5 things airlines don't want you to know

On "CBS This Morning," CBS News Travel Editor Peter Greenberg shared the five things listed below that airlines don't want you to know.

1. Airlines have the right to kick you off

Greenberg said, "It's in their contract of carriage. If you don't dress properly -- let's get you a definition of that -- or if you smell, they can throw you off the plane. It's actually written in their contract about offensive bodily odor, and (if you don't follow their) dress code. Now what's the dress code? Every airline enforces it differently."

2. Your electronic device won't crash the plane

Greenberg said, "(Your device) does not (interfere with the plane). The reason I know this is because, not only has the (Federal Aviation Administration) done this for 25 years, the research tells you that none of the electronic devices affects any of the avionics in the cockpit. But the FAA has now recently allowed American Airlines and Delta Air Lines pilots to use iPads in the cockpit -- at what -- distances of three feet from the equipment? That tells you everything you need to know. Having said that, the rules are still the rules...if they tell you to turn it off, turn it off. ... But the point is, you shouldn't be worried that your BlackBerry is going to crash the plane."

3. A flight between 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. has the best chance of taking off on-time

"Airlines want to be competitive on schedule. They're not competitive on reality," Greenberg said. "... A runway in best weather -- the best weather conditions possible -- can only accommodate 30 takeoffs an hour, if you allow for two minutes of separation between takeoffs. Why are the airlines then allowed to schedule 44 departures at 8:00 in the morning? If you're on the 44th departure, bring a copy of 'War and Peace,' you'll be reading it. So the bottom line is either go out at 6:00 a.m. or between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m."

4. Preferred seats aren't always better

Greenberg explained, "The airlines are trying to generate revenue for everything. And now, they're trying to sell you seats when you can board the plane earlier to fill up the overhead bins faster. ...A preferred seat by the airlines' definition is any seat closer to first class. You know what that means? You can smell the cookies, but you still can't have one. And the biggest problem with the preferred seats is the center seats are advertised as preferred seats."

5. Departure boards lie, always ask an agent

"The definitions of the words 'on time' means scheduled to leave on time," Greenberg said. "Guess what? That's never happened. The point is, it's never happened. Departure boards have not told the truth for 50 years. When you get to the airport, look at the departure board just to see the gate you're supposed to leave from and nothing else on the departure. Then look at the arrivals board and see what's coming into that gate. If there's nothing coming in until next Tuesday, why would you go to that gate?"

For more with Greenberg on what the airlines don't want you to know, watch the video in the player above.