What I Didn't Know About Flying (Until I Started Flying a Lot)

The Dream I Never Lived, and What It Taught Me

As a kid, every time a plane flew over the house, I'd stop and look up. The flight attendants in their uniforms, the little rolling suitcase, that walk that looked like belonging to a different world — I wanted to be there.

I never became a flight attendant. But for three years now I've been a digital nomad who flies several times a month — and for way too long I did it without understanding what was actually happening in the air. This post is everything I've collected along the way: questions I was too embarrassed to ask out loud, answers that surprised me, and lessons learned — not always the easy way.

Your Body Knows It's in the Air

Why do you get sleepy minutes after takeoff?

After all these flights, it still catches me off guard — a few minutes after takeoff, the yawning starts. Not because I'm tired, not because I didn't sleep enough. It happens even after a full night's rest, on a 6am flight.

The reason is that oxygen levels in the pressurized cabin are lower than on the ground. Planes are calibrated to an altitude equivalent of about 2,000 meters — not thin mountain air, but enough for your body to feel it. Less oxygen means more heaviness, a slightly foggy head. Falling asleep on a plane isn't a weakness — it's pure physiology.

What air pockets actually are

Air pockets sounds scary. The reality is much less dramatic than it sounds. An air pocket is simply a zone where the air temperature differs from the surrounding air — warmer or cooler. That difference creates air movement the plane passes through, and you feel it as turbulence, sometimes a brief drop, sometimes mild nausea. The plane is built to withstand pressure differences far greater than anything encountered on a standard flight.

The Small Things Nobody Explains

Why do they ask you to open window shades during takeoff and landing?

There are two practical reasons, both directly related to safety. The first: in an emergency, ground crews need to see inside from outside — whether there's fire, smoke, or water.

Closed shades make them blind to what's happening in the cabin. The second reason is about your eyes: adjusting from cabin lighting to sunlight takes a few minutes, and in an emergency you need passengers to see and react immediately. A one-minute delay during an evacuation isn't a comfort issue — it can be the difference that changes outcomes.

Is there a meal on this flight? The rule nobody states clearly

There's no single universal rule, but there are a few guidelines that hold up most of the time. Over three to four hours — most mid-range and premium carriers will serve a meal.

Overnight flights usually yes, even relatively short ones. Low-cost carriers are a completely different world: almost always everything costs extra, regardless of flight length. The safest move is simply to check the airline's booking page before each flight — and never assume.

Power banks on planes — what's allowed and what isn't

Power banks are completely prohibited in checked luggage and only allowed in carry-on bags. The reason is that lithium batteries can catch fire, and there's no access to them in the cargo hold.

In the passenger cabin — crew can spot a problem and respond immediately. The vast majority of standard power banks are fine, but it's always worth confirming with the airline before you fly.

Airports — Not All Created Equal

The most important thing I've learned about large airports isn't where they are — it's how much time they swallow once you're inside.

Airports like London Heathrow, Dubai, Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Singapore Changi, and Frankfurt are worlds unto themselves. Each has separate terminals, internal trains, and corridors that can take 30–40 minutes on their own.

I learned this in Bangkok, the right way

On one particular layover, I arrived at Suvarnabhumi with three and a half hours before my next flight — which sounds like plenty, but at an airport like this it's just barely over the minimum.

Suvarnabhumi has a newer terminal you reach by internal train, just like Heathrow — and once you add the walk to the train, the ride, the walk out, and the hike to the gate, you discover that half an hour just vanished without asking.

Because I arrived early, I had time to duck into the Coral Lounge for just $25 — a cocktail, fresh noodles, and a 15-minute Thai massage I didn't know was included. The woman at the desk only told me about it because I asked.

My rule for large airports: at least three hours for any connection. Better to wait at the gate than miss a flight.

On the other end of the scale — tiny airports that don't need that rule

Then there are the tiny airports where arriving too early just means standing around for no reason — like Koh Samui in Thailand, Weerawila in Sri Lanka, Girona in Spain, or El Nido in the Philippines. At those places, every extra hour of waiting feels like a waste.

El Nido is one I won't forget: a small building that blends into the rural landscape, two staff members at the desk — and the plane that honked before we'd even boarded. We got on without them shutting down the engine. The moment the doors closed, we lurched forward with zero warning. The man next to me crossed himself. I burst out laughing.

The Night I Learned How Pilots Park a Boeing

If the behind-the-scenes of flying is something you find interesting, you might also want to hear about that evening in the Philippines when I met two pilots at a bar.

They told me about the job and answered the question that had always burned in me — how on earth do you park that thing? The full story is in my newsletter.

Frequently Asked Questions About Flying

Why does my heart race during takeoff even when I'm not scared?

It's an automatic physiological response, not necessarily an emotional one. The noise, the rapid acceleration, and the pressure shift all activate the sympathetic nervous system. Even experienced travelers feel this, usually without any actual fear involved.

Is it safe to fly with a cold or a blocked ear?

Technically yes, but there's a real risk of sharp ear pain and potential eardrum damage. A cold causes swelling that blocks the natural pressure equalization between the middle ear and the outside. Solutions: chew gum during descent, stay hydrated, and in more severe cases — take an antihistamine before the flight.

Why is a power bank banned in checked luggage but fine in carry-on?

Because lithium batteries can catch fire, and in the cargo hold there's no way to access them. In the passenger cabin, crew can spot a problem and act immediately. It's not a bureaucratic rule — it's genuine safety logic.

How early should I arrive at a large international airport?

At least three hours for international flights through major hubs like Heathrow, Dubai, Bangkok, or Paris. Smaller airports — an hour to an hour and a half is usually enough. The most important rule: check the airport's layout and terminal distances before your travel day, not on it.

What happens if you miss a connection because your first flight was delayed?

If both flights are on the same booking, the airline must rebook you on the next available flight. If you booked them separately, you're on your own. That's exactly why: always try to book connecting flights on one itinerary when possible, and always build in extra buffer time at large airports.

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