- 19 hours ago
- #brightside
- #brightsideglobal
In this video, we will explore the reasons behind the high cost of parking at airports, and some other interesting facts about airplanes and aviation. Did you know that airport parking fees are not only influenced by supply and demand, but also by environmental factors, security measures, and airport taxes? Or that the longest commercial flight in the world is from Singapore to New York, and it takes almost 19 hours? Or that the wingspan of a Boeing 747 is longer than the Wright brothers' first flight? Join us as we reveal these and more amazing facts about aircrafts and airports. #brightside #brightsideglobal TIMESTAMPS: 0:24 How much does removing 1 olive cost airlines? 02:30 What factors do parking fees include? 08:15 Why airports have so many carpets 17:06 Why do airports have so many mirrors? 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.
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00:00Most airports are equipped with giant kitchens where the food for passengers is prepared for different airlines at once.
00:06Since those oh-so-delightful airplane meals must be cooked about 6-10 hours prior to the flight, the kitchens
00:14have to work 24-7.
00:16Besides, the menu for your flight is developed up to a year in advance.
00:21This is a common practice for most airlines, because every single ingredient matters and adds to expenses.
00:27In fact, American Airlines managed to save $40,000 per year in 1987 after they removed just one olive from
00:36every salad they served on their flights.
00:39If you have a long layover between flights, going to the nearest hotel to rest might not be the cheapest
00:46option.
00:46There's a much better trick.
00:48Check if the airport or airline sells 24-hour access to the VIP lounge zone.
00:53In most cases, you can have free snacks and drinks there, and use free shower cabins and rooms for rest
01:01at a very affordable price.
01:03There's an actual term for the first 60 minutes after you check in, the golden hour.
01:09It's the time that passengers statistically spend more money in retail and duty-free areas of the airport.
01:16And, having the most comfortable seats in those areas right in front of the shops is a clever trick to
01:21lure you in for shopping.
01:23Sitting in a comfy chair while looking at a flashy sign or shopping window can be tempting.
01:30If you ever wanted to know what happens to your baggage while you're on board a plane, the short answer
01:35is that airport staff don't know once it leaves their territory.
01:39And they probably don't really care. Sorry.
01:43Baggage is sorted automatically.
01:45Scanners scan the barcode and sort the baggage according to its destination.
01:49The three main tasks of airport baggage handlers are to move your bags from the check-in area to the
01:55gate.
01:56To move them from one gate to another when you have a connection.
02:00And to move your bags from the plane to the baggage claim area.
02:04And that's it.
02:06So, if your baggage doesn't move fast enough, it can be late for your connecting flight.
02:10Or, the exact opposite.
02:12Your bag gets to your destination before you do because you're stuck at passport control.
02:18Another problem can arise if you forget to tear off any old stickers showing a different destination.
02:24In this case, the scanner might send your baggage to the wrong country.
02:29You arrive at the airport, already anticipating a couple weeks away from work and all your daily troubles.
02:36Park your car in the lot and then find out that it's going to cost you a small fortune to
02:41leave your car there.
02:42Why so much?
02:44In fact, airport parking lots are a business just like any other.
02:48The land on which they're built, the construction of the lot itself, the maintenance of the whole thing once it's
02:54already in operation.
02:55All that costs a handsome amount of money.
02:58And somebody's got to pay for it, of course.
03:01In addition, parking right next to an airport is simply convenient.
03:04If you're not ready to dip into your pocket for a piece of extra comfort, better take a cab.
03:14Contrails, those white trails airplanes often leave behind them at high altitudes, are easily mistaken for engine exhaust.
03:22But most are nothing more than water vapor.
03:24During a flight, moisture in the air collects in the engines before being vented with the exhaust.
03:30The hot, wet air leaving the engines mixes with the cool, dry air found at high altitudes, resulting in long,
03:38thin lines of vapor.
03:40Humidity determines when contrails form and how long they remain visible.
03:44If it's already humid up there, then there's more water and the contrail is more prominent.
03:50And if it's cold, the droplets might turn into ice, staying behind for a much longer time.
03:57If someone were able to open the door mid-flight, they would be immediately pulled out of the plane by
04:03a sudden change in air pressure.
04:04It could also do serious harm to the aircraft.
04:08Fortunately, that's almost impossible.
04:10The doors on an airliner open inward, while the cabin pressure pushes them out from the inside.
04:17The difference between internal and external pressure makes it impossible for the door to open.
04:24It might seem odd that the flight crew cares whether your window shades are up or down.
04:29The main reason is so that the passenger's eyes can adjust to the outside light.
04:34Mostly, it's just a matter of getting people on and off quickly.
04:38But in an emergency, the last thing they want is people stopping to blink before they evacuate the plane.
04:45Another reason for all the shades to stay up when the airplane is about to take off or land
04:49is for the ground crew to see if there's any trouble on board.
04:54For example, if there's a fire in the cabin, the ground crew will immediately notice it and act accordingly.
05:00If the shades are down, they might lose precious time they would need to rescue the passengers and the airplane
05:06crew.
05:07Ever notice the numbers on the end of the runway?
05:09They're actually used to show the pilot which direction the plane is facing.
05:14For example, the number 36 is short for a heading of 360 degrees or due north.
05:21Along with numbers, the letters R and L indicate if the nearest runway is to the right or left.
05:29Every commercial airplane you've been on has only one wing.
05:33That's right, the left and right wings are actually two parts of a single wing.
05:40The first airplanes were called biplanes because they had two wings,
05:44one on the top and the other going through the bottom of the fuselage.
05:48They were connected with struts and wires which made a kind of box
05:52that basically allowed the aircraft not to fall apart in the air.
05:56It was necessary at lower speeds that early planes could only muster.
06:01But as the engines increased in power, the second wing became redundant.
06:06The single wing still serves as a support for the whole structure though.
06:11Looking out the window on the plane's wing, you can see a small yellow double hook on it.
06:16It seems strange since it might mess with aerodynamics, but it's there for your safety.
06:22In case of an emergency landing, these hooks are used to secure ropes
06:26that help passengers exit the plane via the wings.
06:29If they're slippery, the rope will help you keep your footing and not fall over while going down.
06:35There are several extremely fast streams of air high up in the atmosphere of our planet.
06:40Their paths are meandering, but they have a more or less constant flow,
06:45allowing passenger aircraft to use them.
06:48When an airplane comes close to a jet stream,
06:50it may adjust to the direction of its current and fly a lot faster, propelled by the flow.
06:56Many airlines use this to their advantage to cut the fuel costs and make air traveling even faster.
07:04Clouds, especially thunderheads, can indicate that an area of turbulence is ahead.
07:08But sometimes, clear air turbulence occurs when a plane can drop a few feet and start shaking without any warning.
07:15It happens when two bodies of air clash at very high speeds.
07:20And it's absolutely invisible, so the pilots can't tell when it would happen.
07:24The chances of getting into an area of clear air turbulence are higher at low altitudes,
07:31over mountain ranges, and near the jet streams.
07:35Normally, after it's hit by lightning, an airplane is sent for inspection right after landing,
07:40but it can still safely complete its current flight.
07:43The fuselage conducts electricity well enough,
07:46and like with a lightning rod,
07:47the zap will most probably strike one of the tips of the airplane,
07:51either one of the wings or the nose.
07:53Then, it seeks the ground, but doesn't find it,
07:57exiting from the tail in the end.
07:59It's easier for electricity to roll through the surface of the plane than go inside,
08:03so people on board are safe from its effects.
08:06Still, lightning is powerful,
08:08and there can be some damage done to the airplane on the outside.
08:13Many airports have carpets at their gate areas.
08:16This nicety usually comes with a few other perks.
08:19Lower ceilings, comfortable seats, and pleasant natural lighting.
08:23All this costs more for airports,
08:25and carpets are not so easy to clean as hard floors are,
08:29but they create a cozy feeling for passengers waiting for their flight,
08:33making them more relaxed.
08:35Still, it isn't a gesture of goodwill on the part of airports.
08:38According to social research,
08:40calm passengers are about 7% to 10% more likely to go window shopping
08:44and actually buy something in the lounge area or duty-free zone.
08:48So, by investing in the passenger's comfort,
08:51airports actually increase their own income.
08:54If you ever wanted to know what happened to your baggage while you're on board a plane,
08:58the short answer is that airport staff don't actually know once it leaves their territory,
09:03and they probably really don't care.
09:05Sorry.
09:06Baggage is sorted automatically.
09:08Scanners scan the barcode and sort the baggage according to its destination.
09:12The three main tasks of airport baggage handlers
09:15are to move your bags from the check-in area to the gate,
09:18to move them from one gate to another when you have a connection,
09:21and to move your bags from the plane to the baggage claim area.
09:25And that's it.
09:26So, if your luggage doesn't move fast enough,
09:29it can be late for your connecting flight,
09:31or the exact opposite.
09:32Your bag gets to your destination before you do because you're stuck at passport control.
09:37Another problem can arise if you forget to tear off any old stickers showing a different destination.
09:43In this case, the scanner might send your luggage to the wrong country.
09:47Most airports are equipped with giant kitchens where the food for passengers is prepared.
09:52These kitchens usually cook food for different airlines at once.
09:55And since that oh-so-delightful airplane food must be cooked for about 6 to 10 hours in advance,
10:01these kitchens have to work 24-7.
10:04And however surprising it might sound,
10:06the menu for your flight is developed up to a year in advance.
10:10This is a common practice for most airlines because every single ingredient matters and adds to expenses.
10:16In fact, one airline managed to save $40,000 after they removed just one olive from every salad they served
10:24on their flights.
10:25Airport staff sometimes ask passengers to rub their hands on a piece of cloth before putting it into a special
10:31machine.
10:32It might seem kind of scary, but it's actually harmless.
10:35You're simply being checked by a machine called an atomizer.
10:39Before their working day starts, employees put samples of dangerous chemicals into the machine.
10:45The machine memorizes these smells.
10:47And in case a person's hand smells like those chemicals, it alerts airport staff to this danger.
10:53You know how it sometimes goes.
10:55You come to the security checkpoint, and suddenly, it turns out you have something prohibited to take on board in
11:01your carry-on.
11:01But don't worry, all the things seized during the pre-flight inspection can be stored at the airport for as
11:07long as three months.
11:09On top of that, you have an opportunity to mail them any address inside the country.
11:13Things taken away by security and weren't claimed can also get sold at special auctions and are delivered worldwide.
11:21If you have a long layover between flights, going to the nearest hotel to rest might not be the cheapest
11:26option.
11:27There's a much better trick.
11:29Check if the airport or airline sells 24-hour access to the VIP lounge zone.
11:34In most cases, you can have free snacks and drinks there, and use free shower cabins and rooms for rest
11:40at a very affordable price.
11:42In multi-terminal airports, search for underground passageways connecting terminals that most people might not know about.
11:49For example, at Frankfurt Airport in Germany, there's a walking tunnel between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 that's mostly used
11:57by employees since passengers are simply unaware of its existence.
12:01There's an actual term for the first 60 minutes after you clear check-in.
12:06The golden hour.
12:08It's the time that passengers statistically spend more money in retail and duty-free areas of the airport.
12:14And having the most comfortable seats in those areas right in front of the shops is a clever trick to
12:19lure you in for shopping.
12:21Let's admit, sitting in front of a comfy chair while looking at a flashy sign or shopping window can be
12:26tempting.
12:27And that's exactly what the airports want you to feel.
12:30If your flight is overbooked and you can't fly at the designated time, don't hurry to accept the first voucher
12:36you're offered as an apology.
12:38Normally, airlines keep raising the stakes until they have enough volunteers to give up their flight seats.
12:44And if they don't and you've been bumped in voluntarily, you can insist on a cash refund instead.
12:50Depending on your ticket price and the time of your delay, you might be entitled to as much as $1
12:55,300.
12:57Most airports have specific experts called profilers.
13:01These people practice what's called SPOT, or the Screening Passengers by Observation technique.
13:08They carefully analyze facial expressions, gestures, and behavior in order to detect suspicious people.
13:15Their job is to notice the non-verbal signs of anxiety, such as people licking their lips, itching, or looking
13:22around a lot.
13:23If a profiler notices a person acting in a weird or off way, they can invite them for an inspection,
13:29where they can talk to a person to find out more about them.
13:33Profilers work in both the main halls and in passport control.
13:36The typical question they ask is, what's the purpose of your visit?
13:40Then they check the person's reaction to this inquiry.
13:43No matter how reserved a passenger is, if they have something to hide, TSA officers will find out, thanks to
13:49the tiniest cues in people's behavior.
13:52Before your luggage even gets on the plane, it goes through five security levels.
13:57And one of them, besides scanning the contents, includes being checked by a special dog that can sniff out dangerous
14:03chemicals.
14:04It's a well-known fact that a dog's nose is much stronger than that of any human.
14:09In fact, dogs distinguish smells from 10,000 to 100,000 times better than people do.
14:16No wonder airports take advantage of this super sense for security and regularly use these sniffer dogs to detect suspicious
14:22substances.
14:24What's really cool is that you can't even distinguish a detection dog from its civilian siblings.
14:29Unlike police dogs, the ones working at airports aren't trained to frighten or intimidate people.
14:34The most popular sniffer breeds are golden retrievers, labs, and German short-haired pointers.
14:41Charging your phone at a specifically designated spot can look convenient, but it's not really safe.
14:47If the charging station only allows you to plug in your cord, you might get malware installed on your phone
14:52with you none the wiser.
14:54The only safe way to charge your phone or tablet is to find an electric socket and use it with
14:59your own charger.
15:00Same goes for free airport Wi-Fi.
15:03Apart from the airports requiring you to authenticate yourself more often than not,
15:07someone can easily access your data while you're using an unprotected Wi-Fi hotspot.
15:12It's safer to use your mobile data, but if you absolutely have to use the airport's Wi-Fi, best clear
15:19or encrypt all your important data on your device.
15:22It might be exasperating to take your laptop out of your carry-on at the security check every single time.
15:28But the airport staff need to have a clear look at your device to make sure nothing is concealed inside.
15:34On the screen of an x-ray scanner, a laptop looks like a semi-transparent object with a clearly visible
15:40hard drive, CD drive and whatnot.
15:42But security officers can't see what's behind some of those parts, for example, a dense and rather large battery.
15:49People tend to choose the closest security line to them.
15:52If that line turns out to be super crowded, just look around after ID and ticket check.
15:58You may see another checkpoint with much fewer people.
16:02Some checkpoints at the airport are situated at the far edges of the terminal, and that's why passengers fail to
16:08notice them.
16:09Applying for a TSA pre-check can be a great time-saver for traveling in and out of the U
16:14.S.
16:14Being a member of this program has some great perks.
16:18First, getting through security and passport control happens faster.
16:22If you're a pre-check traveler, you won't have to take off your shoes or remove your belt.
16:26And forget about placing your stuff like liquids and laptops in special bins.
16:30If you aren't flying to or from the U.S., then you can look up similar services available in your
16:37country.
16:39If you're flying economy class but don't like it, who does?
16:42Check in online and check out the seating options about four days before your flight.
16:47It's about that time that airlines typically start upgrading seats, and you might get an upgrade to business class for
16:53a small fee or even sometimes for free.
16:56You can also ask for an upgrade when you're already at the airport.
16:59Most people forget about this opportunity or simply don't care, so you might just get lucky.
17:05Airports are some of the most visited and, at the same time, mysterious places out there.
17:10So, let's see what's going on behind the scenes and what secrets airports hide.
17:15At some airports, there are special people called profilers.
17:20Such people bring to life a special program called SPOT, screening passengers by observation technique.
17:26They analyze your mimics, gestures, and behavior in order to detect suspicious people.
17:33Their job is to notice nonverbal signs of anxiety, people licking their lips, itching, or looking around a lot.
17:41If a profiler notices a person acting in an unusual way, they can invite them for an inspection.
17:47There, they talk to this person, trying to find out more about them and confirm, or not, their suspicions.
17:55Airport agents might also be watching you all the way from the security check to your gate.
18:00Some airports have facial recognition scanners that can easily track you.
18:04They're equipped with special software that compares passengers' faces with their IDs.
18:10Keep in mind that if you don't charge your laptop before the flight, it may be confiscated.
18:17It's not uncommon for an airport security officer to ask you to power your device up.
18:22If you fail to do it, your gadget can be taken away for an additional check.
18:28For safety reasons, it's crucial to make sure that it hasn't been tampered with or modified in a way that
18:33can cause harm during the flight.
18:36Packing an electric brush in your check-in luggage may land you in trouble.
18:41Brushes produced by some brands have lithium batteries inside, and those can potentially lead to serious problems in the air.
18:49That's why leaving your electric brush in your checked suitcase isn't an option.
18:53But you're allowed to store them in your carry-on bag.
18:57At the same time, if your device runs on AA batteries, you can put it wherever you want.
19:02Anyone who's ever traveled by plane knows about the no liquids rule.
19:07But not everybody knows that this rule also applies to peanut butter, toothpaste, creams, lotions, liquid makeup, lava lamps, snow
19:16globes, some kinds of medications, deodorant, and even gel shoe inserts.
19:23Now, let's go outside for a while and look at those landing spots.
19:28Airports charge airline companies huge fees for landing on their runways on certain days and at particular times.
19:35But the most interesting thing is that the landing spots can be bought and sold.
19:40For example, in 2016, Oman Air paid Air France around $75 million for one early morning arrival slot at London
19:49Heathrow Airport.
19:50You must have noticed that airfare has increased over the past decade.
19:55That's because of the extremely high prices of landing slots.
20:00Dispatchers don't only control the planes in the sky as you can often see in the movies, but they also
20:06look after their movements on the ground.
20:08They also control the lighting on the runways.
20:11There's three types of air traffic controllers, en route, terminal, and tower.
20:16Each of these dispatchers has their own area of responsibility.
20:21One dispatcher has about five monitors and the information on them is constantly changing since the monitors show weather conditions
20:29and information about other planes.
20:31You know how it sometimes goes.
20:34You come to a security checkpoint and all of a sudden, it turns out you have something prohibited in your
20:39carry-on.
20:40But worry not, you still have a chance to save your favorite pen knife.
20:45At some airports, there are on-site postal services and you might have an opportunity to mail your belongings to
20:52any address you provide.
20:54But the mailing fees are pretty high.
20:57Plus, certain items are prohibited and the postal service won't deliver them.
21:02Airports can be selling your lost luggage right now.
21:05Of course, I don't say that there's no chance for you to get back your suitcases that's traveled to a
21:10different destination.
21:11But just as likely, you might not see it again.
21:15In this case, an airport has the right to sell your misplaced belongings at an auction.
21:21Most airports have an annual lost luggage sale.
21:24After paying an entry fee, you can bid on electronics, clothes, bags, and other stuff.
21:31While flying, you might have a celebrity on board, but you won't know it.
21:35Large airports have separate check-in and security procedures for celebrities.
21:40They often board the plane directly through a hidden door located beside the jet bridge.
21:46Some airlines also use cool cars to transfer VIP passengers from the terminal building to the plane.
21:52At the same time, most people come to the airport well ahead of time.
21:58And the most popular activity while waiting for a flight is wandering through the duty-free zone.
22:03And even though people rarely plan to buy anything there, different products end up in their shopping baskets.
22:11That's because lots of airports are designed in a special way that makes people feel relaxed and at ease.
22:17I'm talking about all those huge windows, a lot of light, massage chairs, and comfortable seating areas.
22:24And statistically, calm passengers are 10% more likely to spend money on retail, duty-free, and food.
22:33Designers put a lot of thought into airport layouts.
22:37It helps to ensure the smooth flow of travelers.
22:40And the main point here is easy navigation that can prevent people from getting lost.
22:46This is achieved through subtle but very effective design cues.
22:50And placing duty-free zones between security checkpoints and boarding gates is one of them.
22:56They supposedly help you relax after clearing security and lead you where you need to go.
23:02But speaking of food, a celebrity chef restaurant at the airport might not be as good as it would be
23:07if you were visiting the real thing.
23:10Not chefs themselves, but special restaurant companies are responsible for airport outlets.
23:16One of the reasons is the extremely strict security that surrounds airport deliveries, including food.
23:22You may still have a nice meal, but it won't be the same.
23:26Now, I'll tell you about one more way airports manipulate you into spending your money.
23:31They make you walk through the shiny duty-free stores straight after the security check.
23:36But the most curious thing is that the walkway through such stores usually veers to the left.
23:42That's done because most people are right-handed,
23:45which means they use their right arm to pull their luggage and are more likely to look to the right
23:50while passing through the stores.
23:53And the duty-free zone veering to the left leaves more space on the right where passengers are more likely
23:59to look.
24:00Oh, and have you ever noticed how many mirrors there are at airports?
24:05Mirrors are strategically placed there to make airports appear larger and create an illusion of more space.
24:11This, in turn, helps to reduce the feeling of claustrophobia and makes the airport experience more comfortable for travelers.
24:19If you have an opportunity, don't exchange cash at the airport.
24:23You'll never get a good rate there.
24:25Those who didn't buy local currency in advance can instead order it online and collect it at the airport.
24:31Some services only need a few hours' notice for such an order.
24:36Or it might even be better to use an ATM to withdraw some cash at your final destination.
24:43Now, have you ever paid attention to airport codes?
24:46The most often used are three-letter codes.
24:50Why this number?
24:51Back in the 1930s, in the USA, pilots used the National Weather Service's two-letter city codes to refer to
24:58airports.
24:58But soon, the number of airports in the country outgrew the number of such codes.
25:04That's why airlines expanded this system by adding the third letter.
25:09It was usually X.
25:10That's how LA, Los Angeles, turned into LAX.
25:15But even though there shouldn't be two airports with the same code,
25:18some of these codes sound so similar you could easily mistake one for the other.
25:23For example, look at this airport with the code CGP in Bangladesh.
25:29And here we have CPG.
25:31It's the code of an airport in Argentina.
25:34It's dangerously easy to fly to the wrong place.
25:37So pay attention.
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