Everything you’ve Ever Wanted to Know about the Air Travel Industry from  Kerwin McKenzie of Passrider.com

By Sarah Arksey
Associate Writer

Former airline employee Kerwin McKenzie launched Passrider.com to provide a virtual gathering place for those in the air travel industry, with a special focus on simplifying travel for those traveling on an employee pass and their companions.

Here’s what Kerwin has learned throughout his overlapping careers as an airline employee, author, speaker and content creator!

Kerwin’s Career and Nomadic Lifestyle

Kerwin spent over ten years with Continental Airlines (which merged with United Airlines in 2012).

He took on many roles within the company, including webmaster, customer experience manager, and policy and procedures manager. Kerwin retired early to move toward the communications side of the industry and launched Passrider.com in 2002.

Kerwin holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Mathematics from Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY, as well as a Master’s degree in Aeronautical Sciences from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida. The well-respected latter institute is known as the “Harvard of the Skies.”

Kerwin is a self-described nomad– “They say we have jet fuel in our veins, and I epitomize that”, he remarks on his website, referring to the personal love of travel held by airline employees.

Kerwin has flown on 195 airlines, from budget airlines like Spirit and Frontier to the luxurious Heli Air Monaco. Of the latter experience, he says, “It was my birthday and I’d never flown in a helicopter before, so I did the 7-minute flight from Nice airport to the Monaco helicopter.

The flight included a car to anywhere you wanted to go in Monaco. As I had no plans, I said, the Monte Carlo, and voila, [we were] there within minutes as it’s close by. Once there, my traveling companion and I went and had a 13 Euro beer at the bar that looks out at the Monte Carlo, so we could people watch.”

Sounds pretty lavish– but Kerwin still ranks his best flying experience so far as a Newark to Singapore Business Class journey with Singapore Airlines. 

Q & A with Kerwin McKenzie

Q. What does a typical layover look like for an on-duty airline pilot or flight attendant?

A: They used to have long layovers, but it’s not a thing anymore. As an example, on U.S. to Europe flights, the crew returns the next day. Layovers will vary if the destination is not served daily. Most Caribbean flights the same crew flies down and flies back. This depends on the distance and also the time of day of the flight.

Q. Why do they have those huge hoses going into airplanes that are parked at the gate?

A: The hoses provide air conditioning for the airplane since the engines are not running at the gate.

Q. What could cause a flight to be two hours early, even against the wind?

A: I don’t think this happens; but if it does, then it means there were no delays on departure and arrival.

Q. Why are prices at airports so high? (Taxes, security clearance, etc?)

A: Cause they’re thieves! Some airports mandate that the food at the airport cannot be more than the food in the city. It is ridiculous how much airport food costs. The sad thing is that people buy cheap fares and spend way more on food in the airport than they do on the ticket they bought. Especially if the flights are delayed.

This is one of the reasons I have airport lounge access. If I can help it, I refuse to buy food in the airport. Just as a matter of principle. It is sadly compounded as the airports take away your water or make you empty water bottles before entering security. And yes, the cost of operating a store at the airport is quite high too.

Q. Any secrets for getting into a first-class lounge?

A: No. You either have to have a First Class ticket or have top elite status or nowadays, some lounges allow you to pay for access.

Q. Why are U.S. to Europe flights always in the evening?

A: This way they can arrive in Europe first thing in the morning for business travelers to attend meetings and also so that the airplanes can get ready to come back to the U.S. with new passengers and crew.

It also allows passengers to connect to flights to other parts of the world from European hubs. There are also day flights from New York/Boston to London and also New York to Paris as well. You can see these flights at https://www.passrider.com/daytime-flights-to-europe-from-the-u-s-you-wished-you-knew-about/. 

Q: How often do they have to use tugs? How far do the tugs take the airplanes before the airplanes use their own power?

A: Almost all the time, unless it’s an airport that allows the jet bridge to move completely out of the way of the airplane, it’s so the pilots can start the engine and taxi out. This is usually the case at some smaller airports. There is no set distance for the tugs to tow the plane; it depends on the airline and the airport situation. Sometimes the airlines will tow the plane to a holding area close to the runway to save fuel.

Q. What is the agent doing when they are typing when you walk up to the check-in?

A: They’re checking for connecting passengers arrival times if applicable, any notes about the flight, arrival time of the inbound flight, clearing standby passengers and upgrades, and printing bag tags among other things

Q. From an expert perspective, what do you think is the most likely explanation for the disappearance of Malaysia Flight 370? I’m similarly curious about Amelia Earhart!

A: No idea on this one at all. It is a strange one though. These two things will be mysteries for a long time I think.

Q.  If something goes wrong (mechanically or otherwise) at an airport where the airline does not have a base, how do they resolve the issue?

A: Airlines have relationships with other airlines or ground handling stations to ensure they have coverage when they do a technical stop (fuel or something goes wrong) or a diversion etc.

Q. I recently overheard two Air Canada flight attendants saying that to get a regular Toronto to Cancun work assignment, you need over 40 years of seniority! Is this length of commitment common in the airline industry? What sorts of routes do you find are the most sought-after?

A: Route assignment varies by airlines and their internal rules. The long hauls are usually most sought after as some pay extra and may have longer layovers. But all this is based on airline rules.