Overuse of the flight attendant call bell

[The black sheep]

QF flight attendants are trained to ignore the call button In J and F. FAs too busy chatting or reading magazines in phones.

EK F, call button answered in 9 seconds. I time it sometimes. Very impressive.

You must have flown with greater load factors - response time for me in EK first was maybe three seconds

 

[Quickstatus]

Then there is the unintended issue of the FA attending to the call bell. Requiring a trudge from the galley to seat and back and then returning with a coke. And back again

Whereas, a passenger walk to galley to request a coke has several benefits:

Exercise and prevention of DVT
You get your request answered (though maybe not fulfilled)
The FA don't have to walk 4times in the aisle
And other passengers don't know you have a request. Have you ever watched when the light comes on over the passengers head and wonder what they want (or are getting)

EK first was maybe three seconds

3 seconds becomes irrelevant when the EK FA returns with half a glass of Diet Coke. Mrs QS asked for Diet Coke without ice, so that's what she got

 

[VPS]

I think apart from one time the only time I've used the call button has been in error and there have been a few of them - I'm always hot and trying to fiddle with lights and vents

 

[BCons]

Nice story - we've all seen pax like that over the years - as if nobody else is on the plane and whatever service given its never enough.

Only time I remember using a call button was on a QF flt to Perth back last century - I was in an aisle seat in Y and lunch was served. QF provided those flip & squeeze sauce/dressing containers and a bloke one row behind and across the aisle from me managed to spray an arc of tom sauce over my shoulder and across my lap. Hostie (can I still use that term?) was very apologetic - seems ppl didnt know how to use these containers - and gave me $20 for drycleaning, but the slacks were never the same.

 

[Saab34]

Has anyone seen a FA have a go at pax for using the bell?

 

[Amanad78]

I was on a VA MEL-BNE flight last week.
Young guy (20?) In the middle seat used the call button as soon as the seatbelt light went off to ask for water. The attendant said 'we're just about to start drinks service, can you wait?', his answer was no so the FA brought him a bottle of water.
Then came drink service (tea).
Then he rang again for an an alcoholic drink and was surprised to find he had to pay for it and then extra for the coke to go with it.
Then he rang again for another drink.
Then he rang again for another coke.
He took constant selfies throughout the flight, then leaned right across me to take photos out of the window.
It was pretty funny but I was glad it was only a short flight.

 

[Mattg]

I was on a VA MEL-BNE flight last week.
Young guy (20?) In the middle seat used the call button as soon as the seatbelt light went off to ask for water. The attendant said 'we're just about to start drinks service, can you wait?', his answer was no so the FA brought him a bottle of water.
Then came drink service (tea).
Then he rang again for an an alcoholic drink and was surprised to find he had to pay for it and then extra for the coke to go with it.
Then he rang again for another drink.
Then he rang again for another coke.
He took constant selfies throughout the flight, then leaned right across me to take photos out of the window.
It was pretty funny but I was glad it was only a short flight.

Sounds like he enjoyed the flight

 

[justinbrett]

Has anyone seen a FA have a go at pax for using the bell?

I don't think they're as annoyed by them as this thread implies

If they are, it's easy to ignore. I often find once a pax uses it, it's like telling the crew "perhaps you should be more proactive" and after that they are. Or if one pax presses it and orders a drink, 3-4 other people will order a drink at the same time before he/she returns to the galley.

I mean, the icon usually as a person carrying a drinks tray... if they didn't want it to be used, change the picture.

 

[Bjet]

Haha... totally opposite on my flights.

During meal times, a purser kept pressing my FA bell many times when they ran out of drinks and food all the times. When her colleague came to my seat and thought that it was me, I said no and pointed to her. Ohhhh ok la!

I heard an interesting story from an ex-singapore airlines flight attendant. She said that if you flew with Singapore airlines, she was accustomed to hear the FA bells many times after take off. But when she (as pax) flew with BA after take off from Singapore, it was so quiet on her flight. It means that no one ever pressed the FA bells.

 

[justinbrett]

Haha... totally opposite on my flights.

During meal times, a purser kept pressing my FA bell many times when they ran out of drinks and food all the times. When her colleague came to my seat and thought that it was me, I said no and pointed to her. Ohhhh ok la!

I heard an interesting story from an ex-singapore airlines flight attendant. She said that if you flew with Singapore airlines, she was accustomed to hear the FA bells many times after take off. But when she flew with BA after take off from Singapore, it was so quiet on her flight. It means that no one ever pressed the FA bells.

I have found BA very proactive with service and almost never let my glass sit empty (in any class).

Their hard product is questionable but their soft product is one of the best.

 

[Quickstatus]

Has anyone seen a FA

No but I suspect they do it indirectly by answering late or not at all

 

[Scarlett]

I’ve bumped the call bell whilst getting changed (into or out of pjs) in the toilet.
That was very swiftly followed by an, “are you all right in there” query from an FA. Sorry…

 

[dajop]

On SQ, almost always the very first thing they do when they respond to call buttons (in any class) is turn it off, before even asking the passenger that pressed the button. I suspect response time is a KPI for the cabin manager or something like that.

 

[Port Power]

I don’t have a problem using the call bell, that’s what it was designed for. I also do like going for a walk in the wee hours to ask for a cuppa, and it always becomes a cheerful chat. I am also a low maintenance passenger, but the call bell was designed to use when wanting a refill. Sometimes unanswered, so then I visit the galley. I never take any notice other call bell lights.

 

[justinbrett]

On SQ, almost always the very first thing they do when they respond to call buttons (in any class) is turn it off, before even asking the passenger that pressed the button. I suspect response time is a KPI for the cabin manager or something like that.

Same for QF.

 

[Quickstatus]

is turn it off,

Reminds me of ringing a service provider - the secretary picks up and immediately puts you on hold. The phone call is answered. KPI achieved.....

 

[Ausbt]

Pretty sure an SQ member encouraged me to press it and may have even pressed it for me, when I attempted to get their attention heading down the aisle in J. But like others, no I don't like to push it. I really want to know what the chap in the OPs post wanted pressing it all that many times. Seems weird, you can only have so many drinks. Was he looking for advice on destination options? Either way, had I of been in proximity I would have headed up there and told him to STFU. Or at least I'd like to think I would.

 

[milehighclub]

On SQ, almost always the very first thing they do when they respond to call buttons (in any class) is turn it off, before even asking the passenger that pressed the button. I suspect response time is a KPI for the cabin manager or something like that.

The reason I always turn it off when I arrive is so that another crew member doesn't come up and ask a 2nd time if I'm already fulfilling the request. Also, on Airbus aircraft, the seat number is displayed on panels, but only shows the seat that pressed it first, so of there is a 2nd call bell, it won't be seen until the 1st one is turned off (although there are other indications to assist where it may be).

 

[SOPOOR]

I hate using the call bell, and avoid it at most costs. I much prefer to get the attention of crew as they walk by.

If I finish my drink and want another, I'll usually try and get the attention of crew as they walk by. If none walk by and I'm in an aisle seat, I will walk to the galley and ask.

The only time I will really use it is on an overnight flight when the cabin is dark and the crew are not routinely walking by, and I don't feel up to walking to the galley. (ie if I've taken a sleeping tablet and woken up halfway through needing water).

If at a window seat and the person next to you is sleeping, that's pretty much a free pass to use the call bell if the staff are not being proactive with service.

i too kind of feel bad pressing the button, i will press it every now and again if i really want a drink...

as for the OP, how many times can one think of a reason to press the button? can i have drink, peanuts, kids toy, blanket, snack

 

[Port Power]

i too kind of feel bad pressing the button, i will press it every now and again if i really want a drink...

as for the OP, how many times can one think of a reason to press the button? can i have drink, peanuts, kids toy, blanket, snack

Yes, overuse is, indeed, over the top! Not at all necessary and no excuse really.