Unless you work for an airline, you're probably blissfully unaware of the various rules and regulations that make air travel such a safe experience.
If you want an insider's perspective, TikToker Tommy Cimato works as a flight attendant and has shared a few of his tips in a pair of videos.
In the first video, which can be viewed in full below, Tommy starts off by telling us never to board a flight barefoot.
What's the reason, aside from stinky feet? Well, as Tommy explains, the floors on airplanes are filthy, so it's best just to keep your shoes on.
Pilots are generally pretty good about announcing when there's turbulence. Now, turbulence in itself really isn't dangerous to the plane itself, but it can potentially be very dangerous to the passengers. This is because a sudden jolt could cause a serious injury to someone who isn't wearing their seatbelt.
Tommy says you're 80% more likely to survive if you listen to the safety demonstrations. I'm not sure where he gets that number from, but it's important to know what the emergency procedures are rather than just tuning them out.
As Tommy points out, this is a good ground rule for everyday life, not just when you're flying. Simply put, we should all treat employees like they're human beings. Being rude or snapping your fingers at flight attendants doesn't help anybody.
Flight attendants always tell us to remain seated until the plane has taxied to the gate, and everyone ignores this. Standing up just clogs up the aisles and it doesn't make the plane arrive any faster, so it's best just to stay seated.
In part two, which can be seen below, Tommy starts by telling us not to touch the washroom's flush button with bare hands. Why? Well, it's pretty simple, really: that button is gross. Maybe use an elbow or something instead.
Here's another piece of general life advice that's also very applicable for air travel: stay hydrated. Flight attendants will give you a glass of water whenever you ask, and it'll help you stay hydrated and alert when you're at cruising altitude.
No, this one isn't because you'll break the window and cause everyone to get sucked out of the plane. It's simple hygiene. Lots of people lean on the windows, which makes them gross surfaces. Bring a travel pillow instead.
I do this when I travel because I find the cabin temperature cold, but Tommy points out another good reason: once again, airplanes are gross. The less exposed skin you have, the less chance bacteria has to adhere to it.
If you need water, or a tylenol, or an air sickness bag, don't hesitate to call on your flight attendant. They're here to help. After all, nobody wants anyone to get sick at 30,000 feet.
Let us know what you thought of these tips in the comments section!
