Ask the FA- How Do I Get a Bulkhead Seat?

I get asked this question a lot, and with the economy the way it is, oil prices rising and thus fares going up, people want as much value as they can when they travel. For most people, this means the best legroom for as little fare as possible. I'll add the disclaimer here that various strategies work best for different airlines, however a combination of these will probably give you the best chance..

There are several ways to increase your chances of scoring that coveted extra-legroom bulkhead seat.

Some airlines have the frequent flyer programs where you can have a 'preferred seat' put into your booking profile. The only problem is, these seats are popular and if a higher-tier member also requests these, you will miss out.

Web check-in is increasingly popular, so this may be another option, but you have to be quick!! Bear in mind depending on the aircraft configuration, some of these seats may be classified as 'emergency exit row' seats and depending on the airline may not be selectable during online check-in. (Seat Guru may be able to help you check this & have great reviews on leg-room and other in-flight amenities.)



If all else fails, try to check in as early as possible, and ask politely whether any of those seats are still available. As they are popular you may be disappointed, ask only once! You would be surprised how far being pleasant to check-in staff will get you. Always answer questions about exit rows honestly- people sometimes 'hide' reasons they think will prevent them having the seat they want- but even if you get it, the crew responsible for that row can still move you out if they think you shouldn't be sitting there.

These days, it's become increasingly common for airlines to charge a premium for bulkhead seats as they are so popular. In a worst case scenario, you may just have to pony up the cash to get that seat. Sold out? It's supply & demand baby! I often hear complaints from people who are tall or otherwise feel they need the legroom more than others. All I can say to that is, the onyl fair way for an airline to allocate bulkhead seats (aside from frequent flyer loyalty) is by a pay-to-use system. You want it, you pay, and as with many other things in life, it's first in, best dressed.



One last thing- bulkhead seats (especially on widebody flights are often also the location of baby basinettes; if you still get one after all the parents have been allocated, think to yourself do you really want to be sitting near the crying babies all flight!!! :)

Once & For All...

To answer the age-old question...

Q. If three people are sitting in a full row on the plane, who gets the middle armrests?



A. The person in the middle. Why? Because the person in the window gets to lean their head on the window, and the person on the aisle gets the aisle armrest and to lean out into the aisle* every so often. The sucker in the middle gets nothing but the solace of leaning their elbows on the two middle armrests to ward off the fat spillover of two complete strangers.

(*But please, not when the beverage cart is in the aisle)

Yes, I have had to have this discussion with passengers on board. And yes, they were all (outwardly at least) adults.

If you have any other airline "mysteries" you'd like solved, leave a question in the comments!

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Image: Prop airline chairs from the tv series "LOST"- from Google Images

Ask the FA- Birth on Board!

I've been pretty fortunate in my flying career- I've only had to deal with a handful of really serious situations, thankfully none of which were a woman giving birth. However, I have met crew who have had this happen on their flights, and it isn't as rare as you'd think. In fact, a crewmember I know from a previous airline tells me that currently Emirates Airline has the highest rate of in-flight births of any major airline, averaging around 10 per year!


Last year, a Southwest Airlines crew in the US had a woman deliver a baby on board after going into labour halfway between Chicago & Boise, Idaho. The baby was born before a diversion and landing could be made.

Flight attendants from that flight said they asked for aid from a doctor and nurse travelling onboard, and used galley space as a makeshift 'delivery room'. Equipment and training for a birth on board varies between airlines. On a small regional airline, the best you might get is a flight attendant trained in first aid and a quick stop to the nearest airfield for a landing. On bigger international airlines flying long routes, the equipment available can be as sophisticated as that found in emergency rooms, with items such as forceps, anasthetic and other hospital-grade gear. Some crew are trained in their use, but usually a doctor or nurse would be asked to assist if there is one on board.

Airlines flying far over water usually are equipped with a satellite-enabled telephone link to medical centres where doctors and surgeons are on standby around the clock to provide advice for any type of medical emergency that might happen in-flight, including a birth. If there is no doctor physically present on the aircraft, these link-ups enable the medical professionals to guide the crew in how to use the equipment and what to do in a specific situation.

Some babies born in-flight have been granted free travel for life, among other perks. In 1995, a baby born unexpectedly on a Thai Airways flight was given an educational scholarship, as well as special flying privileges with the company, and is considered a "daughter of Thai Airways". One new mother even named her baby 'Asia' after he was born on an Air Asia flight.

(The airline later granted the mother & child free flights for life.)

This gifting of free travel to babies (and often the new mother too) has given rise to the urban myth that airlines do not want to give out so much free travel, and thus restrict the travel of mothers-to-be. This is far from the truth, the actual reason basically being one of the safety & wellbeing of both the mother and the child. Given the risks associated with a birth in-flight, airlines want to minimise the risk to expectant mothers and thus each have their own guidelines.

Some airlines have no restrictions at all, while others require clearance by a doctor after a certain stage of pregnancy. My advice to globe-trotting mums-to-be? Check with your airline (or airlines if using more than one carrier) well before your travel date. Ensure you have any required doctor's certificates or letters, and double check that you have clearance with the airline's own doctors if required. ALWAYS have travel insurance, because having a baby in a foreign country can be expensive, not to mention diverting a whole planeload of people. And always be sure that your specific policy covers birth-related issues.

Got any stories to tell about in-flight births, or simply have another travel related question? Hit me up on Twitter or click the Facebook link in the right column.

Happy flying!

When the Unruly Kids on the Plane Aren't Mine (Ask the FA)

Travel can be difficult on everyone, and even more so for kids. They're out of their familiar environment, often tired and stressed, and required to sit still and be quiet for long periods of time. That's a lot to ask for any kid! So, I try to be tolerant and understanding when the little ones are having a bad day.

I've written a lot in the past about how to make flying easier for kids, but sometimes even the best of efforts don't work. Let's face it- some kids are just plain naughty. (I'm not going to debate whether that's a genetic thing or down to the parents- another blog post entirely!)


How I handle naughty kids on the plane depends a lot on what the child's parent/s are doing. Most parents are good and try to handle any misbehaviour themselves. In that case, I will do what I can to assist mum & dad in keeping junior relatively happy and obedient. Sometimes this means distracting them by talking to them or helping them draw a picture, or taking them for a walk to see what we are doing in the galley. Having a new face to look at can be all that the child needs to get out of their bad mood or tantrum. It also give the parents a break and a chance to calm down. I'm a big believer that stressed-out parents pass those vibes along to the kids, so giving everyone a chance for a time-out can be a huge help.

Sometimes we see parents who either don't know or don't care that their kids are being naughty. Some mums and dads think that everything their child does is cute (when in fact they are annoying everyone around them!) The first time around, I assume the parents haven't flown before and don't know what is expected of them. I explain why the child cannot continue to do what s/he is doing and let them know what is acceptable behaviour.

If a child is being allowed to roam around unsupervised, I will tell them to go back to their seat/stop what they are doing/ why they cannot kick the seat in front of them. If the behaviour continues, I will talk to the parents and explain that they must keep their kids in their sight and under control.

In the case that a child is being extremely naughty or doing something unsafe, using sharp words with them can be just what they need. Kids expect a certain reaction to their behaviour and when parents are letting them run amok the kids expect to remain unchallenged. A curt "Go back to your seat!" or "Sit down & be quiet!" can be all that is required to ensure peace and quiet. If that doesn't work, for a smaller child picking them up and taking them back to their seat can be the only option. If mum and dad won't make sure the child behaves, I will! Some parents get unhappy about this, but as cabin crew I have a responsibility to make sure that EVERYONE on the flight is safe & comfortable, and will do what I have to do to make this happen.

Having said that, the more extreme measures outlined above are rarely needed and again, while flight attendants are not babysitters, we are happy to help out where we can. Choose your time to ask wisely & politely, and you'll get the help you need.

Ask the FA- Special Meals on the Plane

Question:Hi, I have heard that if I order a special meal I will be served first, is this true? Leith

In most cases, what you've heard is correct Leith. Many airlines do serve what we call 'special meals' ahead of the main service, because it's easier for the crew to find the correct person and we won't forget in the rush of attending to the passengers.

On some flights though, depending on passenger load, length of flight or the type of service (a full meal or only a snack service) you may be served along with everyone else.

As for how 'healthy' a meal will be, it really does depend on what the meal consists of. Other factors also come into play, such as how it is made and how long before the flight the meal is made and when it is loaded, that is, how long it is expected to stay fresh and edible even with refrigeration or chillers onboard the plane.

Many airline meals are pre-made, cooked and then deep-frozen, stored for days or possibly weeks ahead of the flight (just like supermarket ready meals). Then they are simply re-heated for 20-30 minutes onboard before being served to the passengers. As altitude can affect the sense of taste, airline meals often contain more salt than other types of food, so you do need to be careful of that. True, there are low-salt, low-fat and other 'special order' meals on some airlines, but they will usually not be as 'healthy' as freshly made food.



Some carriers offer options which are better such as salads, fruit platters and the like, and these can be a good choice, although perhaps a little too light for people who tend to eat a lot. Other airlines have implemented programs with meals approved by health authorities, which have been tested for content with regard to fat, sugar and salt. The best thing to do is contact the airline you are flying with to find out if they have any information regarding the nutritional content of their food, and what kind of pre-order meals are available to you for your flight. Generally in Australia, I've found that pre-packaged foods have better information and labels than the traditional 'hot meals' (which may have little or none aside from generic "May Contain..." text.



Finally, the only way to be sure exactly what it is you are eating (especially if you have allergies or special dietary requirements) is to bring along your own food. While airlines strive to fulfil special meal requests, mistakes do happen, and it's always a good thing to have something with you that is suitable to your needs which you can eat. Chances are, it'll be something you'd rather eat anyway! (When bringing your own food, be sure to check if this is allowed, as some low-cost carriers do not allow you to carry certain foods onboard.)

Of course the best advantage to carrying your own food is that you can eat it whenever you like, and there's no chance of getting a meal choice that's 'Bland' and 'Blander'. Bon appetit!

Photos: Multiple Meals by Greenspell.Wordpress.com
other Meals: Wikipedia Search

Happy New Year!

It's the first day of 2010 & as I sit here waiting for my breakfast I thought I'd type a quick post to wish you all a great new year. I had intended to post last night before I went out but our cocktail hour got started a bit early so it didn't happen.

2009 has been an interesting year, that's for sure! It didn't start out so well, with the loss of JournalSpace and four years of my blog, but the need to move on and start again meant that I had the chance to make new friends through a new blog & site.

In Case of Emergency started out as a blog to chronicle my journey through airline recruitment and has become a window into the world of my fellow crew and passengers alike. I enjoy writing and connecting with you all and the support everyone has given me through comments, emails and new friendships has been fantastic! I've even made 'real-world' friends and hope to do more of that in 2010.

With new beginnings in mind, I've come up with some resolutions for a few different aspects of my life. Most of them are changes I aim to make, rather than specific numbers or things to do, but regarding my blog I've come up with some more measurable goals which 'd like to achieve.

TT's Blogging Goals for 2010

1) Be more committed to updating & maintaining my blog, being more professional & less "hobby" about it.

2) Work more on my writing & content. The tie in with Ciao Bella Travel has been a really fun experience for me and I hope to build on it and other similar things in 2010.

3) Get serious about my plans for a business related to my blogging. Sit down and come up with definite plans I can do to make this work alongside my job.

4) Build on the relationships & friendships I've made through my blog and Twitter.

5) Enjoy what I do!!! :)

Hope you all had a great New Year's Eve, wherever you were, and I wish you a happy, healthy & fantastic year ahead for 2010 :)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Ask the FA: Changing Seats Onboard- Is It OK?

Q) On an international flight, what are the rules about changing seats? I have seen some people run for empty seats as soon as the plane door has closed, stretch out over three and be asleep before the plane has left the ground (may have been my children). Is this okay? Leonie

A) Dear Leonie, Long-haul flights can be such a drag, can't they? One of the most tempting sights to see on a crowded flight is a row of empty seats - a whole row! Changing seats is usually fine, but there are ways to go about it.

If your flight is really empty, it's better to keep your assigned seat until after take-off. Some airlines might even make an announcement asking passengers to do this. On a very empty flight, lots of passengers moving around can affect the balance of the aircraft, and while it likely won't fall out of the sky, it can make a difference to the pilots' information like fuel and takeoff speeds. They like to know just where everyone is sitting for takeoff, so if your flight is quite deserted, wait until after take-off before you move.

'But someone else might beat me to those seats!', you're thinking. They might! But the smart traveller will use personal items (like books, blankets or a small, non-valuable bag) to mark those seats as 'taken'. I'd only suggest this if lots of people are circling and eyeing off those seats, though. And it's always nice (not to mention polite) to ask the crew if it's ok if you 'save' seats for later. That way you can keep your seat for take-off, but still have some space after the seatbelt sign is switched off. Of course, be sure to only reserve seats you acctually need, and consider that others might also want a bit of space.

If in doubt, it's always best to ask your crew, as different airlines and even countries have different rules. Another factor to consider is if you have ordered special meals. If you do move, be sure to let the crew know as soon as possible, so they can record your new seat number next to your ordered meal. Sometimes we crew have those seats in mind to move people to for various reasons, for example, separated families, a bereaved person who needs some space, or other such circumstances. We do appreciate passengers doing the polite thing, and asking, because we hate to send you back to 'middle seat' hell! So by all means, if you see empty seats, it doesn't hurt to ask.

Just a note- if travelling with kids, remember that they'll need to be sitting upright again for landing, and ALWAYS put a seatbelt on them when they're asleep. Happy travels, and enjoy the extra space!

(NOTE: Due to new extra security measures introduced on certain flights over the past few days, I would advise asking the crew at all times before moving around in the aircraft, to avoid any misunderstandings or breaking of new rules. As always, if in doubt- ask!)

While we're on the subject of changing seats, I'd like to hear about your experiences. Have you had a good or bad response to wanting to change seats? Do you have a 'sure-fire' way to snag that plum seat before everyone else? Tell me about your flights!

Next time: Questions about special-order meals

(Photo: Ryan Lemos on Flickr)

Ask the FA- Recap

As you may know, I've recently teamed up with the lovely gals from Aussie company Ciao Bella Travel to write a Q&A for their newsletter. CBT have a great range of travel gear as well as lots of information to help you plan your next trip (or help you daydream those last few hours away on a Friday afternoon!)

The next newsletter will be out soon, so for those of you who might have missed it, here's the first edition of "Ask the Flight Attendant".

Q) Why do I have to open my window blind during takeoff and landing?

A) Believe it or not, this is one of the most common questions passengers ask. There are some urban legends out there about why this has to be done, but believe me, they're NOT true! It can also be annoying if you've just woken up and the sun is really bright, or it's hot outside and you want to stay in the shade- but safety comes first.

The simple reason is, window blinds must be open at these times so that if anything is happening outside the plane that shouldn't be happening, the crew can know what is going on. You might wonder how the crew would know when they are sitting down near the doors for landing. Well, that's where passengers come in. If anything really drastic is happening outside (for example, a fire) we're pretty sure that you will let us know about it! There are also systems built into the plane itself that will inform the pilots if any kind of malfunction is happening.

If you're an uneasy flier, rest assured that the chances of anything bad happening on your flight are minimal. And if you DO see something that you think isn't right- please tell the crew. You might feel silly, but we appreciate it that you're looking out for our safety too. Ninety-nine times out of a hundred, whatever you've seen is normal. If this is that one time it's not normal, then telling us means we can do something about it.

Once we've taken off, feel free to close the window shade & enjoy your flight!

If you want to score yourself some fab goodies, head over to Ciao Bella Travel & check out all the lovelies on offer! Soon we're hoping to bring you some fab offers and of course you can also click on 'Become a Member' to receive the latest info right to your inbox, stylishly as always!

Ciao...

Ciao Travellers!

Finally I can let you all in on a project I've been working on. I'm a big fan of the Aussie site, Ciao Bella Travel, makers of the handy 'Single Shots' travel toiletries range.

Aside from these extremely popular products, CBT also carry a wide range of cute travel accessories- from bags and tags to gadgets to make life on the road easier.


The girls at Ciao Bella also have some great travel tips, blog articles, city guides and a travel forum- so you'll never miss those must-see places or local secrets on your holiday.

I'm also pleased to say that the CBT girls & I have teamed up to bring you 'Ask the Flight Attendant'- a new section of their newsletter aimed at answering those things you always wanted to know about travel & flying, but were too afraid to ask!


So pop on over to Ciao Bella Travel, check it out & sign up for the newsletter- you'll be glad you did! In case that's not enough to tempt you, check out "Bella Benefits"- great discounts at some cool places. Best of all, Ciao Bella are based in Brisbane- I love Aussie brands! :)

If you have a question you'd like to see answered in the next Ciao Bella newsletter, send an email to info(at)ciaobellatravel.com.au or Tweet me! :)