Flying Smarter: Air Travel Explained

Andrew starts by talking about why fares are so cheap in Europe when compared to North America. Then, the main segment for this episode looks at how you can avoid getting bumped from your flight. 

• Why are fares in Europe cheaper than those in North America? It comes down to a bunch of factors, including geography and government legislation. Learn more in this episode.   
• Flying Smarter’s 50th episode is coming up in December! We have some exciting things planned so be sure to tune in and follow us on social media so you don’t miss anything. 
• Getting bumped, also known as being involuntarily denied boarding, can be incredibly frustrating. But there are some things that you can do to help you avoid this fate. Andrew lays out some tips and looks at how airlines determine which passengers are the most and least likely to get bumped. 

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This episode of Flying Smarter starts off by talking about Real ID and which plane has lavatories on the cargo hold level. Aviation writer and video producer Joey Gerardi then joins Andrew to talk about the United States Essential Air Service. 

• In the last episode of Flying Smarter, we covered trusted traveler programs including Global Entry. A listener brought up a great point about another use for Global Entry cards, and we explore this more in this episode. 
• Joey Gerardi is an aviation writer, photographer and video producer with an expertise in the Essential Air Service (EAS) and regional flying. He joins Andrew to discuss the EAS, covering what it is, how it works, how it keeps small communities connected and much more.
• There are some interesting EAS routes and experiences out there, from planes with six feet of legroom to flying straight to the doorstep of Yellowstone National Park. Joey talks about all this and more in this episode. 

Joey Gerardi is an aviation writer, photographer and videographer. He is a writer at AirlineGeeks, an aviation news site, and has a special interest in the Essential Air Service and regional flying in the United States. Joey documents and shares his travels through photography and video production. He is also an airline employee and holds a degree in aviation operations and management. You can find him at AirlineGeeks and on Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. 

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In this episode, Andrew starts off by talking about the future of jumbo jets. Then he looks at trusted traveler programs that can help you save time at the airport. 

• The Airbus A380 and Boeing 747 are both out of production, so what is the future of jumbo jets? Listen to what Andrew has to say in response to this listener question.  
• Want to save time when going through airport security? This episode looks at two programs that can help you expedite your security screening process. Learn more about TSA PreCheck and CLEAR in this episode, including how they work, how to apply and the differences between the two.  
• Another stressful part of the airport experience that can take up lots of time is customs and immigration processing. This episode also covers some programs that can make your border control experience smoother. 

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Andrew starts by talking about whether or not you should build your own connection. Then, the main segment for this episode looks at the airports of New York City. 

• Should you book connecting flights on two separate tickets? This is a practice that could save you money when booking your flight but also comes with substantial risks. This episode takes a look at why building your own connection might not be a good idea and how you can do it safely and effectively. 
• Some airline pilots in the United States board each flight with a loaded firearm. They’re federally trained law enforcement agents that are armed to protect against terrorism. Find out more in this episode.
• New York City is a massive metropolis that is home to three major airports. In the main segment of this episode, Andrew explores the three airports, looking at airlines and destinations, ground transportation and the facilities and amenities available at each airport. 

If you’re enjoying Flying Smarter, please take a minute to leave a five-star review for the podcast if you’re listening on a platform that allows you to do so like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Goodpods. It helps the grow the podcast and convince guests to come on the show and we would greatly appreciate it!

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This episode starts by looking at which planes have an upper deck. Andrew then talks with air traffic controller Andy Watson to get an inside look at what goes on inside the world of air traffic control.

• Have you ever seen a double-decker aircraft? Or have you ever been on one? Find out how to tell what they are in this episode.   
• Andy Watson shares insights from his experiences as an air traffic controller in this episode of Flying Smarter. He talks about who your pilots talk to throughout your flight, where air traffic controllers work, and much more.    
• What happens from the perspective of air traffic control during an emergency? Why is bad weather so challenging for air traffic controllers? Andy provides a look behind the scenes of this important aspect of the global aviation system. 

Andy Watson is an air traffic controller, pilot, author, and public speaker. He has worked as an Air Traffic Control Specialist and Front-Line Manager at several Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) facilities in places such as Cleveland, Chicago, Charleston, and Washington D.C. He has also served as a subject matter expert for the FAA’s Air Traffic Safety Oversight branch at FAA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. He is the author of the book The Pilot’s Guide to Air Traffic Control, which helps pilots and passengers gain a better understanding of all that ATC does to keep the flying public safe. You can learn more about Andy and his book at www.atcandy.com.

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In this episode, Andrew talks about why flights often don’t divert to the nearest airport. For the main segment, he looks at the story of the infamous Boeing 737 MAX.

• Why do flights sometimes divert to an airport that hours away? Doesn’t make it the most sense to land at the nearest airport? There are lots of considerations that go into diversions. Learn more in this episode.
• Did you know some airline seats have a massage function? Andrew talks about this unique feature found on some airlines. 
• The Boeing 737 MAX is loved by airlines for its increased fuel efficiency, but the general public tends to know the name because of two tragic crashes and a subsequent worldwide grounding. This episode looks at the story of the Boeing 737 MAX, covering what happened, what’s changed since and what it means for travelers. 

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This episode has the second part of a two-part discussion about travel hacking and budget travel with Kendyl Grender. In this episode, Andrew continues his talk with her, covering points and miles, how budget travel can include luxury experiences, and more. Plus, he looks at airplane age. 

• How old is the plane that you’re flying on? How do you find out? And does it even matter? Learn all about it in this episode.  
• Wouldn’t it be cool to use your wireless Bluetooth headphones with your seatback entertainment? You actually can on some airlines! Find out more in this episode. 
• Andrew continues his conversation with Kendyl Grender, a budget traveler and travel hacker who has saved tens of thousands of dollars in travel over the years. Kendyl talks about her approach to collecting points and miles, how budget travel can involve high end and luxury experiences, and how you can make your airport experience more pleasant and enjoyable.

Kendyl Grender is a full-time travel blogger, travel hacker and content creator. She has saved tens of thousands of dollars on travel over the years and spent a month in Europe last year for a third of what it should have cost. She offers tons of resources to help travelers save money, from guides to coaching sessions. Kendyl recently launched Stacking Academy, a course focused on helping you use stacking to make sure you don’t miss out on earning points and miles. You can find Kendyl on Instagram and at www.kendyltravels.com. 

If you’re enjoying Flying Smarter, please take a minute to leave a five-star review for the podcast if you’re listening on a platform that allows you to do so like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Goodpods. It helps the grow the podcast and convince guests to come on the show and we would greatly appreciate it!

Connect with Flying Smarter:
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Instagram: @flyingsmarter
Twitter: @flying_smarter
Website: www.flyingsmarter.com
Website: www.flyingsmarter.com 

Andrew starts this episode by talking about birds in airport terminals. The main segment for this episode is the first part of a conversation with Kendyl Grender, a budget traveler and creator of Kendyl Travels. 

• Have you ever seen a bird flying around the interior of an airport terminal? Learn about why this is fairly common and what airports do about it.
• Andrew talks with Kendyl Grender, a budget traveler and travel hacker who has saved tens of thousands of dollars in travel over the years. In this episode, they talk about finding cheap fares, tools and resources for finding and booking flights, and much more.
• Should you book with points or cash for a particular flight? What does it mean to use a positioning flight? Kendyl talks about all this and much more in this episode.  

Kendyl Grender is a full-time travel blogger, travel hacker and content creator. She has saved tens of thousands of dollars on travel over the years and spent a month in Europe last year for a third of what it should have cost. She offers tons of resources to help travelers save money, from guides to coaching sessions. Kendyl recently launched Stacking Academy, a course focused on helping you use stacking to make sure you don’t miss out on earning points and miles. You can find Kendyl on Instagram and at www.kendyltravels.com. 

Subscribe to or follow Flying Smarter on your podcast platform so that you get new episodes right when they’re released!

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In this episode, Andrew talks about an essential piece of airport infrastructure: runways. Plus, he looks at airline codes. 

• In Episode 33, we covered airline codes. But what about airline codes? Learn more in this episode.
• Did you know that there’s a secretive US government airline that flies people to places like Area 51? Find out about this airline in this episode.
• Runways play a critical role in your air travel experience. Without them, your plane isn’t going anywhere. This episode takes a look at runways, helping you better understand this key piece of aviation infrastructure.

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Andrew starts by talking about why flight deck doors are often open during boarding. The main segment for this episode features previously unaired clips from our 2022 guests. 

• If you board through the front door of an aircraft, you may have noticed that you can often catch a glimpse of the cockpit through the open flight deck door. Why is this door open? Find out in this episode. 
• Our guests have a wealth of knowledge from their travel and work experiences that extend beyond the topic of each interview. We also sometimes have to edit interviews to shorten them. This episode features “deleted scenes” from 2022, in which our guests share tips, stories and insights. 
• What happens in the flight deck when a passenger has a medical emergency inflight? How safe is it to fly with pets? Hear what our guests have to say. 

From Episode 18 - How Pilots are Trained: Greg Krino is a pilot with a major US airline who was previously a fighter pilot in the US Air Force. You can find Greg’s podcast, The Greg Krino Show, on your podcast app and at www.gregkrino.com. You can also find him on Facebook and Instagram.

From Episode 20 – Bringing Pets to the Sky: Gayle Martz is a pet travel expert and former flight attendant who revolutionized how pets travel. If you want to learn more about Gayle’s story, the SHERPA bag and her two books visit www.gaylemartz.com. You can also find her on Facebook and on Instagram.

From Episode 22 – Taking the Skies Less Traveled: Michael Hilliard is a conflict journalist whose work has taken him on flights to unique destinations all over the world. He is the founder and host of the geopolitics podcast The Red Line. You can also find Michael on Twitter and The Red Line on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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Connect with Flying Smarter:
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Website: www.flyingsmarter.com