Anatolii Demenko

Thanksgiving is days away, which means that right now, thousands — more likely millions — of Americans are airport-bound this weekend. 

The hectic, slightly hellish Thanksgiving travel week has begun.  

If recent history is any indication, roughly 2 million people a day could hop on flights home to family or to vacation destinations between now and Wednesday — record numbers of travelers that have only grown each year since the pandemic.

While none of us can control the weather in Chicago, nor how well-staffed airlines will be this holiday, and though we are all powerless before the technology gods, there are ways to make flights better for you and your fellow travelers — and yes, even make it easier for your flight to take off on time. Just ask a flight attendant. 

In fact, we did. Last year, journalist Paulette Perhach surveyed several flight attendants about what they wish travelers knew before they board a plane. With so many of us flying over the next week, there’s no better time than now to revisit their advice.  

—Lavanya Ramanathan, editor, Today Explained

Several flight attendants told Perhach that they generally have only 30 to 40 minutes to get a flight completely boarded — time they’re frequently not even paid for. They had a few important tips for making that process faster, for them and for you. 

Have any items you need for your flight in your hand as you board. Roger, a flight attendant with a major airline, said he’s seen plenty of passengers stand in the aisle and rifle through their belongings searching for chargers, books, and other items before they put their bags away and take their seat. Avoid holding up a line of travelers behind you and have these items with you.

Use the bathroom before boarding. This just seems like a good idea, no?

Use your words. Some flight attendants say they often see people stand and stare at someone expecting them to move without using their words to say they need access to the row of seats. It’s okay to politely ask if you can pass by. You might even make a friend.

Fasten your seat belts, stow your tray tables, and put your seats in the upright position, when requested. It’s not a power trip. Flight attendants can be personally fined thousands of dollars by the Federal Aviation Administration for not following these guidelines.

“For the past few years, air carrier delays and airplanes arriving late have been the most common reasons for flight delays,” Vox senior reporter Allie Volpe wrote recently on Vox. And carrier delays, wrote Volpe, “mean things like cleaning the airplane, damage to the plane, waiting for connecting passengers or crew to arrive, fueling, and maintenance” — factors your flight attendants aren’t responsible for and can’t necessarily help with. 

“In terms of issues with rebooking flights or baggage issues, reroutes, diversions, delays, maintenance, there’s just so many things that occur when people travel that the flight attendants have zero control over,” one flight attendant named Rich, one of the two guys behind the humorous Two Guys on a Plane X account, said.

Temper your frustrations, and direct your questions to the right sources. Volpe has a great, detailed guide for Vox on what to do if your flight is canceled or delayed, if you need to find a last-minute hotel, or if you need to simply figure out where your baggage went. 

It might not get you there faster, but a little goodwill can make a long ride a little less bumpy, and maybe even a little more fun.

One of the most dehumanizing parts of the job, flight attendants told Vox, is that passengers boarding the plane often respond to their “good mornings” and “hellos” with absolutely nothing: no eye contact, and turning their heads away to avoid having to look at them.

Kindness can even net you benefits — freebies like a drink, or possible upgrades. “My literal best advice for this is being nice. We all respond to people being nice to us, way better than anything else,” one attendant said.

“I really love when people remember that I’m human, and I’m away from home and my family, too,” Rich said. It’s an important message to remember every day, but especially during a stressful holiday week like this one. “Those really heartfelt moments are what really drive us to keep going.”

Read more from Even Better

Vox's Even Better helps people live better lives individually and collectively — from mental health to relationships of all kinds to work, money, and more.

Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Matt Gaetz withdraws: The controversial pick for President-elect Donald Trump's attorney general has backed out of consideration for the role after reports of a second sexual encounter with a minor in 2017 came to light. [Vox]

The many, many layers of the new Wicked film, explained: Need a primer on all things Oz before you head to the theater this weekend? Our Vox experts break down all the backstories you need to know about to see the new movie based on a musical, based on a movie and a book, here.

A disturbing, targeted attack by anti-trans Republicans: This month, Democratic Congress member-elect Sarah McBride became the first openly trans person ever to be elected to the House. Her arrival has spurred House Speaker Mike Johnson to announce that he is barring trans women from women’s bathrooms in the Capitol, following a proposal from South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace (R).

There’s never been a better time to buy a used phone: The advent of the right to repair movement has pushed consumer tech companies to make their products easier to fix, spawning a new crop of marketplaces for used and refurbished goods for buyers who are interested in saving money or reducing their environmental impact. Here’s a look at what this circular tech economy looks like.

Billie Eilish doesn’t want to be an “annoying” vegan: So instead of preaching, the 22-year-old pop star works to make ethical choices accessible to her fans. The singer is known for spotlighting her favorite vegan restaurants in tour cities, ensuring that plant-based meals are available at every venue, limiting her merch to affordable, sustainable options, and refusing to test her perfumes on animals.

America’s literacy crisis isn’t what you think: According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, 31 percent of respondents said they never read for fun at all. It’s not that kids’ reading performance is worse. It’s that kids are reading for pleasure much less than before, and it’s having a major impact on their information literacy.

Potential breakup incoming: After a ruling found that Google abused its search monopoly, the U.S. Department of Justice is pushing the company to sell its Chrome web browser. The move could be the biggest antitrust action in decades. [The Verge]

Shaboozey snubbed by Country Music Association Awards: Controversy is stirring after the Black country star lost both of the awards categories he was nominated for at the CMA Awards, despite the high-charting success of his single “A Bar Song (Tipsy).”  [Page Six]

A very expensive snack: Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan’s piece titled Comedian has been bought at auction for $6.2 million. The installation, which is simply a real banana, duct taped to a wall, garnered viral attention at Art Basel in 2019. The buyer has claimed he will personally eat his new purchase. [The Independent]

John Nacion for Getty Images

I started watching "Say Nothing," on Hulu last weekend and immediately felt regret that I couldn't hit pause on all of my other responsibilities and watch the entire show in one sitting. 

The show is based on what might be my favorite nonfiction book, Say Nothing by the New Yorker's Patrick Radden Keefe. It works as both a true crime murder mystery and a history of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Before reading it, I knew so little about the conflict between the Protestant loyalists who wanted Northern Ireland to remain part of the United Kingdom, and the Catholic Irish nationalists who wanted to unite with the rest of Ireland. The show follows two sisters who become bombers for the Irish Republican Army. 

It treats a fascinating piece of recent history with complexity: The show depicts the violence and oppression their movement faces. But it also plainly illustrates the brutality and terrorism they commit in the name of their cause.

—Marin Cogan, senior correspondent 

Hulu

Are you enjoying the Today, Explained newsletter? Forward it to a friend; they can sign up for it right here. 

And as always, we want to know what you think. Specifically: If there is a topic you want us to explain or a story you’re curious to learn more about, let us know by filling out this form or just replying to this email. 

Today’s edition was produced and edited by senior editor Lavanya Ramanathan, with contributions from staff editor Melinda Fakuade. We'll see you tomorrow!

Become a member to support fearless, independent journalism.

This email was sent to you. Manage your email preferences or unsubscribe. If you value Vox’s unique explanatory journalism, support our work with a one-time or recurring contribution.

View our Privacy Notice and our Terms of Service.

Vox Media, 1701 Rhode Island. NW, Washington, DC 20036.
Copyright © 2024. All rights reserved.