10 Useful Airline and Flight Safety Tips

Air transportation has a reputation for being one of the safest and quickest modes of transport. However, accidents can occur anywhere, even mid-air. Therefore, a passenger must exercise caution.

Apart from cheap flight booking, the next major concern is flight safety.

Airlines and air carriers are well-prepared and fully aware of the risks associated with flying. Even flight attendants and cabin crew are trained to handle mishappenings. But then again aircraft accidents are highly unlikely, and usually averted in time.

If you are a frequent flyer, traveling with family, or traveling for the first time, the below-mentioned tips are going to enhance your safety and well-being.

1. Always Prefer to Fly Nonstop

The foremost safety tip is to fly nonstop. However, please note that nonstop flights are different from direct flights. The latter may still have intermediate halts.

Therefore, while booking flight tickets, make a note of the number of stops. This is important as the majority of airline accidents occur during taking off and landing phases.

So, to limit the climbs and descents means limiting your chances of meeting with a mishap.
Moreover, nonstop flights reduce your travel time. This results in the added advantage of lesser exposure to jet lag.

2. Opt for a Larger Aircraft

Going by past trends, larger aircraft have a better scope of survival. For instance, A380, Boeing 747 and 777 are safer airliners. Similarly, turboprops generally have a lower rate of an accident than jets.

Also, aircraft that have more than 30 seats are designed and certified after rigorous trials and regulations.

Another important thing to note is that larger airliners tackle turbulence better than their smaller counterparts. Hence, if you frequently suffer from travel sickness, opt for a larger air carrier.

Further, smaller aircraft mostly crash due to poor weather conditions or system failure.

3. Strictly Avoid Hazardous Items

Every airline has strict policies regarding what a passenger can carry onboard. It becomes essential that you check the prohibited items before boarding the plane. Flight safety of passengers is crucial to a favorable air travel experience.

While common sense dictates that you should not carry flammable liquids such as gasoline, kerosene, corrosives, poisonous gases, etc. there are other daily use items that you may not know.

For instance, items such as liquid make-up or facial cleansers may not seem harmful but restricted inflight. Therefore, go through the list of unpermitted things and comply.

4. Pay Attention to Preflight Briefing

The preflight briefing is often overlooked, especially by the frequent flyers. However, even if the information is mostly repetitive, there is other important information that varies.

For example, the positioning of emergency exits may not be the same for each flight. Different air carriers have different configurations. Hence, it is important to pay attention and be aware of your surroundings.

Also, airlines have a printed instruction card tucked in the backseat pocket. This manual contains all the information relevant to airline and flight safety tips. Memorize the exit rows and seat arrangement. Also, in case of an emergency, always stay composed.

5. Keep the Overhead Bin Light

During turbulence, the overhead bins may not be sturdy enough to hold heavy articles. Also, rough weather and air conditions are more likely to contribute towards a flight emergency than mechanical failure or other reasons.

Therefore, keep the overhead bins light. If an item is too heavy to lift uptil the bin, it is wiser to store it elsewhere. Baggage falling from the overhead compartment may result in serious injury.

If possible, check-in heavy and larger luggage, and keep the carry-on as light as possible. Even though there are size restrictions to avoid overstuffed bins, it always pays to be extra cautious.

6. Carry Passport even on Domestic Flights

Passport acts as an identification proof and validates that you are traveling legally. Although it is usually not required while traveling within the country, it is advisable that you still carry it with you.

There may be chances where a domestic flight is routed to international airports for emergency landing or to refuel. Under such cases, having a passport will facilitate smooth management.

For instance, United States flights may be rerouted to Canadian or Mexican airports in case of a crisis. Also, it is wise to carry a soft copy of your passport. You may even click photos and save it on your smartphones.

7. Limit or Avoid Alcohol Consumption

Whether flying or not, you must limit your alcohol consumption and drink responsibly. The need for caution escalates midflight. This is so because of the air pressure. Consuming alcohol onboard will affect you more than at sea level.

So, if you even if you score affordable business class tickets, resist the urge of ‘just one more drink.’

Moreover, excessive liquor intake has caused incidents of air rage.
Alcohol also leads to dehydration. As a result, low body water levels increase jet-lag symptoms.

If possible, replace alcohol with healthier alternatives, or at least drink in moderation. Going out of your sense is the last thing you would want in case of an emergency.

8. Choose your Clothes Sensibly

Especially during long-haul flights, an airplane seat becomes excessively uncomfortable if you are not dressed ideally. The emphasis must be on comfort and comfort alone.

Therefore, the cloth fabric must be breathable cotton, most preferably. Other materials have their pros and cons. For instance, wool is particularly known to be flame retardant.

Also, take into account mobility. Clothes that allow easy and free movement are your best bet. However, avoid shorts, skirts, and stockings at all costs. Instead, choose jeans, jeggings, slacks, and so on.

Select comfortable and reliable footwear.

9. Prepare an Emergency Kit

Pool all the essentials in a single kit. This emergency kit will save you a lot of last-minute hassles. This kit must consist of necessary and irreplaceable articles. For example, credit cards, passports, medications, wallet, first aid kits, and so on.

You can opt for a fanny pack, a crossbody bag, or a travel wallet. Carry this emergency or run kit throughout the flight. However, make sure the kit is not too big. Larger kits may interfere with your seatbelt.

In case of an evacuation situation, you can be sure that all your essentials are safe. This way, you will not leave anything important behind.

10. Fight Deep-Vein Thrombosis

A condition known as DVT (Deep-Vein Thrombosis) can interfere with your flying experience. This condition causes blood clots in one of your deep veins, specifically in one of your limbs. For example, falling asleep for a long duration without movement may cause clots in your legs.

This is extremely dangerous. Hence, you must be aware of how to fight it. You must avoid crossing your legs. It is also important to stay hydrated and avoid alcohol. Stretch your legs after frequent intervals while sitting.

A doctor may recommend some exercises that help in fighting DVT.

So, before booking flight tickets, you must be aware of the above-mentioned airline and flight safety tips. As discussed before, flights remain the safest form of transportation. You are likely to suffer turbulence, more than mechanical failure, or a terrorist threat.

This is because the airline and airport authorities take an active part in the security and safety of the passengers and staff. Therefore, do not worry, exercise a little precaution, and enjoy your flight.