It feels sogoodto complain about how muchair travel sucks.
Between endless security lines, shrinking legroom, flight delays, andjet lag, thats fair.
But when it comes to the most important thing about air travelsafetyweve never been in better hands.
Francisco Rama/EyeEm/Getty Images
Consider the fact that the FAAs Air Traffic Organization handles around 42,000 flights carrying 2.5 million peopleevery single day.
Its just staggering how unlikely it is anything will happen, Hubbard says.
(Private planes are a bit less safe, though.
In 2016, 386 people died in private plane crashes in the United States, according to theU.S.
National Transportation Safety Board[NTSB].)
Perhaps you havetravel anxietyand are looking for peace of mind or are just a curious frequent flyer.
Either way, theres no harm in keeping the following expert advice in mind, just in case.
A) Its complicated.
B) It doesnt matter all that much.
Statistically, there’s not much of a difference, Pruchnicki says.
Official organizations like the NTSB and FAA dont release analyses of where is safest to sit.
But in 2015,Timemagazinelooked at 35 years of FAA aircraft accident data.
But the data doesnt point to one part of the plane being overwhelmingly safer than the others.
Whats more important is sitting close to an exit.
Sit near an exit if it’s possible for you to, but dont bankrupt yourself to do it.
Your plane will likely make it to the sky and back without issue.
That way youll know exactly where to go in an evacuation.
Evacuations are typically done in a visibility-challenged environment, Pruchnicki says.
Dont forget to look both ways when sussing out your exit strategy.
Yes, even if youve heard it a dozen times.
Its always a good idea to get a refresher from the flight attendant, Pruchnicki says.
Youre probably thinking something like, OK, Iknowhow to fasten and unfasten my seatbelt.
The safety demo is also a good reminder of how to do the brace position.
This is another tip that only takes a moment but could save you valuable time if your plane crashes.
Yes, theyre easy to slip on and off at airport security.
But think about an evacuation scenario.
For the same reason, you may want to pack high heels instead of wearing them on the plane.
Do what works best for you.
Airplane crashes are likehouse fires: Forget about your stuff and just worry about getting yourself out.
Trying to take your things along could compromise your own safety and that of everyone else, Pruchnicki says.
Planes are designed to be evacuated in about 90 seconds, per FAA requirements.
You have to move quickly.
You could also risk damaging the evacuation slide, Hubbard adds.
No one wants to be that person.
Inflating your life vest in the cabin is not a good idea in any situation, Hubbard says.
Everybody inflating their life vest makes it harder to move around, she explains.
In a panic, your knee-jerk reaction might be to bolt through the nearest exit.
Youre actually supposed to wait until you get those instructions from a crew member, Pruchnicki says.
Unless the entire crew somehow happens to be incapacitated, wait for their cue before you open any exits.
There’s a strong protocol for everything, Pruchnicki says.
No matter how many airplane safety articles you read, the crew is your best source for survival.
