Are areas beside a galley actually dangerous for pax to mingle?

[Austman]

I had a curious experience recently.

Flying on an A330 in J with a friend in Y.

If we wanted to meet for a bit of a chat, the usual area seemed to be beside the galley area that separates J and Y classes (a Y class galley). Beside a window where the crew jump seats are folded up.

There were Y class toilets on each side of this galley. With a fair bit of a standing area in front of them (including the crew jump seats). The area is not actually the galley which itself which is in the middle section and can be curtained off.

But on one flight we were firmly told that this was a "dangerous area" for passengers to stand so we must return to our seats. We weren't drinking or being loud or even blocking anyone. The meal service was over. I asked where we could go instead? But as it was a full flight there weren't any empty seats to use. The answer was "you can go nowhere - sorry".

Could it really be a safety matter? It wasn't a US airline or a US flight. And there were only 2 of us.

 

[RooFlyer]

Not dangerous that I know of. I dare say the crew wanted to sit down and either have a meal or a break.

 

[Archipelago]

Extremely dangerous. I wouldn't want to annoy crew of certain airlines when they are trying to have a break in the galley in between main cabin service periods.

 

[Austman]

They said it was a safety issue - no passengers allowed (at least to mingle) in the galley.

Maybe fair enough? Although pax do need to transit galleys all the time to get to and wait for eg a toilet or even ask the crew for something.

But we weren't actually in the galley. The crew had their curtained off rest area by the way.

As it's impossible to challenge crew on these issues, we just returned to our seats.

 

[Denali]

You say you weren't 'actually' in the galley but I guess you and your friend was close to enough to tell you to disperse. It is their work space and with every pax thinking their reason is important, what limited privacy they have is gone.

 

[Austman]

You say you weren't 'actually' in the galley but I guess you and your friend was close to enough to tell you to disperse.

Perhaps. Still the crew claimed was that is was "safety" related - that it was dangerous for passengers to be in the galley area.

The meal service was over and we were well away from any galley activity. This area is was on the side of a A330 (an exit door area in fact) with the galley in the centre section only.

 

[Denali]

Perhaps. Still the crew claim was that is was "safety" related.

The meal service was over and we were well away from any galley activity.

I work a cubicle life now, you know what I hate. People that hover near my limited space.

They label anything they want as safety to get you to comply because 'Sit the cough down and give us some space for 5mins' is rude to say.

 

[Austman]

They label anything they want as safety to get you to comply because 'Sit the **** down and give us some space for 5mins' is rude to say.

We weren't in anyone's way. It's a sizable area. The meal service was well over.

While I can appreciate that some crew might like pax to be out of the way and always in their seats, is it an actual safety issue?

 

[Hvr]

is it an actual safety issue?

Maybe, if the cabin crew get really annoyed at you.

We all need a little personal space and theirs is limited both time wise and physically.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Which airline? Maybe the origin or the airline will help understand if there were any cultural differences in play. If English was not thier first language it could be that they were trying to say 'you might be in the way'.

But no, unless there's a danger of being hit be a meal cart during service, or if you're standing there and turbulence is predicted, there really isn't any inherent danger of being there.

 

[codash1099]

Which airline? Maybe the origin or the airline will help understand if there were any cultural differences in play. If English was not thier first language it could be that they were trying to say 'you might be in the way'.

But no, unless there's a danger of being hit be a meal cart during service, or if you're standing there and turbulence is predicted, there really isn't any inherent danger of being there.

And if it's in the USA or a US airline, they don't like people congregating anywhere - you may be plotting something evil.

 

[Austman]

We all need a little personal space and theirs is limited both time wise and physically.

This was well after the meal service with the next one due in about 6 hours.

I don't think there was another area that was more out of the way on the aircraft. It was beside an exit door with a toilet aft that had it's door facing forward to crew jump seats opposite. The galley actually started across the aisle and could be curtained off.

I suppose there are the aisles. Which would have invaded other pax's personal space and would actually get in the way of any crew or pax passing by.

So is the "safety" explanation more of a crew preference explanation?

Here is a picture of the area that was claimed to be dangerous for passengers:

 

[Austman]

And if it's in the USA or a US airline, they don't like people congregating anywhere - you may be plotting something evil.

As I have already mentioned it wasn't.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Which airline? The word 'dangerous' may not have been the intended word.

 

[Austman]

The word 'dangerous' may not have been the intended word.

I can assure you that it was.

It was our only discussion before we went back to our seats. It was clear and precise and in perfect conversational English. Standing in this area was not permitted due to safety reasons. It seems it was also considered to be the standing in the galley. I suppose it could be considered to be the galley area during an actual meal service.

I think my main question is: Is it actually dangerous or is it an airline preference/mix-up?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I can assure you that it was.

It was our only discussion before we went back to our seats. It was clear and precise and in perfect conversational English. Standing in this area was not permitted due to safety reasons. It seems it was also considered to be the standing in the galley. I suppose it could be considered to be the galley area during an actual meal service.

I think my main question is: Is it actually dangerous or is it an airline preference/mix-up?

Your question has already been answered. It is not dangerous per se. Which way fdoes the WC door open? And is it fold or swing out?

Is there a particular reason for not naming the airline?

 

[Austman]

It is not dangerous per se. Which way fdoes the WC door open? And is it fold or swing out?

It was a swing, I'm pretty sure. Although I was in J and they were Y class toilets. There was heaps of room even with the door opening.

Is there a particular reason for not naming the airline?

Because I think the airline is irrelevant (except that it was not a US airline). Their explanation was given to me in most perfect (and very firm) English.

I think it was one of those situations where any firm challenge to it would not have been beneficial. So while I did question it and asked for another place to go, we just gave up and we returned to our seats.

 

[Pushka]

Given that this is the only space crew use to prepare meals and drinks, hot water drinks etc it’s the place I really would avoid hanging around in. I suspect it has an element of danger associated with it.

 

[RooFlyer]

To go back to your question - is standing in that area dangerous?

I reckon no.

For almost all airlines:
Standing and moving about during turbulence can be dangerous, so they make you put your seat belt on.
Things falling out of overhead lockers can be dangerous after the flight, so they warn you about it.
Holding heavy objects during take off and landing (higher risk of turbulence/sudden aircraft movement) can be dangerous, as they may fly about, so they stop you doing that.
Having bags around in the exit rows can be obstructive during evacuation, so they stop you having those.

In all my 1,000+ flights, I have never heard a general or even a specific warning about standing in that type of area. US airlines after 9/11 forbid 'congregating' in certain areas, but not solo. There is no obvious source of 'danger' there.

It was just a 'polite' way of asking you to get out of 'their' space. I frequently loiter in those areas, especially during long haul, as I'm a poor sleeper and often get up to stretch or just hang out. I'll move away if the crew are using it, or adjacent, but I've never been asked to move, let alone told that it's 'dangerous'.

 

[Austman]

Given that this is the only space crew use to prepare meals and drinks, hot water drinks etc it’s the place I really would avoid hanging around in. I suspect it has an element of danger associated with it.

I think you misinterpret the situation. This was not actually in the galley. It was in an area beside and even curtained off from the galley when meal service was complete. It was far, far away from any drink preparation area. It was on the other side of the aisle. It was near a toilet. Any pax walking along the aisle or even going to the toilet would be closer to the galley.

The only possible danger I could think of was from being hit by a trolley during the meal service times. But as I already stated, that service had long ago finished and the next one was in about 6 hours.