Flying Smarter: Air Travel Explained

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 days. Find out why and how these rules came to be.
• Why do airlines sometimes fly empty planes around? We look at why an airline would operate a flight even if it only has one or two passengers on it. Plus, airlines fly empty planes around for many operational reasons. Learn more in this episode.
• When we’re flying, we’re presented with a many opportunities to make some purchases. Some of these opportunities are better than others and this episode looks at shopping throughout the air travel experience. Andrew discusses what you need to know about duty-free shopping, what happened to SkyMall, and why food and other necessities are so expensive at airports.

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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 on it at either end. Find out what these numbers mean and how the numbering system works.
• What happens to planes once they are retired? When an airline removes a plane form a service, a number of things can happen to it, from being sold to another airline to being sent to an aircraft boneyard. Learn more about the fate of retired aircraft in this episode.
• Did you know that your flight attendants aren’t getting paid during boarding? Or that you might not be great at ordering beverages when flying? Flight Attendant Joe Thomas is here to talk everything from how to treat your flight attendants to how you can increase your chances of getting a free drink on your next flight. Joe draws from his experience to share some hilarious but valuable insights.

If you want to hear more from Joe, you can find his podcast, Grounded with Joe Thomas, on your favorite podcast app. You can also follow him on Instagram at @groundedwithjoethomas, Like his Facebook Page, or check out his books and blog at www.flightattendantjoe.com.

Enjoying the podcast? Leave us a review if you’re using a platform that allows you to do so, like Apple Podcasts. We would greatly appreciate it!
Connect with Flying Smarter:
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Website: www.flyingsmarter.com

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 of these loyalty tiers and the special benefits that come with them.
• What is the difference between a non-stop and a direct flight? While these terms are sometimes used interchangeably, there is a difference. Find out more in this episode.
• Gayle Martz was a TWA Hostess (now known as a flight attendant) when she embarked on a journey to change the way that pets fly. Her hard work led to the introduction of the first airline-approved soft-sided pet carrier in the world. For this episode’s main segment, she is here to share her insights and advice on bringing your dog or cat on a plane.

If you want to learn more about Gayle’s story and the SHERPA bag, visit www.gaylemartz.com. There, you can also find information on her two books, No Pet Left Behind: The SHERPA Guide for Traveling with Your Best Friend and IT’S IN THE BAG: How to Turn a Passion into a New Business. You can also find her on Facebook and on Instagram @gaylemartz.

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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 is still sitting at the gate? The answer involves a bunch of different factors involving aircraft, airline, and airport operations. Find out more in this episode.
• What’s it like flying to airports that see very few foreign travelers? How do you fly to a conflict zone? Andrew talks to conflict journalist and podcast host Michael Hillard about his fascinating air travel experiences.
• Michael has travelled to many uncommon destinations that are hard to access, having reported from places like Iran, Belarus, and Russia. Listen as he provides travel tips, his thoughts on flight safety, and much more.

Michael Hilliard is a conflict journalist with extensive air travel experience around the world. His work has taken him to places ranging from Iran, to Kyrgyzstan, to Belarus and Russia and he has worked with governments, think tanks, and other organizations across the globe. He is the founder and host of The Red Line, a geopolitics podcast that brings together three guests to tell a key story each episode. You can also find Michael on Twitter and The Red Line on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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Website: www.flyingsmarter.com

Andrew starts by talking about why flight deck doors are often open during boarding. The main segment for this episode features previously unaired clips from our 2022 guests.

• If you board through the front door of an aircraft, you may have noticed that you can often catch a glimpse of the cockpit through the open flight deck door. Why is this door open? Find out in this episode.
• Our guests have a wealth of knowledge from their travel and work experiences that extend beyond the topic of each interview. We also sometimes have to edit interviews to shorten them. This episode features “deleted scenes” from 2022, in which our guests share tips, stories and insights.
• What happens in the flight deck when a passenger has a medical emergency inflight? How safe is it to fly with pets? Hear what our guests have to say.

From Episode 18 - How Pilots are Trained: Greg Krino is a pilot with a major US airline who was previously a fighter pilot in the US Air Force. You can find Greg’s podcast, The Greg Krino Show, on your podcast app and at www.gregkrino.com. You can also find him on Facebook and Instagram.
From Episode 20 – Bringing Pets to the Sky: Gayle Martz is a pet travel expert and former flight attendant who revolutionized how pets travel. If you want to learn more about Gayle’s story, the SHERPA bag and her two books visit www.gaylemartz.com. You can also find her on Facebook and on Instagram.
From Episode 22 – Taking the Skies Less Traveled: Michael Hilliard is a conflict journalist whose work has taken him on flights to unique destinations all over the world. He is the founder and host of the geopolitics podcast The Red Line. You can also find Michael on Twitter and The Red Line on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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Connect with Flying Smarter:
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Website: www.flyingsmarter.com