In this episode, Andrew starts off by talking about the longest domestic flights in the world. Then for the main segment, he looks at airline loyalty program status.  There are domestic flights out there that are over ten hours long. And the longest regularly scheduled flight ever was a domestic route. Learn more in this episode.  What is airline status and how does it work? How have frequent flyer programs evolved? And what are the benefits? Andrew addresses these questions and much more in this episode’s main segment.  In addition to covering how earning and benefits work wit ..read more

This episode starts by looking at why you shouldn’t inflate your life jacket until you are about to leave the aircraft. Andrew then talks with Edmond Huot about airline design and branding. Why are we told not to inflate our life jackets until we are about to exit the plane? There are some important reasons that could mean the difference between life or death. Learn more in this episode.   An airline once planned to charge passengers to use the onboard toilets. Find out more about the carrier that wanted to install coin-operated lavatories on their aircraft.  Forward Studio Chief Cr ..read more

In this episode, Andrew starts by looking at whether you can get your expired points and miles back. Then he talks about aviation safety, looking at recent incidents and news as well as the bigger historical picture.  If your points and miles are expired, can you get them back? Learn more about reinstating your points in this episode.  There has been a lot of negative press around commercial aviation safety, and it seems like the number of incidents has increased. What’s going on and should we be concerned? Andrew delves into the recent developments in aviation safety.  Has fly ..read more

This episode features the second part of Andrew’s chat with aircraft maintenance engineer and professor Brian Bermudez. Plus, he looks at whether your points and miles will expire.  Do your points and miles expire? If you’re collecting airline loyalty points, you will want to know the answer to this question. With some loyalty programs, the points never expire, but others have expiration policies and ways to prevent your points from expiring. Find out more in this episode.  Andrew continues his discussion with Brian Bermudez, an aircraft maintenance technician and professor of aviat ..read more

Andrew starts this episode by talking about airline flight numbers. The main segment for this episode features aircraft maintenance technician and professor Brian Bermudez.  How do flight numbers get assigned? It depends, but there are some common practices and conventions. Learn more about how airlines choose their flight numbers in this episode.  Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Brian Bermudez joins Andrew in this episode to dive into the world of aviation maintenance. He talks about what’s going on when you see maintenance engineers boarding your flight, the most common reasons that ..read more

In this episode, Andrew starts off by talking about what the different cabin class names mean. Then he looks at round-the-world tickets and how you can take a trip around the globe.  Club World, Delta One, Signature Class, and Mint. These are all names of airlines’ lie-flat business class products. What’s with all the different names? What does the term first class really mean? Andrew unpacks it all at the beginning of this episode.    There’s something special about circumnavigating the world in a single trip. And airline alliances offer you the ability to book a round-the-wor ..read more

This episode starts by looking at why involuntary downgrades happen and what to do if you get involuntary downgraded. Andrew then talks to airline captain Doug Morris about aviation weather and how it affects your flight. Nobody likes purchasing a premium cabin ticket and then being downgraded to a worse seat. Why might this happen and what should you do if it does? Find out more in this episode.      Doug Morris joins Andrew to talk about aviation weather, drawing from his experiences and expertise as an airline captain and as a meteorologist. He talks about the most common mi ..read more

Andrew starts this episode by talking about how much airliners weigh and important takeaways from recent aviation incidents. Then he looks at the international organizations that exist to keep the world of air travel functioning seamlessly.  It’s no secret that the aircraft that we fly on are massive, but how much do they actually weigh? Andrew delves into aircraft weights to give you an idea of how heavy the objects that we fly on are.  Did you know that Gibraltar International Airport has a road that intersects the runway? Yes, you can walk or drive right across the runway!  ..read more

In this episode, Andrew starts by looking at how you can fly on the world’s largest airliner – the Airbus A380 – these days. The main segment features Expedia travel expert Christie Hudson who is here to share data-driven air hacks and travel trends. Have you ever wanted to fly on the Airbus A380? Nicknamed the superjumbo, it’s the largest passenger aircraft ever built. Find out more about where the A380 currently flies in this episode and then check out Episode 26 for more about this engineering marvel. Christie Hudson shares data-driven tips and trends from Expedia’s air travel hacks. She r ..read more

This is the second part of our 2023 year-in-review. Our guests from throughout the year are sharing their travel tips and insights in a series of previously unaired clips.   What are some essential items to pack according to a flight attendant? Episode 30 guest Lara Ketterman shares her thoughts. What is the Southwest Companion Pass? Episode 36/37 guest Kendyl Grender talks about this great budget travel tool. In this episode, you’ll hear from five of our 2023 guests.   Have you ever wondered where Flying Smarter’s listeners are located? Or what the most popular episodes have b ..read more