Niamh Spence
You've booked your summer holiday, your bags are packed and you've boarded the plane ready to go and be somewhere hot... so why is it absolutely freezing on the plane?
Planes can feel baltic even if they're travelling to somewhere tropical, but it turns out there's a reason the plane thermostat seems to be so low, and it's not just so you have to wear more layers.
In fact, you'll be grateful the temp is so low when you realise what it does.
Advert
Vanessa Settimi, a flight attendant for Swoop Airlines, told Reader’s Digest the real reason why the plane cabin temperature is often kept on the colder side.
She explained: "Temperature in the cabin is controlled by the pilots.
"So even though travellers often ask to get the temperature turned up during flights, it is kept on the cooler side.
If you're stuck wondering what the actual temperature is when you're flying on a plane, usually it's kept between between 22°C and 24°C according to AeroTime Hub.
Advert
This might sound warm enough but it can actually feel quite chilly, purely because you're in your seat and not moving for the duration of the flight.
According to the flight attendant, the temp is on the chillier side as it's known to help with travel sickness and dealing with turbulence, as well as reducing the chances of fainting in those prone to it.
Now rather than suggest getting up constantly or trying to keep yourself moving to stay warm, it might just be more sensible to wear more layers and ensure you're not feeling chilly during your flight.
Flight attendant Vanessa also had some advice for those boarding the plane, and suggested not to dress in the usual holiday get up of shorts and flip flops.
Advert
She added: "Now this might just be the flight attendant in me, but you will never catch me flying as a traveler in sandals and a tank top!"
Yet there's also another more scientific reason put forward for why the aircraft might feel cold.
According to Rosen Aviation, the temperature can be kept lower to 'counteract the freezing atmospheric conditions that impact the cabin as the plane ascends'.
Advert
Essentially as the plane rises up in the air, it can enter colder temperatures and this is why the plane might need to be colder.
Whether or not that's the real reason, we can't be certain.
What we can suggest is to remember to pack a hoodie, jumper or extra layers for your flight and you can always change into your sandals, shorts and vacation clothes on the other side.