So, you're sat on a flight out of Birmingham Airport, desperately cramped for space and trying your hardest to get comfortable.

There's only so many low-budget rom-coms and low budget peanuts you can enjoy before you get a little restless.

Airline officials are the same, of course, which is exactly why they communicate through the 'ding' sounds you hear throughout your flight.

The Mirror reports airline insiders have revealed the 'dings' can signal different messages, depending on who you fly with.

In fact, they are even used as a "special language" between pilots and flight attendants.

A single 'ding' is often associated with the seat belt sign turning off but three consecutive low chimes could alert travellers to expect turbulence ahead.

United Airlines spokesman Jonathan Guerin told the Huffington Post a single sound rings out on its aircraft when a passenger requests assistance or when the fasten seat belt sign switches on.

And a 'ding-dong' chime means pilots and cabin crew are contacting each other on the in-flight call system.

While on Quantas flights, the sounds are used to send messages to cabin crew.

The airline said in a blog last year: “On our Airbus aircraft you’ll hear the ‘boing’ sound shortly after take-off ― this sound lets crew know that the landing gear is being retracted. The second boing is usually when the seat belt sign is switched off."

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The Australian airline said a single chime signalled passengers requesting service from their seats.

A HI-LO sound is the noise of a ringtone of a crew phone from one section of the plane to another if cabin crew require more food or drinks for instance.

And a triple chime signals a priority message from the captain which warns of turbulence ahead.

And communication with cabin crew dictates when 'dings' are heard on Southwest Airlines flights although a spokeswoman wouldn't state what specific messages are relayed because of safety concerns.

She told the Huffington Post: "Think of it as a language between the pilots and flight attendants."