United Airlines “Channel 9″ Pilot chatter helps you know when to go to the bathroom

I don’t think I’ve ever actually tuned in to the pilot chatter channel on any of my flights. In fact, it’s been years since I plugged my headphones into the seats instead of my iPod or my laptop. Between the two of them I’ve got music I like better and movies I actually want to see.

But there are plenty of people who enjoy tuning in to the pilot/control tower chatter through the channels built in to the seats. According to the Wall Street Journal, it turns out you sometimes get some useful information out of it:

Listening to air-traffic control communications while flying across the country on United Airlines, Hugh Coppen heard the flight’s captain receive a warning of turbulence ahead. A seasoned traveler, Mr. Coppen acted quickly before the captain alerted passengers. “I knew to run to the bathroom, because you may not be able to go for the next hour,” he said.

I’m not sure it’s worth it to me, given that I don’t care too much myself about pilot chatter, to listen the whole flight just to make sure I use the bathroom at the opportune moment.

But if you’re not otherwise using your ears, it might be a useful way to keep tabs on your bathroom breaks.