available before you go.
If you can't find one, Megan recommends telling a flight attendant right away.
Continuing the safety theme, she notes that the seat cushions “can usually also be detached and used as a flotation device if necessary.”
She concludes, “It's one of those nice safety features that hides in plain sight of the game, just like the ax and crossbow that are also hidden in the airplane cabin for emergency use, but good luck discovering them.”
The toilet ashtrays
Although smoking on planes is very illegal, some passengers break the rules and therefore there must be a safe place to put out a cigarette
One airplane feature you may never have noticed, even if you look directly at it several times, says Megan, is the ashtray in the bathroom.
Although smoking on planes is highly illegal, the avid traveler emphasizes that “some passengers will still break the rules and start smoking.”
With this in mind, airplanes should have a safe place to put out a cigarette.
This is actually a legal requirement and the Federal Aviation Administration Notes: 'Regardless of whether smoking is permitted in any other part of the aircraft, lavatories shall have independent, removable ashtrays conspicuously placed on or near the entrance side of each lavatory door, except that one ashtray may serve more than one lavatory door if the ashtray is clearly visible from the cabin side of each toilet being served.'
The secret lock on every plane
Passengers who break the rules will be arrested, Megan says as she continues to talk about the 'secret closure' of planes.
She points out that all toilet doors have a 'hidden latch under the toilet sign', allowing them to be unlocked from the outside.
So in addition to not smoking, Megan warns against “doing anything questionable in the bathroom of an airplane.”
'[It’s] not the place,” she adds.
Never walk around in socks
During flights, passengers must keep their shoes on at all times, Megan says
Megan says walking around the plane in your socks is a major no-no on flights.
She explains that in the bathrooms, the “little droplets on the floor are not always water,” while “the aisle floors also accumulate germs tracked from the airplane bathroom.”
By keeping your shoes on, says the YouTuber, “you'll not only avoid the unpleasantness of bathroom spills, but you'll also protect yourself from all kinds of germs that can lead to all kinds of foot ailments.”
The dirtiest places on an airplane
With quick turnaround times between flights, Megan emphasizes that there isn't much time for deep cleaning.
She says some of the dirtiest places on planes are the back pockets of the seats, the seat buckles and the tray tables.
To keep germs at bay, she recommends wiping down these areas before they get comfortable.
Passengers might also “consider a tablecloth for a tray table, as this can protect you from germs and can also be useful for organizing your belongings during a flight.”
Vents can prevent illness
You may want to consider keeping the vent open during your flight, says Megan, because “the air blown out of the vent is partially filtered, which can help disperse any germs into your immediate airspace.”
She adds, “I've also heard that the continuous airflow could potentially create a barrier around you that could prevent germs from settling in your airspace, but I'm not sure how effective that really is.”
Warning about the blankets…
If your blanket is wrapped in plastic, it has been washed, say the travel experts
While they may seem soft and cozy, Megan offers a cautionary message about airplane blankets.
She says she recently discovered that the pillows and blankets on long-haul flights “are actually reused and may not be clean until the first flight of the day.”
Catrina McGrail, a former flight attendant, told us Far away that she had never heard of it, but the best way to ensure a blanket is clean is to make sure it is wrapped in plastic.
“By using the sealed plastic bags, passengers know their blanket is fresh,” she said