Cabin Announcements

[astrosly]

Easy answer, don't get QCs. I don't have this problem with Sony NC headphones. I like to know the ETA, but then my flights are usually delayed.

I'm with you medhead, I have a set of Sony NC headphones which have a "monitor" button on them so whenever I see the 'PA announcement in progress' or similar message flash up on the IFE or hear that crackling of a PA being switched on and the intake of breath ready for the blurb I immediately press that button which turns off the headphones and then I hear the announcement over the in-cabin speakers instead.

One thing I've been annoyed about is not just the content of interruption but the level is also increasing. What is the point of gate-to-gate IFE availability if for the last 15 minutes you are giving me info about your airline, FF programme, hub, duty free and charities instead of allowing me to finish my movie? Also noticed with EK that for some time have had a series of ads before each film or TV eposide on their IFE that I have to fast-forward past ... the latest I had to FFW about 4 1/2 minutes of ads!

 

[yohy?!]

flying intra asia on CX the solution is easy....dont plug into the IFE at but into your own phone/tablet/PC then there's no issue

given i can recite almost all of the CC PAs verbatim and holding patterns out of HKG are a given there's almost never an instant where there's any point even hearing them!

 

[straitman]

Easy answer, don't get QCs. I don't have this problem with Sony NC headphones. I like to know the ETA, but then my flights are usually delayed.

Are you related to or flying with JohnK :?:

 

[JessicaTam]

Are you related to or flying with JohnK :?:

Interesting point. Have you ever seen JohnK and medhead at the same time?

 

[medhead]

Are you related to or flying with JohnK :?:

Interesting point. Have you ever seen JohnK and medhead at the same time?

I don't tend to complain about it.

Mainly ADL-SYD at 6 am we get an inordinate number of ATC delays. Only 10 to 20 minutes, but often the ETA after takeoff matches the scheduled arrival.

Oh and I do recall seeing JessicaTam and JohnK in the same room very recently. Perhaps one of us didn't notice.

 

[Boris spatsky]

It's not a problem exclusive to QF.

The issue of variable volume in the cabin shouldn't be that difficult to fix.
.

The aircraft that i fly does not allow me to adjust the volume of the PA from the flightdeck. We have no control of it other than varying how loud we talk.

As for pilot PA content, i try to keep it as brief as possible. Of course the company has mandatory items that i must include, and specifies when i must make PAs, but most people are cognisant of keeping it short and succinct.

My pet hate from pilots after take off: 'we are now 70 kilometres to the north of ABC airport.' Really? No one had worked that out i am sure.

 

[OzEire]

I pay the FAs the respect of watching.

+1 to this, its only a few mins of our time. Even though I see it about 100 times each year, and yes it becomes tiresome, but if it were me giving the demo I wouldn't want the whole plane ignoring me.

I think that pax talking during the demo is quite rude.

And if you don't pay attention to the safety demo, have the courtesy not to block my way when we ditch and you cant find your lifejacket or the exit.






OzEire

 

[Christoo]

I'm with you on this one.

The irony is generally without headphones on, you struggle to actually make out what is being said. I find the pilots tend to mumble through their spiel. I have a vague interest in the info coming from the pilots, the weather at the destination etc. I either cant make out what's being said with my noise cancelling headphones off or am deafened if they are on.

</grumpy old man who isn't really old>

I agree.

What I actually hate most about the announcements is the fact it pauses the IFE. When it resumes it invariably jumps a second or two and you miss some dialogue. And then there's the times when the FA start their spiel only to pause to, maybe welcome someone else on board or something, take their finger off whatever button it is, re-starting the IFE for three seconds, then he or she starts again. Then when the FA's done it's the captain and then the FA will say something else and then something else.

Worse off course when you're flying internationally to a non-English speaking country when all the announcements have to be repeated in different languages. Just when you think you're gonna get through the last couple of minutes of the comedy you've been watching, the IFE is paused for 10 minutes while the FA does the arrival spiel, then you have to hear over and over . . .

Nice to hear I am not alone.
I could even manage to not complain if the announcement was in one continuous stream and I didn't have to keep resetting the volume.

poor diddums... if you want a flying experience completely tailored to your 'needs'...simple solution...fly private

If discussion disturbs you, it may be better you disconnect and stick to yelling at kids the pesky kids who walk on your lawn.

 

[Jaryd]

Oh I hear you! Nothing annoys me more than:

Good evening ladies and gentlemen and welcome to yo......





your flight Q......



QF9 to....



Melbourne. Qantas, in partnership with Uni....



Unicef, blah blah blah coins in the bag please.

Just finish the announcement!!

 

[baggyred]

I don't page huge attention to the cabin crew, but respect what they do and don't think Qantas goes overboard - mind you I'm on a plane perhaps 15 times a year, not a 100.

I do have a funny story though (maybe another thread)

Was returning from london in my early 20's when the cabin crew started the usual spiel.. "we will be starting our descent... etc etc" however it was finished off with "and we have found one white stiletto with a scuffed heel in the rear toilets, if this is yours please let us know"

Needless to say the plane erupted.

Also, on a flight to hobart a week or so ago the captain accidentally left the microphone on. You could hear him playing with some of the controls and then he drops a "You cough". Never seen a flight attendant move so quick. Again, much mirth was had!

 

[Christoo]

Has anyone here flown out of Shanghai?
The airport announcements in the terminal take it to a whole other level.
Not only are all the announcements in Mandarin and English which is understandable...

But every single flight they announce like this "QF130 to Sydney from... Shang...hai is boarding now at gate 12"
Every single damned announcement they mention the flight is departing Shanghai... Just in case you have amnesia and forgot where you were!

 

[artemis]

I gave up with the IFE after being continuously assaulted via my headphones (Shure SE535 for the record) when all I was doing was minding my own business peacefully.

I don't understand why PAs are not at the same volume as the IFE, but perhaps presaged by a little tone to differentiate it from the program. And then half the time the pilot mumbles all the interesting stuff.

I can't wait til CASA allows us to have door-to-door devices on... I can give up carrying that stupid double prong adaptor for my headphones!

 

[Himeno]

I've had some flights where the combination of airline, departure location and destination has resulted in 6 or 7 languages for almost every PA address.

 

[JohnK]

What I actually hate most about the announcements is the fact it pauses the IFE. When it resumes it invariably jumps a second or two and you miss some dialogue.

I hate it when the cabin announcements interrupt the games I am playing.

Worse off course when you're flying internationally to a non-English speaking country when all the announcements have to be repeated in different languages. Just when you think you're gonna get through the last couple of minutes of the comedy you've been watching, the IFE is paused for 10 minutes while the FA does the arrival spiel, then you have to hear over and over . . .

I am not a big fan of listening to foreign languages at the best of times but this gets worse with cabin announcements as I cannot avoid them.

From memory I was on an MH flight from KUL to HKG or HKG back to KL. We had some turbulence a couple of times through the flight. I lost count of the number of cabin announcements through the flight but it would have been ~10-12 announcements. Each one was in Malay, English and Cantonese. Please stop....

Interesting point. Have you ever seen JohnK and medhead at the same time?

You were there! Twice!