cruising altitude

Meaning

Cruising altitude is the stable, level height at which an airplane flies for most of its journey after completing its initial climb and before beginning its descent. It is chosen to optimize fuel efficiency and avoid bad weather. This term is neutral and commonly heard in captain announcements during flights.

Examples

• Once we reach our cruising altitude of thirty-six thousand feet, the cabin crew will begin the meal service.

  Once we reach our cruising altitude of thirty-six thousand feet, the cabin crew will begin the meal service.

• The pilot decided to change our cruising altitude to avoid a patch of rough air ahead.

  The pilot decided to change our cruising altitude to avoid a patch of rough air ahead.

• It takes about twenty minutes for a commercial jet to climb to its designated cruising altitude.

  It takes about twenty minutes for a commercial jet to climb to its designated cruising altitude.

• At this cruising altitude, the external temperature is well below freezing.

  At this cruising altitude, the external temperature is well below freezing.

• The flight was smooth and uneventful once we settled into our cruising altitude.

  The flight was smooth and uneventful once we settled into our cruising altitude.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ The plane is flying at its cruise altitude.

  ✓ The plane is flying at its cruising altitude.

  While 'cruise altitude' is sometimes used in highly technical aviation contexts, 'cruising altitude' is the standard, natural expression in general and professional English.

• ✗ We reached to our cruising altitude after twenty minutes.

  ✓ We reached our cruising altitude after twenty minutes.

  'Reach' is a transitive verb in this context and should not be followed by the preposition 'to'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The captain announced that we had reached our ___ and could now use our electronic devices.

  💡 The stable flight height after climbing.

  Show answer

  cruising altitude

• To maximize fuel efficiency, commercial jets usually maintain a high ___.

  💡 The level altitude for the main part of the flight.

  Show answer

  cruising altitude