Do you have a reason to be afraid of turbulence? According to author, blogger, and pilot Patrick Smith, the answer is no. “A plane cannot be flipped upside-down, thrown into a tailspin or otherwise flung from the sky by even the mightiest gust or air pocket. Conditions might be annoying and uncomfortable, but the plane is not going to crash.” Then why am I still afraid? Here are some other answers to your questions about the many mysteries of air travel.

+ Ever wonder how much money the airlines are squeezing us for with all those extras? In 2012, it came to about $27 billion.