Here’s what that means for turbulence.

But what is cruising altitude and how do pilots know when theyve reached it?

What is cruising altitude?

Aircraft wing on the clouds,flying background. Airplane wing and white clouds

Wing of an airplane in the air.Credit:Olena Ruban/Getty Images

He added that most of these common passenger jet airplanes operate between 30,000 and 40,000 feet.

Anything above 45,000 feet and the plane reaches a service ceiling, where its unable to climb higher.

Why do planes fly at high altitudes?

This is where science comes in.

There’s also less air resistance or drag, said the American Airlines captain.

This reduced drag allows planes to maintain speed with less fuel consumption, boosting overall flight range.

It also means less noise pollution.

How does a pilot choose the cruising altitude?

Long story short, they dont.

One great advantage of flying at higher altitudes is there are fewer of us up there.

How often do you hear of accidents at 35,000 feet?