Air travel
An air travel (including air passage , air travel or air carriage called), who is taking an aircraft uses to arrive at an often located far away place. Air travel for passengers is offered by airlines on scheduled and / or charter flights . As a rule, a trip by plane requires a corresponding flight booking for the passenger. In the case of package tours, this is regularly taken over by the respective tour operator .
term
Usually, the term air travel refers to the use of an aircraft for a fee as a passenger . The term can be ambiguous when taking tourism into account , as it only describes the transport service , but not the actual type of travel (beach holiday, business trip , etc.). A distinction is made between transfer connections, direct flights (possibly with a stopover without changing aircraft) and non-stop flight (without any landing before the destination). In addition, between short-haul, medium-haul and long-haul flights in the charter - or regular service distinction ( scenic flights are not intended for reasons stated above). Members of the flying personnel (e.g. pilots , flight attendants ) who are involved in the operation of the flight on board against payment of wages do not undertake air travel in their on-board function, since their usually short stay at the place of arrival is not the aim and purpose of their work on board.
Infrastructure, logistics and personnel
In order for air travel in civil aviation with aircraft as a means of mass transport to be carried out smoothly, efficiently and comfortably, a complex infrastructure , sophisticated logistics and qualified personnel on the ground and on board the aircraft are required.
The individual tasks and work areas include in particular airport operations (including delivery, transport and service operations), actual flight operations, aircraft maintenance and air traffic control facilities . Aviation security is of great importance to prevent disruptive interference in air traffic .
Travel comfort
Flight attendants , over whom the purser is in charge, are responsible for the well-being and safety of the passengers on board during the flight . The pilot is responsible for the flight, the aircraft and the crew . The comfort during the trip depends in particular on the quality of an airline , the aircraft type ( metropolitan area - or narrow-body aircraft ) and the chosen booking class from. The aisle is usually as wide as a seat. The service trolley in the respective cabin section blocks the aisle while meals and / or drinks are being distributed and when trays etc. are being collected. Since in most aircraft there are on- board toilets both in the front and in the rear part of the cabin, at least one toilet is usually accessible. Only in wide-bodied aircraft with two parallel aisles is there a passage to the other aisle. Here, the service personnel usually make sure that one aisle remains free in a cabin section.
As a rule, a distinction is made between First Class , Business Class and Economy Class , with First Class the comfort, the speed of handling and the quality of the service are the greatest. Business class is an intermediate level. Economy class takes up most of the seating capacity and has the least comfort; this offer is the most requested.
Comfort in the airports depends on the airport infrastructure ( air conditioning , seating for waiting times, lounges , luggage trolleys , service). In this respect, too, passengers with flight tickets in the upper price categories usually enjoy various other advantages over passengers with cheaper booking classes.
During the flight, passengers can rest or sleep, listen to music, watch films, talk, doze off or read. On-board restaurants or bars such as those on trains , showers or bunk beds are very rare and only offered by a few airlines. In some wide-bodied aircraft, however, sleeping cabins are available for the flying personnel for reasons of labor law . These are used by on-board personnel on very long routes that are flown in two shifts, e.g. Europe ↔ Far East, during the rest phase. With many airlines it is possible to make calls via the entertainment system and with a few also by mobile phone via satellite.
Smoking bans on board have been common practice since the 1990 / 2000s. Some Muslim- run airlines from the Middle East also refrain from serving alcoholic beverages; Most of the other airlines also do not allow excessive alcohol consumption.
Regular schedule of a commercial flight
Travel planning
Flight selection criteria
At the beginning of every flight to a certain destination there is the choice of the flight connection and the airline offering it. In commercial air traffic , there is usually strong competition from the market economy. The competition between passenger airlines is based on pricing (especially with low-cost airlines ), route options , service or an attractive combination of these customer incentives.
Unless the journey is to be interrupted at a stopover, a non-stop flight , i.e. a flight without a stopover, is the fastest connection. If only one airline offers the desired type of flight, the airline bases its pricing solely on demand or, if applicable, on maximum prices specified by the state, since there is no price competition. More time-consuming direct flights (i.e. at least one stopover and immediate onward flight with the same aircraft) or transfer connections from other airlines are a cheaper alternative . If you book with an airline, this does not necessarily mean that you will also be transported by them ( codeshare ). In Germany, the airline must notify this before booking.
The flight security and airport fees are usually included in the flight price offered. Departure fees, which are required in some countries, are generally not included in the flight price.
Before choosing connecting flights you should consider that at larger airports it may be necessary to change to another terminal in order to catch a connecting flight; in some metropolises you even have to change to another airport for certain flights, such as in Paris with its two airports Charles-De-Gaulle and Orly. Airport-owned bus connections (shuttle buses) and in some cases also rail networks are operated between different terminals at major airports (for example, with gondola lifts, monorails , overhead trams , underground trains, etc.).
Another travel expense factor is the choice of booking class - depending on the individual requirements of the private customer or the travel expense limit to be observed by a company employee .
In Business and First Class it is often possible to reserve a specific seat before the boarding pass is issued . In Economy Class there is usually only the option of choosing between the aisle, center and window seat categories, and previously also between smoking and non-smoking seats.
Regardless of the booking class, many airlines offer the option of pre- ordering a certain type of on- board food (for example vegetarian or specially prepared dishes with or without certain types of meat in accordance with religious regulations).
The steps from booking the flight up to and including receiving the boarding pass - depending on the airline chosen - can usually be completed from home or from the office, saving time.
As part of a membership in a frequent flyer program, passengers can collect bonus points ("miles") with most airlines , with which, depending on the credit, they can receive various membership levels and free flights, upgrades in business or first class or rewards.
Flight reservation
A reservation - usually free of charge - (i.e. if a firm booking is not yet desired) can only be made with a few airlines over the Internet, instead of by telephone as usual at the travel agency or at a branch of the selected airline. If the reserved flight is not bindingly booked within the specified (possibly extendable) reservation period, the reservation will expire.
Flight booking
When booking a flight , it is a matter of acquiring a transport authorization for the booked flight against payment by the passenger himself or by a third party (company, etc.). The passenger received a ticket (" flight ticket ") from a travel agency or branch of the respective airline as proof of the booking confirmation . In the meantime, a virtual flight booking confirmation is replacing the ticket, with a personal booking code usually acting as full proof and replacement for the paper ticket. The virtual flight booking confirmation can, but does not have to be, printed out as a receipt in paper form. According to the general terms and conditions of some airlines, in particular charter airlines, it is the flight customer's responsibility to have the exact departure time confirmed again 24 hours before the departure date confirmed with the flight booking. If he fails to do so and therefore does not appear in good time before the final departure date, he loses both the right to carriage and an alleged right to (partial) compensation for any damage he may have suffered as a result of the change of date.
Passengers with special care
For some passengers, individual care is desired or required in addition to routine care. So that the airlines can prepare their service staff for this in good time, it is advisable to indicate the reason for the special care when booking. The reasons can be very diverse. Outstanding celebrities (such as film stars or top politicians) usually value being shielded from intrusive journalists or curious passengers.
For these so-called VIPs (very important persons) the airlines (if necessary in cooperation with security authorities ) offer special support programs (VIP programs). Minors unaccompanied by adults, called UMs in aviation jargon (unaccompanied minors), can be entrusted to flight attendants with educational experience after prior notification. Even those who are dependent on special care due to a disability (e.g. wheelchair service at the arrival airport, etc.) can best agree the necessary arrangements with the airline when booking. With the exception of the cost-intensive VIP programs, the special service measures are usually free of charge, i.e. already included in the flight price.
At the airport
Check in
In order to be able to quickly find out as a passenger at the departure airport which check-in counter the flight he has booked will be checked in at , there are already display boards (departure notifications) in the airport access areas with the respective check-in counters for the flight numbers - Numbers are assigned and the number of the respective gate is displayed shortly after the aircraft intended for the flight has landed at the latest. At airports with several terminals , the corresponding terminal is also indicated.
Within a terminal building, depending on the size and infrastructure of the respective building, you can borrow suitcase trolleys free of charge and, in addition to escalators, use moving walks or (more rarely and usually only after prior notification) electric vehicles partly controlled by airport staff .
Flight display boards, as in train stations, show both the arrival and departure of aircraft on a large display.
Boarding pass
In order to be able to take the booked flight, the passenger needs a boarding pass , with which he receives authorization to board the specific aircraft intended for the execution of the booked flight. While the issuing of the boarding pass with most airlines is connected with a binding reservation of a specific seat, usually freely selectable within the scope of the seat vacancies in the confirmed booking class, some low-cost airlines offer free seat selection after boarding the aircraft (the earlier someone is left on board the greater the selection).
The boarding pass can either be called up on the PC via an Internet connection (after entering the booking code) and printed out or after check-in (registration / check-in) at the check-in counter of the airline or a company commissioned by it. As an alternative to the check-in counters, check-in machines are increasingly being used at airports. Passengers can use these to register themselves using various methods (e.g. booking code or identity card) and print out the boarding pass themselves. If you have larger pieces of luggage with you, you can only hand over your luggage at the so-called "baggage drop-off" counters once you have checked in. A boarding pass created on the Internet does not necessarily have to be printed out, as it can also be read in with a mobile phone at modern airports, for example (see e-ticket ). Anyone who has already obtained such a boarding pass and only wants to travel with hand luggage (cabin luggage ) does not need to go to the check-in counter, but can go directly to the gate from which their aircraft can be reached. He should also always have his identity card or passport with him for any checks - including on domestic flights.
Luggage
Luggage that, depending on the airline's regulations, exceeds a certain size and weight and therefore may not be taken into the aircraft cabin must be checked in as luggage at the check-in counter so that it can be transported from there by the ground staff to the aircraft and in the hold of the aircraft can be moved. This luggage transport is included as a service in the flight price, provided that the luggage does not exceed a certain weight. Otherwise, a baggage surcharge is due in addition to the flight price. Before taking animals, bulky items of luggage ( e.g. skis, surfboards , bicycles, etc.) as well as special luggage ( especially weapons ) with them, the flight customer should clarify the options with the airline before booking the flight, in order to avoid complications or even being excluded from flight transport . If the baggage is checked in, the passenger receives a so-called baggage label in addition to his boarding pass as proof of his baggage check-in.
carry-on baggage
For the hand luggage of passengers in aircraft that take off in an EU country, the following items are required in accordance with Appendix 4-C of Regulation (EC) No. 185/2010 of the Commission of March 4, 2010 laying down detailed measures for the implementation of the joint Basic standards in aviation security in connection with Regulation (EC) No. 297/2010 of the Commission amending Regulation (EC) No. 272/2009 prohibited among other things:
- a) Rifles, firearms and other devices intended for firing projectiles
- b) Stun devices specifically designed to stun or stun
- c) pointed or sharp objects that can cause serious injuries
- d) Tools that can cause serious injuries or endanger the safety of the aircraft
- e) blunt objects which, if used as a striking weapon, can cause serious injuries
- f) Explosives and incendiary substances as well as explosive devices and incendiary devices which are capable or appear to be capable of causing serious injuries or endangering the safety of the aircraft
Since a number of small items are not allowed to be carried in hand luggage (knives, scissors, aerosol cans, etc.), it is advisable to find out about the applicable regulations before arriving at the airport.
Main baggage
For the main checked baggage for passengers in aircraft starting in an EU country, according to Annex 5-B of Commission Regulation (EC) No. 185/2010 of March 4, 2010, laying down detailed measures for the implementation of the common basic standards In aviation security in connection with Regulation (EC) No. 297/2010 of the Commission amending Regulation (EC) No. 272/2009 to supplement the common basic standards for the security of civil aviation as well as national exemptions, the following bans:
- Explosives and incendiary materials
- Explosives and incendiary devices capable of causing serious injury or endangering the safety of the aircraft
When traveling outside the Schengen area, there are also restrictions on the permitted contents of luggage due to the necessary customs controls .
Security and exit controls
Every passenger has to pass a security check before reaching the gate (screening of hand luggage, detection of the passenger for metallic objects and, if necessary, a search of people for dangerous objects). Passport control is also required for international travel outside the Schengen area .
While the way from the security check to the gate at airports with decentralized security control facilities near the respective gate is very short ( e.g. Berlin-Tegel Airport ), at airports with central security checks (e.g. Amsterdam-Schiphol and Brussels-Zaventem ) you often have to Allow longer waiting times and then a longer way to the boarding gate (in rush hour phases sometimes even up to an hour in total). The values of the so-called minimum transfer time provide orientation for the duration of the journey to the gates .
Arrival in the security area
Once you have passed the access controls, you are in the airport's security area, which also includes the waiting rooms or waiting areas in front of the respective gates with seating and toilets. In larger airports there are also catering facilities and shopping facilities for travel needs in the security area, but as a rule at above-average prices (you should not be fooled by duty-free ). Those who have already checked in can either go to the boarding gate or, if there is enough time left before the last boarding time , use the time to go shopping or in restaurants. If available for upscale booking classes, passengers can also stay in an airport lounge equipped with special service facilities (for example with Internet connections for laptops, sometimes even with shower facilities) .
Boarding
The passengers who are in possession of a boarding pass gradually arrive in the waiting area. Apart from unforeseen delays (for example for technical reasons, weather or traffic-related), boarding is initiated a few minutes after the last boarding time with the appropriate announcement that flight XY 123 is now "ready to board" and you will be asked to provide your boarding pass and Have your ID card or passport ready. Then a sequence for boarding is usually announced by describing different groups of passengers who should show their boarding pass one after the other at the gate counter, for example children with their companions, the severely disabled and passengers according to row of seats. Business Class or First Class passengers are usually the first to board.
In the case of low-cost airlines that do not make seat reservations using a boarding pass, the order is not based on the seat numbers but on the boarding pass numbers. At modern airports the printed or electronic boarding pass at the gate switch is using scanners read. In the past, boarding passes were given in return for a torn off boarding pass (with personal details of the seat, if a seat reservation is common). In addition to the boarding pass, it is rarely required to show a personal or passport. Once the gate counter has been passed, the way to the waiting aircraft leads either directly over a passenger boarding bridge or apron buses transport the passengers to the gangway on the aircraft (at small airports and low-cost airlines, passengers often walk in groups to the aircraft directed). When entering the aircraft - especially if boarding is from the airport apron via a gangway - it must be expected that the boarding pass will have to be briefly shown to the welcoming crew. If you have the hand luggage in the overhead bin above seat and / or below the respective aircraft seat (provided that it is not on a fire escape) stowed, it occupies his seat and closes its located there belt (hip).
Registration / acceptance deadline and last boarding time
For the appearance ( English show-up ) of the passengers at the gate , a time window (time span between check-in and departure time) is specified by the airline, whereby the passengers are in possession of their boarding cards by the so-called acceptance / check-in deadline (start of the time span) at the latest. H. must have checked in. This regulation secures passenger rights in the event of overbooking and is decisive for airline employees for processing the waiting list (stand-by) . Since passengers at some major airports still have a long way to travel from the check-in counter to the gate, it is advisable, especially for passengers with luggage, to arrive at the check-in counter well before the check-in deadline. Often the check-in deadline is even identical to the last boarding time , by which passengers have to be at the gate at the latest. Who has not arrived until the start of the load boarding time at the gate (the gate is not the same as the above check-in desk), has the grace hope the airline and loses latest after the last call by loudspeaker announcement ( English Last Call ) as a so-called "no-show" his legal right to the booked air transport. For short and medium-haul destinations, the time window is usually 30 minutes before departure, for long-haul destinations it can sometimes be two hours or more.
On the plane
Start preparation in the cabin
Once boarding has been completed (“boarding completed”), this is communicated to the ramp agent and the command is then given to close the doors and bring them into flight position (“cabin attendants, all doors in flight”). This means that in the event of an emergency landing, the emergency slides unfold automatically as soon as the door is opened. Often the note "cross-check please" follows, which means that the doors should be checked on both sides. From this moment at the latest, the captain has sole power on board .
Once all passengers have taken their seats, the greeting on board takes place in the name of the airline (possibly also the alliance ), which is usually carried out by the purser (sometimes also by the captain or the co-pilot). The route, the destination, the weather, the arrival time and the flight duration, etc. are usually mentioned here. For international flights, this is done in at least two languages, one language being almost without exception English. The cabin crew then gives the passengers safety instruction on how to behave in an emergency, in particular reference to the emergency exits as well as exemplary demonstration and explanation of the seat belt, the oxygen mask and the life jacket or the seat surface as a float.
In the meantime, this instruction mostly takes place by means of a short instructional film on video monitors, provided that the relevant aircraft type is equipped with such. Shortly before reaching the runway, passengers are asked to put on their seat belts (hip belts) and to ensure that the backrests of their seats are in an upright position, the folding tables attached to the back of the backrests are folded up and electronic devices (e.g. mobile phones and laptop) are switched off. Anyone who is not buckled up after this request acts at their own risk until the buckle up signs go out, which can lead to the exclusion of liability under insurance law for any personal injury resulting from this breach of duty.
Final preparations for launch in the cockpit
While the passengers went through the above-mentioned preparation phases, a number of take-off preparations were carried out by the airport and on- board personnel . The time during the taxiing of the aircraft to the runway is used in the cockpit to carry out final routine checks based on the extensive checklist for the on-board systems (for example on the moving parts of the wings and the vertical stabilizer ). After the flight attendants have fastened their seat belts in their folding seats ( jump seats ) and the final preparations for take-off in the cockpit have been completed, the cockpit staff informs the air traffic controller responsible for them in the control tower of the airport that the aircraft is ready for departure ("ready for departure"). . Depending on the current takeoff and landing transport takes place immediately or a few minutes later, the start release by the air traffic controller ( "take-off clearance"). The aircraft is then accelerated to the optimum take-off speed, which was determined on the basis of the take-off weight and external influences.
Start phase
Securely buckled into the aircraft seat, you can feel your own body being pressed against the backrest due to the high initial acceleration (from 0 to up to 300 km / h in a few seconds). As soon as the slight vibration of the cabin caused by the high take-off speed stops and the aircraft rotates around its transverse axis (the nose landing gear is lifted from the ground and the aircraft goes into a climb position at an angle of 10 to 20 degrees), the passengers know that the plane took off. If you sit in the middle of the aircraft fuselage, you can clearly hear from your seat how the retracted landing gear engages in the landing gear slots. Only when the aircraft has reached cruising altitude after around 10 to 20 minutes (for jet aircraft between around 8,000 and 12,000 meters above ground, for propeller and turboprop aircraft at a lower altitude), is the aircraft almost horizontal again (a Angle of attack of 3 to 5 ° is common, depending on the type of aircraft). Since the aircraft now flies at a constant cruising speed (jet aircraft up to 990 km / h, propeller and turboprop aircraft between around 300 and 700 km / h), no acceleration forces can be felt in the cabin. The seatbelt signs go out and “day-to-day life” begins (with the cabin crew sometimes leaving their seats again during the climb). Depending on how much has to be done in the cockpit, the personal greeting by the captain or the copilot with information on the flight route and weather conditions takes place via on-board loudspeakers (“public announcement” - PA ) some time later .
In-flight entertainment
Depending on the airline and booking class, there are different types of in-flight entertainment available to passengers to while away the travel time. In addition to reading on-board readings, they can listen to music using small headphones, watch films and news programs ( in-flight entertainment , "on-board cinema") on video monitors, use their laptop (except during take-off and landing) or "go for a walk" in wide-body aircraft (if possible not during the serving of food; in contrast to earlier, (registered) visits to the cockpit are generally no longer permitted due to today's increased safety precautions). So far, only a few airlines have even offered Internet access on board . The cabin crew often has on-board toys ready for smaller children (e.g. plush toys, building blocks, model aircraft, puzzle games, children's books, etc.).
Board meals and drinks delivery
Depending on the duration of the flight beginning flight attendants on reaching the cruise altitude with the serving of food and drinks , with low cost airlines , but only against payment . The scope of the offer varies greatly depending on the booking class and airline.
In addition to the pure catering, the on-board meals also serve as a brief change for the passengers in the on-board activities, especially on longer flights. On intercontinental flights, travelers can also pre-order special meals; these are either prepared according to religious regulations (e.g. Kosher, Hindu), vegetarian (vegetarian, Asian-vegetarian) or according to special dietary regulations (e.g. low salt, low cholesterol).
Tomato juice is particularly popular as a drink . This is probably due to the changed taste impression that is created by the low pressure in the flight cabins.
Precautions for unsteady flight situations
If, in the opinion of the flight captain, there is a specific or latent risk of air turbulence (generally during the take-off and landing phase, during the cruise, depending on the situation), the purser will ask the passengers to put on their seat belts (hip belts). At the same time, the cockpit crew or the purser triggers an electronically generated gong at the push of a button and the seat belt signs light up above the seats. For passengers who are in the rare incident air turbulence due to the vertical and horizontal rocking movements of the fuselage passed must sometimes lie in the pocket compartments of the backrests of the front's sick bag ready - if not, they can be made at any time by the onboard staff. The bags can be given to the cabin crew for disposal after use. If the danger or the turbulence that has occurred is over, this is also indicated by the gong and the seat belt signs go out. The airlines recommend that you normally stay buckled up, and the flight attendants make sure that sleeping passengers are visibly buckled up.
Immigration forms
Depending on the flight destination (especially if a visa is required ), there is the option of filling out immigration forms on board, which are handed out by flight attendants, collected again and handed over to the immigration authorities by the airline shortly after landing. Since the airline's staff has no official authority, it is merely a messenger function as an additional service for the passengers. This procedure upstream of the immigration control can contribute significantly to speeding up immigration .
Landing phase
Shortly before the start of the landing phase, passengers are asked to put on their seat belts (hip belts), bring the backrests into an upright position, fold up the folding tables attached to the back of the backrests and switch off electronic devices (e.g. laptops) again. On average, around a quarter of an hour later, the aircraft lands at the destination airport. Anyone who is not wearing seat belts during this time jeopardizes possible claims against airlines and insurers in the event of personal injury after accidents from the point of view of contributory negligence, which in individual cases can reduce the claim to zero. The same applies to passengers who, after sitting down, against the regular request of the flight crew, loosen their seat belts before reaching the final parking position of the aircraft.
After the flight
After landing, the aircraft rolls to the parking position assigned to it by apron control . Once there, the command “Cabin attendants, all doors in park” is given, whereupon the flight attendants put the doors back into the park position and then open them. From this moment on, the aircraft is officially considered to have arrived, and the captain's sole command usually ends again. Shortly afterwards the seat belt sign is switched off and passengers can prepare to disembark.
If the parking position is not directly at a boarding gate with a passenger boarding bridge, passengers are driven to the terminal by apron bus or they walk to the terminal (smaller airports).
Immigration control and customs
In the case of cross-border flights (outside the Schengen area ), border controls ( visa and ID checks ) are carried out by the authorities of the destination country. There you can also get the visa stamp in your passport . In the meantime, the technical measures in some countries have been tightened so that fingerprints often have to be given and a photo is taken - in some cases, questions are still asked about the type and length of stay. Only then did you officially enter the country.
Baggage collection
Anyone who has checked in baggage at the airport of departure in addition to their hand luggage (cabin baggage ) should now pick it up quickly at the assigned baggage claim belt in order to avoid it being handed in at the airport lost property office or being suspected by security forces as a potential bomb container and possibly destroyed as a preventive measure (the costs arising from such an elaborate police measure can be considerable for the owner, should it be subsequently determined and recourse can be made). At airports with several baggage claim belts, monitors in the baggage claim area usually show the belt on which the baggage for the respective flight is being handed out.
Customs control
This is followed by customs control on international flights . The exits of the security areas are often divided into a green and a red lock; the green one means “no goods subject to registration”, while you have to go through the red one if you have to declare goods (see here for more details ). Nonetheless, random checks are carried out on people who pass the green lock in order to determine whether tax evasion is possible , and they are then punished with higher fines. Particular attention must be paid to the regulations governing the import of certain goods, including:
- Food, the import of which is often not permitted due to epidemic protection aspects, as this is to prevent the introduction of diseases
- Animals, since veterinary and epidemiological regulations often have to be observed
- (Remnants of) living beings (including, for example, souvenirs made of teeth, bones, furs, etc.), or similar souvenirs (e.g. flotsam such as mussels, corals or even sand and stones) imported from species protection law Motives are often prohibited
- Drugs, alcohol and cigarettes are subject to import restrictions in most countries, but are often banned entirely under threat of punishment, especially in Muslim countries
- Money; the exemption limit within the EU is € 10,000
- also weapons, medicines, certain writings that z. B. be on the index etc.
Before entering the country, you should definitely find out which goods are allowed to be imported or have to be registered, as non-compliance can often have far-reaching consequences. The Maldives can be used as an example : As it is a strictly Muslim country, the importation of alcohol, drugs or writings that contradict the Koran is subject to very severe punishment. When leaving the country, any export of living beings and their remains, including corals, teeth, bones and even sand, is prohibited.
Onward journey after arrival
As not all airports, especially in developing countries , are equipped in such a way that onward travel to the city or a connecting flight without additional information that can be understood by language is problem-free, it can save a lot of time and effort to find out about the destination airport and entry regulations before the flight. Uninformed air travelers can easily become victims of supposedly helpful locals who earn their living at the airport (often as gang members) with criminal tricks ( taxi rides they have arranged at exorbitant prices or trick theft are among the more harmless alternatives). In some developing countries, foreign travelers pick up baggage in front of the airport without being asked by locals and ask for a tip.
Possible problems
A trip by plane is one of the safest and most reliable forms of transport in statistical comparison to other means of transport due to the intensive technical and administrative safety precautions. Across Europe, an average of 0.4 passengers die every year for every billion passenger kilometers traveled in an airplane; on the train it is 0.2 and in the car six people. Nevertheless, in individual cases there may be real problems or incidents during the flight that are not only of a "flying nature" (type of traffic). In view of the low probability that problems will actually occur during a specific flight, fear of flying is an exaggerated concern that occurs regardless of the real danger situation and is based solely on the subjective, psychological attitude of the passenger concerned (see below).
Real possible problems
- Weather problems (ice and / or snow cover on the slopes, thunderstorms, storms)
- Technical problems on the aircraft, for example failure of system components or fire on board
- Depending on the airline and price class: Restrictions on travel comfort , for example little or no legroom with tight seating (for medium and long-haul trips, risk of venous thrombosis due to restricted blood circulation due to lack of exercise), narrow seat width and / or ergonomically inadequate seat construction ( back and buttock problems ),
- Dry air and drafts from the air conditioning system with the result of irritation of the mucous membranes , irritation of the eyes and the massaging of allergenic substances
- Aerotoxic syndrome - symptoms of poisoning from inhaling contaminated cabin air, such as the neurotoxin tricresyl phosphate (TCP). Statistically there is about one incident for every 2,000 take-offs and landings.
- Failed pressure equalization in the ear canal
- Restless flight (so-called " air holes ")
- Rioting passengers (the reasons and causes can be varied, for example alcoholism and fear of flying)
- Accidents
- Medical emergencies or births on board: In a large observational study of all flights by five airlines between 2008 and 2010, 11,920 medical emergencies were analyzed during the flight. This corresponded to one emergency per 604 flights or 16 medical emergencies per 1,000,000 passengers or 44,000 emergencies worldwide annually. The most common occurrences were brief or previous loss of consciousness (37.4%), breathing problems (12%), and nausea or vomiting (9.5%). In 48.1% of the cases, an on-board doctor provided medical help. In 7.3% the flight had to be diverted and interrupted. Only 0.3% (36 people) of the emergency patients died. In contrast, 31.2% of the emergencies on board were fully treated by the time they landed. Of the only 61 gynecological and obstetric emergencies (0.5%), almost two thirds occurred in pregnant women before the 24th week of pregnancy. The study confirmed airline recommendations that flying is safe up to 36 weeks of pregnancy if there are no other medical problems.
- Jet lag (problems with the body with time differences due to a rapid change of time zones in one direction)
- Kidnappings , bomb attacks or bomb threats , all three of which, however, are only extremely exceptional situations.
- Organizational problems, such as strike of air traffic controllers , overbooking , rebooking after flight cancellation, delay , technical defects or failure of staff
- Loss of luggage, damage to luggage or delayed arrival of luggage
- Change of flight route due to weather conditions, war or landing prohibitions
- Arrival at the wrong destination airport due to pilot errors. According to an analysis by the news agency The Associated Press based on data from NASA, the pilots of around 170 civil aircraft (passenger flights or cargo flights ) in the USA got lost on the wrong destination airport within about 10 years; This would occur if pilots were flying on sight, two airports with almost identical orientation were close to each other (for example a military airfield near a civil airport) and the airport lights on the first runway were approached . When visibility is poor due to the weather, this works like the tempting sirens on Odysseus , “Come here, come here. Here you can finally land ”.
According to EU law in particular, those affected are entitled to air passenger rights in some of the incidents mentioned . Finally, some flight irregularities represent travel deficiencies . In this respect, they partly justify compensation claims by the air travelers against the operating airline and, in the case of package tours, also against the tour operator. In the case of disputes in connection with rights under the Passenger Rights Regulation, the place of jurisdiction in Germany is not based on the seat of the airline company, as is generally stipulated by law, but on the place of performance, i.e. the locations of take-off and landing.
Incidentally, changes in taste for air travel can lead to inconvenience . Various research projects have recently been devoted to this phenomenon. They came to the following conclusion: Because of the low humidity, the skin and nasal mucous membranes dry out. It therefore takes longer before the taste can fully develop. Investigations by Lufthansa and the Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics came to the conclusion that sweet and salty food tasted 30% less intense. Sour, spicy and bitter, on the other hand, taste unchanged, while wine was perceived as fresh and tangy. The food company Unilever also found out, together with the University of Manchester , that background noise (see Technical acoustics ), which was perceived as unpleasant, also changed the taste. Sweet and sour dishes were rated less appetizing.
fear of flying
Although flying is one of mankind's dreams, some passengers are afraid of flying. Fear or anxiety during the first flight is quite natural, since humans have evolved into land creatures. However, this natural fear can be overcome very quickly if you gain confidence in the technology (air travel is considered the safest way to travel) and understand the basic principles of flight . This natural fear must be distinguished from the psychological fear of flying, which can trigger panic-like reactions in some passengers .
Airlines have recognized that they can significantly increase their sales if these (potential) passengers learn to overcome their fear of flying or at least deal better with this fear . Therefore, many airlines offer inexpensive seminars against fear of flying. There are also a number of guides against fear of flying available in bookshops. In order to address the problem of fear of flying medically and psychologically, the German fear of flying center (DFAZ) is an institution that is independent of airlines and offers advice and coaching in German-speaking countries. In view of the many advantages and pleasures that flying offers, it is worth taking conscious action against your fear of flying. It is not advisable to use medication as a remedy for fear of flying, as the pharmacological effects and risks are disproportionate to the relatively short time on board an aircraft.
In addition, many such drugs have a kind of anesthetic effect, so that passengers who take such drugs before a flight, paradoxically, become a risk factor themselves in the event of a (extremely rare) aircraft evacuation. The same applies to alcohol consumption as a remedy for fear of flying. Passengers who become uncooperative or even recalcitrant due to their alcoholism increase the very risk they fear so much. The best recipe against fear of flying is to travel by plane with an experienced passenger who has overcome his fear of flying and can therefore empathize with fear of flying and give advice (for example, mental and / or physical relaxation exercises) to best help against fear of flying. The on-board personnel receive psychological training to help passengers who are afraid of flying, but their advice is often misunderstood by affected passengers as mere appeasement.
criticism
Ecological damage
With increasing air traffic and high kerosene consumption, the climate damage and pollution caused by air travel are becoming a global problem. Air travelers can use various organizations such as Klima-Kollekte , atmosfair or myclimate to calculate the environmental costs of their flight and to make a corresponding voluntary compensation payment in favor of climate protection projects. The amount of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emitted during a flight is, depending on the load on the aircraft, usually less per passenger than if the passenger were to cover the same distance in a car. However, the emission of CO 2 at high altitude is more harmful to the climate than an equal amount of emissions on the ground. In a special report in 1999, the intergovernmental committee for climate issues, the highest-ranking scientific body on climate matters, stated that the overall contribution of air traffic to global warming is two to four times higher on average than with corresponding emissions at high altitudes because of the greater harmfulness of pollutants at high altitudes Ground. Calculated in this way, the aircraft contributes the most to the greenhouse effect, even at maximum load, compared to all other motorized means of transport. In the context of the debate about the climate crisis , the term flight shame (literally: that everyone should feel ashamed when thinking of a flight) has become established for the awareness of the environmental damage of air travel and, as a consequence, avoidance of air travel.
Radiation exposure while flying
Cosmic radiation is higher in the atmosphere than on the ground, so flight crew and passengers are exposed to increased radiation. In Germany, the total effective dose from natural radiation exposure is around 2100 μSv per year on average. It can be seen from this that the additional effective dose from a short-haul flight is less than one percent and from a long-haul flight around five percent of the average annual dose from natural exposure. The value depends on the latitude, on the altitude and duration of the flight and on the current sunspot activity and, on intercontinental flights over the poles (e.g. from New York to Bombay), reaches about 100 μSv per flight segment, about a tenth of the ICRP annual limit value for the general population (higher limit values apply to flight personnel). The population dose was estimated to be around 40 kSv / a (2000–2013).
For casual flyers - including pregnant women and small children among them - the additional radiation exposure from flying is therefore very low. Experts therefore rate the additional health risk as very low.
The actual radiation exposure on flights can be determined by measurement or calculation. Scientists at the GSF - Research Center for Environment and Health have developed such a program together with scientists from the University of Siegen: EPCARD (European Program Package for the Calculation of Aviation Route Doses). The correctness of the calculations was confirmed by extensive series of measurements.
Accessibility
Organizations for people with disabilities accuse airlines of not sufficiently addressing the rights of PRMs (Persons with Reduced Mobility). For example, the airlines on national and European flights do not provide suitable aids to enable passengers with restricted mobility to use the toilet. The toilets cannot be reached by PRMs, as there are no on-board wheelchairs on European flights, nor can they be used because they are too narrow to drive into the toilet with an on-board wheelchair.
Aviation groups such as Deutsche Lufthansa AG and Delta Airlines promise an improvement in the situation for passengers with restricted mobility. For Delta Airlines, "Accessibility is of fundamental importance", but they also state that there are not barrier-free toilets on all aircraft. For the Deutsche Lufthansa AG, however, a barrier-free design of the aircraft is not feasible for economic reasons, so the spokesman for the Lufthansa Jan Bärwalde.
useful information
- Most aircraft do not have rows 13 and 17 as many people believe that these are unlucky numbers that they are reluctant to sit on.
- The aircraft doors cannot be opened during the flight, as there is overpressure in the cabin , which presses the doors against a strip and thus locks them. It would therefore make no sense to take an emergency parachute with you , for example , since it cannot be used under any circumstances.
- The tracks behind aircraft in the sky are contrails , i.e. condensed water that forms droplets in the air, but no visible exhaust gases.
- The on-board toilet is contrary to a common belief, not (such as. For trains earlier often the case) emptied in flight directly into the air, but in designated tanks.
- The plane is considered to be the safest means of transport, as statistically speaking, compared to other types of travel, very few people die when traveling by air.
- The reason for the dimming of the cabin lighting during take-off and landing at night is that in the event of an accident the passengers' eyes are used to the darker light and the emergency exit can be found more quickly.
- The colored lights attached to the cabin ceiling (mostly near the " Exit " signs) are indicators for the internal communication system . The colors mean (here using an Airbus aircraft as an example ):
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: Cockpit calls cabin ("cockpit call") -
( flashing ): Cockpit calls purser
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: Flight attendant calls flight attendant ("intercom" - see picture on the right) -
( flashing ): flight attendant calls purser
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: Passenger calls flight attendant ("pax call") -
: Passenger calls from the toilet -
( flashing ): Smoke warning on the toilet
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Usually the light is combined with a ringing tone that can be heard in the cabin.
- Contrary to common prejudices, the flight crew is primarily not responsible for the flight service, but for the safety of the aircraft .
- On some flights, so-called sky marshals , armed police officers dressed in civilian clothes, are carried along to restore security in the event of a plane hijacking .
- As a rule, from the moment the doors are locked until they are reopened, the captain has sole decision-making and instruction authority on board and, if necessary, can also use coercive measures (see violence on board ).
- The small black triangle over two windows near the wings marks the best position to visually check the position of the landing flaps (e.g. during maintenance work, but also in the event of display problems in the cockpit) . At this point you can look at the scale on the flaps from the best angle . If, on the other hand, you were standing too far in front or in the back, a parallax error would occur, which would cause incorrect reading.
literature
- Rudolf Braunburg : ABC for air travelers , 159 pages, paperback, 1988, ISBN 3-89136-166-1
- Peter Maurer: Air traffic management (basic knowledge) , 414 pages, born. Publisher: Oldenbourg; 3rd edition October 2003, ISBN 3-486-27422-8
- Rudolf Braunburg: When flying was still an adventure. Passenger flights from the beginning to the post-war period , paperback, ISBN 3-88379-548-8
- Terry Gwynn-Jones: All I want to know. Fascination with aviation. Everything about airplanes and other aircraft , 59 pages, hardback, Ravensburger Buchverlag, 1st edition July 2006, ISBN 3-473-55130-9
- Ingo Matuschek (Ed.): Air layers: work, organization and technology in air traffic. Edition Sigma, Berlin 2008, ISBN 978-3-89404-563-0 .
Individual evidence
- ↑ What will change at Qatar Airways over Ramadan. In: reisetopia. May 16, 2019, accessed on May 19, 2019 (German).
- ↑ Marcia Marcus: Ryanair takes action: No more alcohol in the cabin. In: reisereporter.de. Retrieved May 19, 2019 .
- ^ LBA ( Memento of July 24, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) List of items prohibited in passenger aircraft
- ↑ LBA ( Memento from May 31, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) Aviation security: Restrictions on liquids in hand luggage
- ↑ Everything about hand luggage - such as weight, size and content. Retrieved on May 26, 2018 (German).
- ↑ a b Anna Warnholtz: Everything you always wanted to know about flying. In: Welt Online . November 14, 2011, accessed April 6, 2013 .
- ↑ ZEIT ONLINE: Question of taste: popularity of tomato juice on the plane clarified . In: The time . February 10, 2010, ISSN 0044-2070 ( zeit.de [accessed on May 19, 2019]).
- ↑ Tim van Beveren: " Aerotoxic Syndrome - Dangerous smoke clouds in passenger planes ". In: Die Welt , February 1, 2010, accessed on March 20, 2010
- Jump up ↑ Drew C. Peterson, Christian Martin-Gill, Francis X. Guyette, Adam Z. Tobias, Catherine E. McCarthy, Scott T. Harrington, Theodore R. Delbridge, Donald M. Yealy: Outcomes of Medical Emergencies on Commercial Airline Flights. New England Journal of Medicine 2013, Volume 368, Issue 22, May 30, 2013, pages 2075-2083; doi: 10.1056 / NEJMoa1212052
- ↑ a b The Associated Press: Airline pilots often head to the wrong airports, reports show. In: Pennlive. February 10, 2014. Retrieved May 19, 2019 (American English).
- ↑ Anna Baumbach: Logic of the wrong landings. In: aeroTELEGRAPH. February 21, 2014, accessed on May 19, 2019 (German).
- ↑ Dr. Philipp P. Roeckl: 8 rights in the event of flight delay: what passengers are entitled to. In: Qamqam's lawyer blog. Retrieved on May 19, 2019 (German).
- ↑ Plane, train, bus and ship: Your right to travel. (No longer available online.) Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection , July 27, 2013, archived from the original on August 11, 2011 ; Retrieved August 26, 2013 .
- ↑ § 13 ZPO
- ↑ § 16 ZPO
- ^ Ernst Führich : Basic knowledge of travel law: outline of travel contract and individual travel law . 2. revised Edition. Vahlen, Munich 2011, ISBN 978-3-8006-3935-9 , pp. 13 ( limited preview in Google Book search).
- ↑ Lydwin van Rooyen: Why food is often inedible on the plane. The catering on airplanes is notorious: the food often tastes dry and bland. How so? And can that be changed? Two airlines want to know. In: Spectrum Online. January 1, 2018, accessed January 1, 2018 .
- ^ Imogen West-Knights: Why the flight-shaming movement sweeping Europe won't take off in the UK. In: New Statesman . October 8, 2019, accessed on November 20, 2019 (English): "... the shame we ought to feel about flying ..."
- ↑ Air traffic - with "flight shame" for the environment. Deutsche Welle , April 12, 2019, accessed on November 23, 2019 : “Flygskam - Flugscham in German. What is meant is not flying for the sake of the environment. "
- ^ Alvarez LE, Eastham SD, Barrett SR: Radiation dose to the global flying population. J. Radiol. Prot. 36 (2016) 93-103. PMID 26769857 doi: 10.1088 / 0952-4746 / 36/1/93
- ↑ Dr. Britta Bürger: Flying during pregnancy. In: netdoktor.at. Retrieved May 19, 2019 .
- ↑ No on-board wheelchair at Lufthansa January 10, 2008
- ↑ When flying becomes torture , Deutsche Welle World, May 31, 2008
- ↑ Nikolaus Doll: Traffic deaths: Trains and planes are the safest means of transport . December 13, 2017 ( welt.de [accessed May 19, 2019]).
- ↑ Maike Geißler: That means noises in the airplane. In: reisereporter.de. Retrieved May 19, 2019 .
