In Flight

Our "In Flight" articles are popular on Australian Frequent Flyer website. Here we provide tips, tricks and chat about all inflight activities, including inflight entertainment. Explore below for tips and reviews on what to expect during your flight.

Inflight economy cabin passengers are getting food served in Qantas A330

8 Excellent (Non-First Class) Airline Meals

When flying international First Class, the meal service is designed to be a luxurious, multi-course dining experience. But you don’t necessarily have to be flying First to get great food on board! Because airline meals are generally produced on a mass scale and are often reheated from frozen, they can at times be quite awful. … Continued

30 Oct 2022 In Flight
Flight attendant serving drinks to passengers on board

Giving Gifts to the Cabin Crew: A Good Idea?

Being a flight attendant may seem like a glamorous job, but it can also be a thankless one. Airline cabin crew are highly trained, work long hours, put up with a lot of difficult passengers and at the end of the day, are responsible for the safety of their passengers – a tough job that … Continued

20 Oct 2022 In Flight
Delta recently revamped its "Premium Select" meal service

How Different Airlines Approach Premium Economy Meals

Premium Economy has been a popular invention for passengers looking for an improved travel experience on a budget. The cabin has also proven lucrative for airlines. The beauty of Premium Economy, from an accountant’s point of view, is that the seats only take up around 30-60% more room on the plane (depending on the configuration). … Continued

24 Sep 2022 In Flight
Air New Zealand snack

Why Airline Caterers Love “Ambient” Snacks

When Lufthansa announced it would introduce buy-on-board snacks on its long-haul flights last year, it promised “high quality” products that would better cater to the “diverse needs of guests”. In reality, the German airline just replaced the complimentary mid-flight refreshment on long-haul routes such as Frankfurt-Los Angeles with the option to purchase from an overpriced … Continued

31 Jan 2022 In Flight
Delta pre-takeoff drinks

How Many Flight Attendants Are Required Per Flight?

Ever wondered how many flight attendants are required to operate a flight? The minimum ratio of flight attendants to passengers varies by country, but it’s generally between 1:36 and 1:50. In Australia, the standard minimum ratio is 1 flight attendant for every 36 passengers. But there are some exemptions. For example, flight attendants are not … Continued

25 Sep 2020 In Flight
Have You Had a "Flight from Hell"?

Frequent Flyers Recount Their “Flights from Hell”

With most international travel off the cards for the foreseeable future, many frequent flyers are reminiscing about past trips and longing to get back into the air. At this time, it’s easy to think about long-haul travel through rose-coloured glasses. But as any frequent traveller will know, long-haul travel is not always as fun as … Continued

5 Aug 2020 In Flight
Is it Illegal to "Souvenir" Airline Safety Cards?

Is it Illegal to “Souvenir” Airline Safety Cards?

Some frequent flyers like to collect things like boarding passes, airline amenity kits, business class pyjamas or in-flight magazines. But is it legal to collect the safety instruction cards found in aircraft seat pockets? Last week, Qantas operated three Boeing 747 joy flights before the “queen of the skies” is retired for good. Passengers on … Continued

21 Jul 2020 In Flight

Which Airlines Have External Cameras?

Many aviation enthusiasts enjoy looking out the window during their flight – as evidenced by a recent AFF debate on window shades. But there are certain things that you can’t see just by looking out the aircraft window – such as the outside of the plane, and the view in front of you. This is where external … Continued

28 Aug 2019 In Flight
Window shade plane

Window Shades Down on Day Flights?

Staring out the window and watching the world go by is one of the joys of air travel. But some airlines insist that all passengers lower their window shades to create a dark cabin – even in the middle of the day. There are several reasons that airlines may ask passengers to close their window … Continued

8 Aug 2019 In Flight
reclining into passenger in economy seat behind

Seat Recline Etiquette: Passenger Refuses to Raise Seat During Meals

Advances in technology have made flying a much more pleasant experience than ever before. But when you’re hurtling through the sky in a confined space with hundreds of other passengers, arguments are sometimes inevitable. One of the biggest travel etiquette gripes among passengers is seat reclining. It’s an unwritten rule that, as a courtesy to … Continued

15 Jul 2019 In Flight
Theft Thief stealing

Theft at 35,000 Feet

Security is something many of us take for granted when travelling by air. Most travellers are quite comfortable leaving their valuables in the overhead lockers or otherwise out of sight for the duration of the flight. But in-flight theft can and does happen. Numerous AFF members have witnessed mid-air robberies while flying to a range … Continued

15 Apr 2019 In Flight