Thanks so much for the responses, everyone! My editor requires me to actually talk to you or email you in order to use your suggestions, so would you mind contacting me via my previously posted address? As I said before, I won't use your names.

Also, I asked about the cabin air and autopilot because I think a lot of passengers have misperceptions about those things (they think the cabin air is particularly germy and that the planes just fly themselves) and I thought you guys would welcome the opportunity to clarify that.

I'd welcome more responses. Thanks!