INFLIGHT SERVICES AND CABIN COMPARTMENTS

THE FUSELAGE
The fuselage is the body of the aircraft to which the wings
and tail are attached. The fuselage is divided into 3 main
compartments:
1) The Cockpit
It is situated at the front of an aircraft, from which a pilot
controls the aircraft. It contains flight instruments called an
‘instrumental panel’. The cockpit is also known as ‘flight deck’.
It is an enclosed cabin and a door separates the cockpit form
the pax compartment. After the September 11,2001 terrorist
attacks all major airlines have strengthened the cockpit against
unauthorized access by hijackers.
2) The Hold
It is also known as ‘the bulk’ which is used to accommodate
baggage, mail and cargo.
3) The Cabin Compartment
The following are the parts of the pax cabin compartment:
❖ The Galley
These are the working places for flight attendants. A galley
consists of:
• Storage for food, beverages, newspapers, duty free articles etc.
• Electric heater for hot water supply
• Coffee machines
• Hot air ovens to warm up meals
• Service trolleys with trays including cold food
• For first class catering, sometimes one or two cooking plates to
allow some simple fresh cooking any time
• Garbage storage
On arrival, most parts of the Galley must be sealed for customs
inspection. In wide body aircraft, the Galley might be located
in the hold and connected by lift in order to provide space for
more seats.
❖ Audio and video projection equipment
Many aircraft provide headset which can be plugged into
each seat control panel. Usually, a choice of more than 10 audio
channels providing most kind of music styles. On longer
flights, one or even two movies are shown on a large screen or
in the back of the seat in front. Besides the movies, the
following maybe shown:
• Safety instructions before departure
• Individually composed world news
• The information like the actual speed, altitude, time, outside
temperature, distance flown to the next stop, actual position of
the aircraft maybe displayed through a connection with the
navigation system.
• Arrival information for the destination airport, customs and
currency regulations and transportations available.
• Points of tourist interest of the country of arrival.
• Information for connecting paxs including updates incase of
delays and indicating the arrival gate number and connecting
flight gate number.
The use of personal portable audio equipment, laptops,
electronic games by pax may be restricted due to interference
with the radar and navigation system.
❖ Lavatory
In the aircraft there are common toilets available for
men/women. The number of toilets in an aircraft depends on:
• The airlines specific requirements
• The type of aircraft
• The network ie, short haul or long-haul flight of the airline.
On short haul flights, the toilets are less used. In each class of
service ie, first class, business class and economy class there
exist usually separate toilets.
❖ Overhead lockers
In the cabin, to store hand luggage very limited space is
available. It can be fitted into overhead lockers or under the
front seat. For safety reasons, it is advisable to not carry bulky
and heavy baggage in the cabin.

SEAT
Selecting a seat may depend on the inflight services of each
class. Most travelers are aware of the comfort problem, but
many may not realize that the seat space varies from flight to
flight, even when airlines use the same type of aircraft. Seat
space is determined by the airline policy not by airplane
manufactures and the policies of the various carriers differ
substantially.
SEAT OVER THE WINGS
Seat over the wings generally provide a smoother ride, but
the view is obscured. Seats neat emergency exits often have
more legroom because the pitch must be adjusted to provide for
access to the exit.
 BULKHEAD SEATS
Bulkheads are the partitions that separate the compartments
of the plane. Bulkhead seat offer more legroom, they have no
space to store carry on baggage and offer no fold down tables.
Often bulkhead seats are reserved for families with young
children.
THE CONFIGURATION OF DIFFERENT CLASSES
The most common cabin configuration separates an aircraft
into first, business and economy class.
1) FIRST CLASS SEATS
This section is usually located at the front of the plane and
has from 8 to 24 seats. Seats are wider than coach seats, usually
more heavily padded and are spaced to provide a higher level
of personalized service. Meals are more elaborate, have more
choices and are often served on China with cloth napkins,
instead of plastic and paper used in economy class. First class
pax receive free alcoholic beverages and on flights with
movies, free headsets.
Seats on long haul flights can be converted into sleeper seats
and can be changed to an almost horizontal position. The
footrest may be operated fully electronically. There might be a
choice between a sleeper seat and fully bed on just a few
airlines.

2) BUSINESS CLASS SEATS

When compared with economy classes, the seats are usually
larger, deeper and more comfortable. A footrest may be fixed in
the seat in front. It is halfway between first class and economy
class. In this case, pax receive many of the amenities of the first
 class. Some airlines offer business class in addition to the first
class and other substitutes for first class.

3) ECONOMY CLASS
Since most pax travel economy class, the airlines make every
effort enjoyable. Soft-drinks and meals or snacks are served at
no charge. Economy class paxs who desire alcoholic beverages
usually must pay for them. Airlines will provide Kosher or
Vegetarian meals, Low calorie, Low sodium, Low cholesterol,
Hindu Muslim food and Childrens meal for paxs who request
them in advance.
If the pax has not made an advance seat selection, he can make
a choice at check-in at the airport. Sometimes paxs booked at
low discount fares cannot make advance seat selection.
 AIRPORT FACILITIES

I CHECK-IN FORMALITIES
One of the purposes of check-in formalities is to maintain
the count how many paxs are on the board of airport.
Requirements at the check-in counter:
o A valid ticket
o Passport
o Visa (mostly stamped on passport)
o Health certificates
o Transit visa
Whatever the specific layout, airports have airline check-in and
ticketing desks located at the main departure area. Check-in
procedure differ for domestic and international flight.
International departure rituals differ from country to country.
Check-in can be done outside the entrance of the airport
departure terminal.
There are usually different categories of check-in desks
available:
❖ First class/ Business class/ Airline club members
These individual desks are often located in a central but
less crowded area providing a speedier and personalized
check-in. Baggage is priority tagged which means last to
load, first to unload and fastest to deliver. It saves time for
the pax who is paying revenue.
❖ Online check-in
It is the process in which paxs confirm their presence on a
flight via the internet and typically print their own boarding
passes. Depending on the carrier and the specific flight, paxs
 may also enter details such as meal options and baggage
quantities and select their preferred seating.
❖ Intown check-in
In some cities (including BKK, HKG, KUL, DEL, MAA,
SEL, TPE) certain airlines provide intown check-in services,
allowing paxs to check their luggage at check-in counter
located in Railway or Subway terminals as much as a day
ahead. This service allows paxs to take a train to the airport
without the burden of carrying their luggage to the airport
terminal.
❖ Mobile check-in
Check-in can also be made using a paxs mobile phone. A
4G/5G capable smartphone is required (Finnair allows
check-in by text msg) and the check-in feature may be
accessed by keying in a website on the mobile phones
browser or by downloading a dedicated application. The
process is then similar to that which one would expect when
check-in in online.
❖ Automated self-check-in (kiosk)
Reserved for pax travelling with baggages can use the
kiosk machine available at the airport for the check-in
purpose.
❖ Economy class paxs
For all other paxs.
On check-in counter, after presentation of the airline tickets and
pax baggage the check-in staff will weigh and tag the baggage
and give a boarding pass. An excess baggage charge will be
collected and a receipt is given to the pax.

II LANDSIDE FACILITIES
o Cinemas
 o Temporary art expo
o Pay television seats
o Observation desk to watch aircraft
o Pharmacies for urgent medication
o Book shops
o Food stores
o Electronic shops
o To replace damaged baggage, baggage shop facilities are
available
o Toy shops
o A choice of restaurants, bars, coffee shops are located in
different parts of larger airports.
III IMMIGRATION / EMMIGRATION, PASSPORT &
CUSTOMS CONTROL
1) The departure control
2) The arrival control
3) The customs control on arrival
4) Transit area
Often paxs have to transfer to a connecting flight, in that
case such transit necessitate the pax and their baggage being
transported from one terminal building to another. To
accomplish this a minimum connecting time (MCT) must be
allowed between the 2 flights at the time of making
reservations.
In larger cities, the connecting flight may leave from a
different airport, inter airport buses, trains, or helicopters
operates shuttle services in such cases.
When pax transfer from one int’l flight to another at the same
airport, their baggage directly taken from one aircraft to the
other if it has been checked through to the final destination
 right from the point of departure. Transit paxs do not need to
go through customs and immigration formalities since they
do not leave the transit lounge.
Pax must check if a transit visa is necessary to change
airports and to leave the transit area of the arriving airport
terminal. When the transfer is from one int’l flight to a
domestic flight paxs have to claim their baggage and clear it
through customs prior to it being checked in for domestic
flight.
5) Transit desk
The transit desk or transfer desk is for mainly assisting
transit pax to make their connection quickly.
• Pax without a seat number for the connecting flight may
obtain it at the transit desk.
• In case of irregularities, the transit desk will rebook,
recheck in the pax and redirect checked in baggage on
the available flight.
• The transfer desk always issue meal, hotel and transport
voucher if needed.
6) Other numerous airport facilities
There are certain facilities in the airport which although
subject to some variations in the quality and presentation
are common to most int’l airports.
 General info. Desk
Dealing with the enquiries of general nature.
 VIP lounges
For the use of important specially recommended and
first class pax who are waiting for the departure of the
flight. VIPs are such categories of pax like high level
political personalities, recognized scientists, and
commercially important persons. They are usually met at
 the check-in for the departure or at the aircraft or arrival
by specially trained staffs to assist them.
 Bank
An official bank or currency exchange office may be
available.
 Hotel reservations
A hotel info. and reservation desk or an electronic
board, or direct flying telephone service or an enquiry
desk may be available at certain airports.
 Restaurants/Bars
Restaurants, bars, coffee shops are available for
catering full meals or snacks throughout the airport.
 Facilities for disabled
Some airports have special parking spaces for disabled
travelers often near to the terminal and which than usual.
Special facilities for disabled travelers vary considerably
between airports, but most air terminals are designed
with automatic doors, wide corridors and a maximum
no.of elevators, moving walkways with non slip surfaces
and hand rails, special toilets.
All disabled people can ask for an escort through the
terminal formalities and on to the plane. They may take
their guide dogs, but these will usually have to carried
with other pets in the cargo hold and will not be
exempted from quarantine laws. Deaf pax can request
written instructions and announcements to be provided
for them on the ground and in the air.
 Chapel
Many large int’l airports have chapels with regular
services for the use of both pax and the airport staff.
 Duty free shop
If offers items such as jewelry, dresses, alcohol,
perfumes, chocolates, toys, tobacco and leather goods on
which no duty had been levied.
The duty free shop is located on the air side of the
terminal; only paxs who have passed through customs
may shop there. A smaller selection of duty free goods
usually drinks, perfumes, chocolates, makeup essentials,
tobacco may be sold in flight.
 Nursery
Many airports are equipped with mothers room where
babies dresses/diapers can be changed and fed and others
have staffed nurseries where older children can be left for
short periods, or entertained during long transit/delays.
 Airline club lounges
The frequent travel can join an airline sponsored club
that operates comfortable, convenient, member-only
lounges at many large airports compared with the typical
airline waiting room and gate facilities these clubs are
quiet comfortable.
 Airline fire services
Airport fire services will turn on at emergency on the
slightest indication that something is wrong with a
landing plane. During an emergency, the fire service
provides general emergency help, carrying stretchers and
aiding disabled people.