Flying Smarter: Air Travel Explained – Détails, épisodes et analyse

We have to take a week off unfortunately, but we’re revisiting Episode 8 instead of skipping this week altogether! Flying Smarter will be back with an all-new Episode on September 9th.

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This episode is special because it doesn’t follow the normal episode format. Andrew spends the entire episode chatting with airline pilot Owen Zupp about turbulence and what you need to know about it. Topics discussed in this episode include:

•  Turbulence makes some passengers a bit nervous and there can be some discomfort in the cabin when a plane hits some rough air. But what happens in the flight deck when a flight encounters turbulence? Learn all about it in this episode.
• Should passengers be worried about turbulence breaking the wings off a plane or sending the aircraft into a dive? Andrew asks Owen about some worst-case scenarios that passengers might consider.
• There are lots of ways that pilots can anticipate, avoid, and remove planes from turbulence, but we sometimes hear of incidents of severe turbulence causing injuries. Owen explains how these types of scenarios usually happen and how you can keep yourself safe onboard. 

 Owen Zupp is an airline pilot an awarding-winning author. You can check out his work on his website at www.owenzupp.com. There you can find various articles that he’s written, as well as details on his books and how you can get them. You can also find him on his YouTube channel and on social media: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter.

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Andrew starts this episode by talking about aircraft painting and secret crew rest areas. The main segment for this episode features Michael Taylor from data analytics and consumer insights firm J.D. Power. 

• How often do aircraft get repainted? And why is the process so important? Find out more in this episode. Plus, did you know that some airliners have hidden crew rest areas?  
• Michael Taylor is the Senior Managing Director, Travel, Hospitality, Retail and Customer Service at data analytics and consumer insights firm J.D. Power. He joins Andrew to talk about the drivers of passenger satisfaction in the air travel experience. From personal and friendly service to clean bathrooms, Mike provides insight on what travelers care about the most. 
• J. D. Power produces the annual North American Airline Satisfaction Survey and Mike shares the results in this episode. Find out which airlines did the best and what the key findings were.  

Michael Taylor is the Senior Managing Director, Travel, Hospitality, Retail and Customer Service at data analytics and consumer insights firm J.D. Power. Mike is responsible for providing industry thought leadership and advice to the company’s clients in the airline and airport segment, and has worked with a whole host of airlines and airports across North America and around the world to measure and manage customer satisfaction and loyalty. J.D. Power conducts the annual North American Airline Satisfaction study: Learn More Here

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In this episode, Andrew starts by looking at whether you can get your expired points and miles back. Then he talks about aviation safety, looking at recent incidents and news as well as the bigger historical picture. 

• If your points and miles are expired, can you get them back? Learn more about reinstating your points in this episode. 
• There has been a lot of negative press around commercial aviation safety, and it seems like the number of incidents has increased. What’s going on and should we be concerned? Andrew delves into the recent developments in aviation safety. 
• Has flying gotten safer or more dangerous over time? This episode also explores aviation safety more broadly, looking at historical trends and developments. 

Here are the Andrew’s two appearances on other podcasts mentioned in this episode:

• Non-Rev Lounge (Episode 167, March 2024): Apple Podcasts | Spotify
• Had To Be There (Episode 52, February 2023): Apple Podcasts | Spotify 

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This episode features the second part of Andrew’s chat with aircraft maintenance engineer and professor Brian Bermudez. Plus, he looks at whether your points and miles will expire. 

• Do your points and miles expire? If you’re collecting airline loyalty points, you will want to know the answer to this question. With some loyalty programs, the points never expire, but others have expiration policies and ways to prevent your points from expiring. Find out more in this episode. 
• Andrew continues his discussion with Brian Bermudez, an aircraft maintenance technician and professor of aviation maintenance. In this episode, Brian talks about how maintenance operations keep track of parts and ensure the rights ones are used, what it takes to be an “A&P” and much more. 
• Did you know that an aircraft can fly with multiple items that don’t work? Andrew and Brian discuss the concept of deferred items, the minimum equipment list, and the redundancies and technological improvements in aircraft design and maintenance. 

Brian Bermudez is an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer and a Professor of Aviation Maintenance. Having worked for two major US airlines as an Aircraft Maintenance Technician, he now teaches aviation maintenance and runs CraftoftheAir, an aviation maintenance initiative involving multiple aspects like consulting and tutoring. Brian also hosts the CotACasT, an aviation podcast where he explores various facets of maintenance and brings his experiences and knowledge to listeners who share his enthusiasm for this field. You can learn more about Brian, his work, and his podcast at www.craftoftheair.com and on social media: Instagram | LinkedIn | X (Twitter)

Looking for the post about where you can find airline snacks? Check it out on the Insights section of the Flying Smarter website by clicking here.

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Andrew starts this episode by talking about airline flight numbers. The main segment for this episode features aircraft maintenance technician and professor Brian Bermudez. 

• How do flight numbers get assigned? It depends, but there are some common practices and conventions. Learn more about how airlines choose their flight numbers in this episode. 
• Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Brian Bermudez joins Andrew in this episode to dive into the world of aviation maintenance. He talks about what’s going on when you see maintenance engineers boarding your flight, the most common reasons that maintenance puts your aircraft out of service, and much more. 
• What parts of a plane can an aircraft maintenance technician work on? Do they specialize in certain parts of the plane? How often do aircraft go in for maintenance? How does maintenance work at outstations? Brian takes us behind the scenes of airline maintenance operations. 

Brian Bermudez is an Aircraft Maintenance Technician and a Professor of Aviation Maintenance. Having worked for two major US airlines as an Aircraft Maintenance Technician, he now teaches aviation maintenance and runs CraftoftheAir, an aviation maintenance initiative involving multiple aspects like consulting and tutoring. Brian also hosts the CotACasT, an aviation podcast where he explores various facets of maintenance and brings his experiences and knowledge to listeners who share his enthusiasm for this field. You can learn more about Brian, his work, and his podcast at www.craftoftheair.com and on social media: Instagram | LinkedIn | X (Twitter)

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In this episode, Andrew starts off by talking about what the different cabin class names mean. Then he looks at round-the-world tickets and how you can take a trip around the globe. 

• Club World, Delta One, Signature Class, and Mint. These are all names of airlines’ lie-flat business class products. What’s with all the different names? What does the term first class really mean? Andrew unpacks it all at the beginning of this episode.   
• There’s something special about circumnavigating the world in a single trip. And airline alliances offer you the ability to book a round-the-world itinerary on a single ticket. Andrew looks at the Star Alliance and oneworld round-the-world ticket options.
• What if you want to book your own itinerary to go around the planet? This episode looks at your other circumnavigation options as well, comparing the different ways in which you can book a round-the-world ticket and talking about how you can save money to find the cheapest option. 

For more air travel content, check out the Insights section of the Flying Smarter website!

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This episode starts by looking at why involuntary downgrades happen and what to do if you get involuntary downgraded. Andrew then talks to airline captain Doug Morris about aviation weather and how it affects your flight.

• Nobody likes purchasing a premium cabin ticket and then being downgraded to a worse seat. Why might this happen and what should you do if it does? Find out more in this episode.     
• Doug Morris joins Andrew to talk about aviation weather, drawing from his experiences and expertise as an airline captain and as a meteorologist. He talks about the most common misconception about weather, the differences between aviation products worldwide, and much more. 
• Extreme and unusual weather phenomenon undoubtedly make passengers nervous. Doug and Andrew talk about some different ones, ranging from thunderstorms to low visibility and winds. Plus, Andrew asks Doug what weather phenomena make pilots nervous. 

Doug Morris is a Boeing 787 Dreamliner captain for Air Canada. He is also a certified meteorologist and worked as a weather forecaster for four years during his early pilot days. He is a longtime teacher of aviation weather to new and aspiring pilots and is the author of four books and a blog. His latest book, titled This is Your Captain Speaking, draws from his extensive experiences and goes through the A to Z of airline travel with a bit of humor, covering things ranging from whether airliners have keys to what aircrew get up to on layovers to how to become a pilot. Longtime Air Canada flyers will also recognize him as the author of the aviation page in Air Canada’s enRoute magazine for over two decades. You can find Doug on his blog and on LinkedIn and Instagram. 

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Andrew starts this episode by talking about how much airliners weigh and important takeaways from recent aviation incidents. Then he looks at the international organizations that exist to keep the world of air travel functioning seamlessly. 

• It’s no secret that the aircraft that we fly on are massive, but how much do they actually weigh? Andrew delves into aircraft weights to give you an idea of how heavy the objects that we fly on are. 
• Did you know that Gibraltar International Airport has a road that intersects the runway? Yes, you can walk or drive right across the runway! 
• How do pilots safely operate all around the world? How do bags transfer seamlessly across airlines and airports? The answers to these questions show how we have created a miraculous system of standards and practices that keep global aviation functioning. The main segment of this episode delves into the international organizations that makes this interconnectedness possible. 

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In this episode, Andrew starts by looking at how you can fly on the world’s largest airliner – the Airbus A380 – these days. The main segment features Expedia travel expert Christie Hudson who is here to share data-driven air hacks and travel trends.

• Have you ever wanted to fly on the Airbus A380? Nicknamed the superjumbo, it’s the largest passenger aircraft ever built. Find out more about where the A380 currently flies in this episode and then check out Episode 26 for more about this engineering marvel.
• Christie Hudson shares data-driven tips and trends from Expedia’s air travel hacks. She reveals the cheapest days to book a flight and to fly and how far in advance to book to get a good deal.  
• What are some trending destinations for air travel (and travel more broadly) in 2024? Christie shares the findings of Expedia’s 2024 travel trends report. From “set-jetting” to “dupe” destinations, tune in to this episode for lots of travel data and inspiration.  

Christie Hudson is a travel expert, data correspondent and Head of PR for Expedia US. She is a pro at turning travel data into tips and advice to help travelers get the most out of their travels. You can find Expedia’s latest Air Travel Hacks and Travel Trends reports online (links provided to the United States versions). 

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This is the second part of our 2023 year-in-review. Our guests from throughout the year are sharing their travel tips and insights in a series of previously unaired clips. 

•  What are some essential items to pack according to a flight attendant? Episode 30 guest Lara Ketterman shares her thoughts. What is the Southwest Companion Pass? Episode 36/37 guest Kendyl Grender talks about this great budget travel tool. In this episode, you’ll hear from five of our 2023 guests.  
• Have you ever wondered where Flying Smarter’s listeners are located? Or what the most popular episodes have been? Andrew pulls back the curtain to share some behind-the-scenes statistics and insights. 
• In celebration of the holiday season and 50 episodes of Flying Smarter, we are holding a giveaway for a Flying Smarter luggage tag and a $100 gift card for the airline of the winner’s choice! Enter on our Instagram page throughout the month of December. Plus, check out the Insights section of the Flying Smarter for stories from Andrew’s travels, articles about air travel, and more.  

 Our 2023 guests featured in this episode:

• Dave Grossman – founder of MilesTalk and creator of Your Best Credit Cards (Episodes 27 and 28): Facebook (group and page) | Instagram | (X) (Twitter)  
• Lara Ketterman – flight attendant and Non-Rev Lounge podcast co-host (Episode 30): Lara: X (Twitter) and Instagram |Non-Rev Lounge: X (Twitter) and Instagram 
• Mark Ross-Smith – loyalty expert and CEO of Loyalty Status Co (Episode 32): LinkedIn 
• Kendyl Grender – budget travel blogger, travel hacker and content creator (Episodes 36 and 37): Instagram |www.kendyltravels.com | Southwest Companion Pass Trick: Earn it Quickly! | How I’m Earning the Southwest Companion Pass 
• Tyler Crook – ramp agent and Non-Rev Lounge podcast co-host (Episode 47): Tyler: Instagram and X (Twitter) |Non-Rev Lounge: X (Twitter) and Instagram

Thank you for a fantastic year! Flying Smarter will be back with an episode on travel hacks and trends on January 1, 2024. 
 

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