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Last month we brought you five secrets and tips about airlines and airports that you should know, but those weren't the only five, of course.
Here are five more secrets and tips about airlines, airports and aircraft.
1) LIGHTNING STRIKES HAPPEN MORE OFTEN THAN YOU THINK
Modern-day aircraft are built to withstand lightning strikes and, well, not to scare the bejeezus out of you or anything, but they happen more often than you think. A commercial jetliner is struck by lightning, on average, once a year to once every two years. In fact, NASA once conducted an experiment on this by flying a fighter jet into 1,154 thunderstorms. Lightning struck the jet 637 times.
Yet, sometimes, you as a passenger will hardly notice. And the odds that the lightning will cause fatal damage are astronomical. Here's a great explanation of how it all works safely.
2) DITCH THE FLIP FLOPS
First off, nobody wants to look at your feet unless they are Quentin Tarantino or Rex Ryan. More importantly, wearing sturdy, comfortable shoes or sneakers has a purpose - God forbid there's an emergency landing, do you really want to be forced to exit the plane in a rush, or stand on a hot tarmac, in flimsy rubber flip-flops?
3) BLUE JUICE - IS THAT A NEW DRINK?
Like anything, airline crew members have their own lingo. If you hear them talking about a "crotch-watch," it's to walk up and down the aisle to make sure everyone's seatbelt is securely buckled. "The Village" is what flight attendants sometimes nickname the coach seating section. Small children flying onboard are known as "crumb-crunchers." And the infamous "blue juice" is not a specialty drink - it's the royal blue water in the restroom commodes.
4) KNOW YOUR LOGISTICS
You're in a new city, a new airport. You're relying on the good faith of a taxi driver, or even yourself, to navigate around. Get to know your surroundings, especially for that trip back to the airport. Trust us, it can make the difference between making and missing a flight at some of the most notorious traffic-heavy airports in the world. Like, say, the Van Wyck Expressway leading to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.
5) I'LL HAVE THE CHICKEN, HE'LL HAVE THE FISH
The pilot and first officer might eat at the same time but they don't eat the same meal. Just in case of food poisoning, the two pilots must eat separate meals with nothing the same on either tray.
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