this post was submitted on 04 Aug 2025
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xkcd #3124: Grounded

Title text:

We should have you at the gate in just under two hours--two and a half if we get pulled over.

Transcript:

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Source: https://xkcd.com/3124/

explainxkcd for #3124

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[–] azertyfun@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 week ago (1 children)

You're mixing up feet and meters. The death zone is at 8 km, i.e. 26k ft.

2100m is barely mountaineering, you can bring grandma and the newborn hiking there and at most you'll notice a mild shortness of breath.

In fact normal cabin pressure at cruising altitude is equivalent to 7000 ft. Besides a lot of ear popping most people don't even notice it, though mild altitude sickness (i.e. a small headache) is possible, but ultimately harmless.

[–] dandelion@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 1 week ago

ah, that explains my confusion - thank you for clearing that up!