An airline pilot has admitted that a promise they often tell passengers on delayed flights is actually "rarely true".
Don't worry, the promise in question isn't "we'll make sure to get you to your destination safely" or "the turbulence is nothing to worry about" – it's actually something much less concerning, but undeniably frustrating.
Have you ever been stuck on the plane tarmac, watching the clock tick past the time you were meant to set off? Or perhaps trapped waiting in the gate, watching the board to see if the text will change from 'delayed' to 'Gate 32'? Well, you're not alone.
Advert
Chances are most people who have been on a plane will have experienced some sort of delay at one point or another, but usually half an hour or so isn't too concerning, especially since the pilot often assures they will be able to 'make up time' on the journey.
As it turns out, though, this claim is very rarely true. This revelation came to light on a Reddit thread in which users asked people in the airline industry to share information passengers should know, and in which one pilot replied: "there is very little we can actually do to 'make-up time'."
"The longer the flight, the more we can do, but still, we're talking 5-10 minutes, not an hour," they wrote.
The responder was backed by another pilot, Jim Richards, who explained that while some people claim pilots who are trying to reach their destination quickly will use different altitudes to 'catch' favourable winds, the truth is that pilots often strive to do this anyway.
Advert
As cited by the New Zealand Herald, he explained: "With very few exceptions, we're always flying optimal routes and altitudes to get us to our destination in the minimum time and with minimal fuel burn. Wind is by far the biggest variable in these calculations."
I suppose, when you think about it, this revelation isn't actually that surprising. If pilots were able to make planes travel faster in a safe manner then I'm sure that's what they'd be doing all the time, and all of our journeys would be much shorter.
Still, I suppose it's always nice to hear someone reassure you the delay won't mess up your plans too much, and even though the truth has now been revealed, I probably won't be the only one who will hold on to that little bit of hope the next time my flight is delayed.
Emily Brown