Why You Should Think Twice Before Swapping Seats!

Bright Side

Dive into the intricacies of in-flight dynamics with our video, "Why You Should Think Twice Before Swapping Seats!" Uncover the hidden pitfalls and unforeseen challenges that come with the seemingly innocent act of changing your seat. From disrupted travel plans to unexpected discomfort, we unravel the reasons behind the cautionary tale of seat swapping and how it can impact your overall travel experience. Join us for an eye-opening exploration as we shed light on the often overlooked consequences of that seemingly harmless mid-flight trade.  #brightside #brightsideglobal  TIMESTAMPS: 0:01 Never swap seats 07:34 Why airport parking can't be cheaper 15:47 Why many airports are near water  This video is made for entertainment purposes. We do not make any warranties about the completeness, safety and reliability. Any action you take upon the information in this video is strictly at your own risk, and we will not be liable for any damages or losses. It is the viewer's responsibility to use judgement, care and precaution if you plan to replicate.

Transcript

00:00Who doesn't want to cut down on flight tickets when they're planning a trip?

00:04Here are some useful tips on how to get the best deals.

00:08Some cities like London and New York have more than one airport,

00:12so consider flying through alternate airports.

00:15Some of these airports are too far away from the city center.

00:18That's why tickets will be cheaper on the flights that land there.

00:21I tried this one myself.

00:23Well, I landed at a place that looked like a cargo airport,

00:26but hey, there was a bus from there to the city center.

00:28Pros, the ticket was cheap.

00:31Cons, I spent an extra hour on the road to get to the center.

00:35What's the prime day to book a ticket?

00:37That's a heated debate.

00:39Apparently, Tuesdays are better for booking a flight.

00:42More specifically, ticket fees at around 1.30 p.m. can be the cheapest.

00:47So, if you have plans to buy tickets for your dream vacation,

00:50go for a hunt on this specific day and time.

00:54There are great websites where you can compare flights

00:57and catch the cheapest ones, and I'll get to them soon.

01:00But don't ignore the official airline websites.

01:03Many of them announce private sales for those loyal customers

01:06who directly visit their pages.

01:09If your agenda allows you to play with your departure time, do that.

01:14Traveling on an early-hour flight generally equals paying less for tickets.

01:17To catch a 6 a.m. flight, you have to get up

01:21when most of the people in the city are still enjoying their comfy beds.

01:24In the early hours, you might have problems with how to get to the airport.

01:29Not all public transport works 24 hours.

01:32Another problem would be your cat accidentally turning off your alarm.

01:36This is why these flights generally come cheaper.

01:39The same principle applies to late-night flights too.

01:42People generally don't want to fly after midnight, so prices drop accordingly.

01:47Look at the bright side.

01:49You have more time to wander around once you get to your destination.

01:53Flying with a connection is another way.

01:55It's a fairly cheap option, especially on longer-haul flights.

01:59This method has a downside.

02:01Your plans can be changed with one word, delay.

02:05You might have to say goodbye to your connecting flight.

02:08Another thing you can do with connecting flights is to search for flights from the same country.

02:13Tourist destinations, megacities, and capitals are generally more expensive.

02:17Travel to a smaller city and then depart to your destination.

02:22Many of us love cookies, but probably not the ones in our browsers.

02:27Staying incognito in the flight-searching process will help you get cheaper flights.

02:31How?

02:32Ticket prices depend on demand, so companies use the data on how many people search for which tickets.

02:39Let's say you look for tickets to London and regularly check the airline website to get a good deal.

02:45Your data signals that you have shown an interest in particular dates and a location.

02:50That's how you see that same flight suddenly gets more expensive.

02:53The airline knows that you're likely going to buy it.

02:56This can happen even if you refresh your browser.

02:59Either stay unidentified or clear your cookies to take yourself out of this situation.

03:06Remember I recommended that you visit the airline websites directly?

03:10You can also sign up for alerts on price drops.

03:13If you think notifications are annoying even though they are useful, you can follow airlines on socials.

03:19Many companies use their social media accounts effectively and they sometimes give customers some last-minute deals.

03:27In some cases, it's convenient to book tickets over the phone.

03:31For example, if you're in a group.

03:33Be aware though that some airlines add extra fees for completing a booking via a call.

03:39It can be as much as $50.

03:41You could get a day trip on your vacation with that money instead of spending it on words.

03:46If you must complete a booking by call, simply ask the person if they're going to charge you some additional

03:52fees for calling.

03:55While searching for a ticket, you can pretend you're in a different location.

03:59The best option is to change your location to the country you'll visit or the airline's home country.

04:04Let's say you'll go to Japan.

04:06Booking from the airline's website and changing your location via VPN would be the key to seeing lower prices.

04:14I said that I'd get to the flight comparison sites topic and here I am.

04:19These websites are gems for giving you the best fares from several airlines and options.

04:24They recommend alternative routes that you haven't considered.

04:28Yet again, before clicking the confirm button, take a few seconds to check the airline's website.

04:33Booking directly and cutting out the middleman's fee can be a wiser option.

04:37The other potential benefit is reliable customer service.

04:41With some airlines, booking via a third party will turn this process into a tangled headphone cable like there's no

04:47tomorrow.

04:49I'll share a strategy for getting an entire row for yourselves.

04:53Imagine you're traveling with your BFF.

04:55One of you should book the window seat and the other one book the aisle seat.

04:59Other passengers will likely go for other seats and avoid the middle seat.

05:03This method cannot always work, though.

05:06If the plane is fully occupied, there'll be some unlucky person in between you.

05:10If someone books that middle seat, you can always offer them the aisle or window seat and continue to sit

05:15with your BFF.

05:17The second option is booking seats in the 13th row.

05:21Well, 13 doesn't have a good reputation as it is superstitiously considered unlucky.

05:27Chances are, no one else books a seat from this particular number.

05:31This one is a gift to you for all your efforts to get the best possible deal.

05:36Good job you're in the airport.

05:38You're watching your favorite show while waiting for the gate to open.

05:41Boom! An hour of free airport Wi-Fi is over.

05:45Here's a loophole to double it.

05:47Roll back the time on your device.

05:49When you change the time zone back an hour, the system won't understand it and it'll allow you to use

05:54it for another hour.

05:56My 14th point is about safety.

05:58Did you know that you shouldn't swap seats before the plane takes off without letting the flight attendant know?

06:04This rule applies to changing your seat with a person from a different row, not to the person next to

06:09you.

06:10This can cause the plane to make an emergency landing.

06:13The reason is related to weight and how it's distributed.

06:16Every plane has a takeoff weight limit.

06:18This number comprises things like fuel, luggage, and passengers.

06:23Flight attendants look out for the potential weight distribution.

06:26A pilot explains it like this.

06:28If you move some seats without asking them, you might cause an imbalance on the plane.

06:33If you ask the flight attendants if you want to change seats, they'll let you do it after takeoff.

06:38I mean, people get up and move in the plane all the time.

06:41So this isn't like you can't change your position at all.

06:43But it can be dangerous to do so without confirmation.

06:49Here's a fun fact.

06:50The black box, as its nickname, is not black.

06:53It's bright orange.

06:55Flight data recorder is its official name.

06:57And it's orange so that in case of an accident, the rescue team can spot it easily.

07:03Where do you think is the dirtiest place on the aircraft?

07:06Not toilets, not seat holders.

07:08It's table trays.

07:10There are more.

07:11The cozy blankets you ask for from the flight attendants aren't so clean either.

07:16According to a report, some airlines wash their blankets only once a month.

07:22Now that you know the tricks, you can plan your trip at a perfect price and, uh, maybe bring your

07:27own blanket to the plane.

07:29Sit back and enjoy the flight.

07:31Good things come to those who wait.

07:33Most airports are equipped with giant kitchens where the food for passengers is prepared for different airlines at once.

07:40Since those oh-so-delightful airplane meals must be cooked about 6 to 10 hours prior to the flight, the

07:46kitchens have to work 24-7.

07:49Besides, the menu for your flight is developed up to a year in advance.

07:54This is a common practice for most airlines because every single ingredient matters and adds to expenses.

08:01In fact, American Airlines managed to save $40,000 per year in 1987 after they removed just one olive from

08:09every salad they served on their flights.

08:12If you have a long layover between flights, going to the nearest hotel to rest might not be the cheapest

08:19option.

08:19There's a much better trick.

08:21Check if the airport or airline sells 24-hour access to the VIP lounge zone.

08:27In most cases, you can have free snacks and drinks there.

08:31And use free shower cabins and rooms for rest at a very affordable price.

08:36There's an actual term for the first 60 minutes after you check in.

08:41The golden hour.

08:42It's the time that passengers statistically spend more money in retail and duty-free areas of the airport.

08:49And having the most comfortable seats in those areas right in front of the shops is a clever trick to

08:54lure you in for shopping.

08:56Sitting in a comfy chair while looking at a flashy sign or shopping window can be tempting.

09:03If you ever wanted to know what happens to your baggage while you're on board a plane,

09:07the short answer is that airport staff don't know once it leaves their territory.

09:12And they probably don't really care.

09:15Sorry.

09:16Baggage is sorted automatically.

09:18Scanners scan the barcode and sort the baggage according to its destination.

09:22The three main tasks of airport baggage handlers are to move your bags from the check-in area to the

09:28gate.

09:28To move them from one gate to another when you have a connection.

09:33And to move your bags from the plane to the baggage claim area.

09:37And that's it.

09:38So, if your baggage doesn't move fast enough, it can be late for your connecting flight.

09:43Or the exact opposite.

09:45Your bag gets to your destination before you do because you're stuck at passport control.

09:51Another problem can arise if you forget to tear off any old stickers showing a different destination.

09:57In this case, the scanner might send your baggage to the wrong country.

10:02You arrive at the airport, already anticipating a couple weeks away from work and all your daily troubles.

10:09Park your car in the lot and then find out that it's going to cost you a small fortune to

10:14leave your car there.

10:15Why so much?

10:17In fact, airport parking lots are a business just like any other.

10:21The land on which they're built, the construction of the lot itself, the maintenance of the whole thing once it's

10:27already in operation.

10:28All that costs a handsome amount of money.

10:31And somebody's got to pay for it, of course.

10:34In addition, parking right next to an airport is simply convenient, which adds to the final cost.

10:40If you're not ready to dip into your pocket for a piece of extra comfort, better take a cab.

10:47Contrails.

10:48Those white trails airplanes often leave behind them at high altitudes are easily mistaken for engine exhaust.

10:55But most are nothing more than water vapor.

10:58During a flight, moisture in the air collects in the engines before being vented with the exhaust.

11:03The hot, wet air leaving the engines mixes with the cool, dry air found at high altitudes, resulting in long,

11:11thin lines of vapor.

11:13Humidity determines when contrails form and how long they remain visible.

11:18If it's already humid up there, then there's more water and the contrail is more prominent.

11:23And if it's cold, the droplets might turn into ice, staying behind for a much longer time.

11:30If someone were able to open the door mid-flight, they would be immediately pulled out of the plane by

11:36a sudden change in air pressure.

11:37It could also do serious harm to the aircraft.

11:41Fortunately, that's almost impossible.

11:44The doors on an airliner open inward while the cabin pressure pushes them out from the inside.

11:50The difference between internal and external pressure makes it impossible for the door to open.

11:57It might seem odd that the flight crew cares whether your window shades are up or down.

12:02The main reason is so that the passenger's eyes can adjust to the outside light.

12:07Mostly, it's just a matter of getting people on and off quickly.

12:11But in an emergency, the last thing they want is people stopping to blink before they evacuate the plane.

12:18Another reason for all the shades to stay up when the airplane is about to take off or land is

12:23for the ground crew to see if there's any trouble on board.

12:27For example, if there's a fire in the cabin, the ground crew will immediately notice it and act accordingly.

12:33If the shades are down, they might lose precious time they would need to rescue the passengers and the airplane

12:39crew.

12:40Ever notice the numbers on the end of the runway?

12:42They're actually used to show the pilot which direction the plane is facing.

12:47For example, the number 36 is short for a heading of 360 degrees or due north.

12:54Along with numbers, the letters R and L indicate if the nearest runway is to the right or left.

13:02Every commercial airplane you've been on has only one wing.

13:06That's right, the left and right wings are actually two parts of a single wing.

13:13The first airplanes were called biplanes because they had two wings.

13:17One on the top and the other going through the bottom of the fuselage.

13:21They were connected with struts and wires which made a kind of box that basically allowed the aircraft not to

13:28fall apart in the air.

13:29It was necessary at lower speeds that early planes could only muster.

13:34But as the engines increased in power, the second wing became redundant.

13:39The single wing still serves as a support for the whole structure though.

13:44Looking out the window on the plane's wing, you can see a small yellow double hook on it.

13:49It seems strange since it might mess with aerodynamics, but it's there for your safety.

13:55In case of an emergency landing, these hooks are used to secure ropes that help passengers exit the plane via

14:01the wings.

14:02If they're slippery, the rope will help you keep your footing and not fall over while going down.

14:08There are several extremely fast streams of air high up in the atmosphere of our planet.

14:14Their paths are meandering, but they have a more or less constant flow, allowing passenger aircraft to use them.

14:20When an airplane comes close to a jet stream, it may adjust to the direction of its current and fly

14:26a lot faster, propelled by the flow.

14:29Many airlines use this to their advantage to cut the fuel costs and make air traveling even faster.

14:37Clouds, especially thunderheads, can indicate that an area of turbulence is ahead.

14:41But sometimes, clear air turbulence occurs when a plane can drop a few feet and start shaking without any warning.

14:48It happens when two bodies of air clash at very high speeds.

14:53And it's absolutely invisible, so the pilots can't tell when it would happen.

14:58The chances of getting into an area of clear air turbulence are higher at low altitudes, over mountain ranges, and

15:05near the jet streams.

15:08Normally, after it's hit by lightning, an airplane is sent for inspection right after landing, but it can still safely

15:14complete its current flight.

15:16The fuselage conducts electricity well enough, and like with a lightning rod, the zap will most probably strike one of

15:23the tips of the airplane, either one of the wings or the nose.

15:26Then, it seeks the ground, but doesn't find it, exiting from the tail in the end.

15:31It's easier for electricity to roll through the surface of the plane than go inside, so people on board are

15:38safe from its effects.

15:39Still, lightning is powerful, and there can be some damage done to the airplane on the outside.

15:46A lot of airports are built near water, and there's a whole bunch of reasons for this.

15:51First off, most airports are located in big cities, and big cities are usually built near some form of water

15:57anyway.

15:58Back in the day, before trucks and proper roads were built, goods were transported by ship.

16:04Having a river or ocean nearby was vital to deliver essential supplies to the cities, like food and building supplies.

16:11It also allowed for trading to boost the local economies.

16:15Because most people travel into big cities for business and holidays, rather than rural areas, it made sense to build

16:22the airports there.

16:23The high demand for travel meant that the airports were needed and also made them profitable.

16:28But that's not the only reason they're built near water.

16:31Big cities are usually super crowded, and airports require a lot of land.

16:36Imagine trying to find a space big enough in the middle of New York City to put an airport.

16:41It would be basically impossible.

16:43Areas next to water are usually a bit more rural, so there's more space than the big cities filled with

16:48skyscrapers.

16:49Some countries have even taken this one step further.

16:53Land is really scarce in Japan, so to build Kansai International Airport,

16:58the architects of Osaka headed three miles offshore to Osaka Bay to make a man-made island.

17:03The artificial island is 13,200 feet long and 8,500 feet wide.

17:09That's so big that it can even be seen from space.

17:12It took a whopping 38 months to complete, and travelers can get across to the main island of Honshu via

17:19car, railroad, or high-speed ferry.

17:22Kansai International Airport opened in 1994 and became the world's first airport to be built on the sea.

17:29Despite its location, it has the longest airport terminal in the world with a length of just under one mile.

17:37Airplanes also can't have any obstacles around them when landing.

17:40It would be really difficult to try landing a plane with obstructions.

17:44These include trees, mountains, buildings, and power lines.

17:48Over water, nothing will restrict planes from taking off or landing, making it much safer.

17:53On mountainous islands, runways are often parallel to the ocean as the mountains are inland,

17:59just like in the Grand Canaria Airport located on one of the Canary Islands.

18:04It also links to safety reasons.

18:06If a plane has to cancel a runway landing and go back around again,

18:10there must be enough room for it to do this safely without hitting anything.

18:14It's also got to be able to climb back up into the air at a safe angle to avoid causing

18:19problems for the passengers inside.

18:21Reaching this safe altitude is much easier, quicker, and safer by the sea, compared to big cities or mountainous areas.

18:30Speaking of failed landings, pilots are trained to deal with engine failure on takeoff.

18:35If a plane reaches the right speed for takeoff, it has to leave the runway, even if the engine fails.

18:40But, don't worry, planes can still fly with only one engine, it just requires a bit more effort.

18:47Because of the reduced capacity, it takes longer to reach the right altitude, and more space is required for takeoff.

18:54Taking off towards the ocean makes it easier to climb to a safe altitude without worrying about colliding with any

19:01obstacles.

19:02Another reason for airports being built at water level is that the higher up we go, the thinner the air

19:08becomes.

19:08It causes the thrust of the engines to decrease, as well as the lift produced by the wings.

19:14Setting off from higher areas means it's more difficult for the planes to take off.

19:18In terms of money, this would mean building longer runways, which would cost more, and no one wants that.

19:24This also means the planes require less fuel as they don't burn as much energy on takeoff.

19:29And there's less noise made as the planes don't have to work as hard.

19:33But, despite this making the planes less noisy, airports are going to have pretty high noise levels.

19:39Imagine hearing planes zooming over your house while you're trying to get sleep at night.

19:43This is a key reason why airports are usually built on the coast, far away from any residential areas, as

19:50fish aren't generally known to file noise complaints.

19:52In some countries, airports actually have to provide upgrades for nearby houses that will be affected by the noise.

19:59Germany is one of these countries, and they do everything from improving roofs to adding wall insulation to cover all

20:06that noise.

20:07Building by the coast means that they don't have to pay up for all these expensive upgrades, which saves the

20:12airport lots of cash.

20:15Coastal areas also have weather advantages for flying.

20:18Sea breezes are steady winds that blow from the water to the land.

20:21Planes mostly land and take off with the wind, making it the perfect place to build an airport as there'll

20:28be no delays caused by unexpected strong winds.

20:31But, while the sea breezes that come in spring and summer are great, areas near water can be prone to

20:36fog during fall and winter, so this part has its pros and cons.

20:41But not every airport is on the coast, as it does also pose a number of issues too.

20:45One of the biggest is birds.

20:47Our feathered friends love the coast because of all the yummy fish, but they can cause big problems for pilots.

20:54But airports manage to get around this using scare tactics.

20:58Birds don't really enjoy noise, and planes aren't the quietest of things.

21:02Airports also make loud bangs and even train hawks to take down birds that are in the way.

21:07The most obvious risk of building close to the sea, though, is flooding.

21:12Airports cost crazy amounts of money to build, and planes aren't cheap either.

21:17Back in 2018, Kansai Airport was flooded by Typhoon Jebi.

21:21They had to cancel all operations for two days, and the water was so high that it damaged the engines

21:27of the planes.

21:28While coastal airports put measures in place to protect against flooding, it's pretty difficult to save everything from a typhoon.

21:35With rising sea levels and an increase in extreme weather, these floodings are also looking more and more likely to

21:42happen.

21:43A quarter of the world's 100 busiest airports are less than 32 feet above sea level.

21:48And 12 of those, including New York, San Francisco, and Shanghai, are less than 16 feet.

21:54Yikes!

21:55All that water poses another problem.

21:58If planes overshoot the runway, they have nowhere to go.

22:02Overshooting is basically when the pilot underestimates the length of the runway and doesn't reach takeoff speed in time.

22:08There are usually extra bits of concrete or grass that the plane can run onto when the airports are on

22:14land.

22:14There'd be a bit of damage to the plane in this case, but nothing major.

22:18But with coastal airports, the plane might go straight into the water.

22:22Luckily, there's new tech that aims to prevent this from happening.

22:26These new kits let the pilots enter in all the flight calculations, including the weather conditions that could affect takeoff.

22:33This system then calculates how much runway the plane will need to stop.

22:37Many airports also have added soft concrete to the end of runways to avoid a watery disaster.

22:44When the plane glides onto this soft concrete, they get stuck, and it stops them traveling too far.

22:50There are also financial issues with building airports next to the water.

22:55Land rent next to the coast or lakes is usually higher than the mainland due to the demand.

23:00Like, 40% of the U.S. population lives on the coast, despite coastal areas only making up around 10

23:07% of America's total landmass.

23:10Airports require flat land to be built on, but this isn't always easy to find.

23:15And coastal land can pose particular problems due to sand conditions on marshland.

23:20But this doesn't mean it's not possible.

23:23One of the world's most famous airports, New York's JFK, was built on marshland.

23:29The land was a lot cheaper than usual, and marshland can't really be used for a lot.

23:34Of course, it can cost a lot of money to make the ground suitable to carry heavy loads, but this

23:39was all sorted.

23:41Finding such a big area close to one of the world's most famous cities was a very rare find, even

23:47if it was marshland.

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