A PILOT has revealed the little-known freebie they can dish out to children on British Airways flights.
Alexandra Lane has been a British Airways pilot for nearly seven years, and in that time she’s flown thousands of passengers to short-haul destinations across Europe.
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Before becoming a British Airways pilot, Alexandra was a meteorologist where she worked alongside the aviation industry, including the likes of Heathrow Airport.
While safety is Alexandra’s top priority, the co-training pilot also knows how excited most passengers are to simply glimpse inside the cockpit.
According to Alexandra, British Airways pilots are more than happy to welcome passengers into the cockpit – they just have to choose the right moment.
Rather than trying to organise a visit to the cockpit with the airline’s pilots, Alexandra recommended talking to members of the cabin crew.
She told Sun Online Travel: “Usually, just ask the cabin crew: ‘Would you mind, would the pilots be happy for us to come in?’ We usually always are, only very rarely, we might say we actually can’t at the moment.”
To visit the cockpit, the aircraft has to be on stand on the tarmac for safety reasons.
Alex added: “I think it [the cockpit visit] works better at the end of the flight.
“We do quite a lot of prep at the beginning, so we can’t give you too much time.
“If you come at the end, then we’re a lot more relaxed and we can show you some things.”
Those passengers who have the time for a cockpit visit at the end of a flight should keep their eyes open for specific features.
Alexandra added: “It’s all very cool, but I would be looking at the controls personally, and the screens with the map on.”
While there are lots of buttons in the cockpit, pilots have access to one special feature.
Alexandra added: “We can light up the dashboard quite well. We do this for little ones, we have a button and we can turn every single light on – and it lights up like a Christmas tree.”
While any passenger can ask to tour the cockpit, Alexandra particularly likes to meet younger aviation enthusiasts.
She added: “We love getting little ones, and you know people who are approaching adulthood and thinking about their first career.”
Alexandra encouraged passengers who are interested in a career as a pilot to head to the cockpit for a chat.
Those younger passengers who visit the cockpit will also be on the receiving end of another freebie.
While free stickers are normally associated with the dentist, British Airways pilots can dish them out to youngsters after their visit.
The Future Pilot stickers are navy and are given out by pilots to younger visitors who’ve been in the cockpit.
Cockpit tours and stickers aren’t the only little-known freebie that’s dished out by airlines.
On British Airways flights, children can enjoy a Skyflyers activity pack, which includes a fun eye mask and a postcard to send home.
The activity pack, which is also handed out by British Airways captains, also includes a log book.
This log book can be completed and signed by the crew on every flight.
Meanwhile, on a Virgin Atlantic flight, holidaymakers can ask for a KiD backpack.
The complimentary backpacks are for youngsters aged 2-6 and contain things like a holiday journal.
At some check-in desks, holidaymakers can also ask for free luggage tags and stickers.
If you’re lucky enough, you might even be able to get your hands on some free food.
On airlines like British Airways that dish out free bags of pretzels, some cabin crew members probably won’t mind if you ask for another one.
Former flight attendant Beth Blair explained: “On some flights, it seems nearly all of the passengers pass on meals or snacks (such as late at night). Those flights are the best bet for getting seconds.”
Top airlines used to dish out another freebie – only for them to be scrapped.
Sun Online Travel recently visited the secret “Jedi” zone at Heathrow Airport – and it only gets used on icy days.
Meanwhile, here’s how to get to a secret viewing platform at Heathrow Airport.
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