Overuse of the flight attendant call bell

[Mattg]

Another peeing incident on Air India flight: Drunk man urinates on woman passenger's blanket

A drunk man allegedly urinated on a female passenger's blanket on a Paris-New Delhi Air India flight on December 6.

www.indiatoday.in

He will need to fly private.

Mercifully, I don't think the guy on my flight was drinking any alcohol!

 

[drron]

I have pressed it a few times. Probably mostly flying into DPO last flight Sunday night when there was an announcement by the CSM that if you want a taxi on arrival press your call bell and we will take your details.

Then a few on both QF and VA when for 2 or 3 years they would seat me with the unaccompanied kids and one of them would want something. It was reverse karma for keeping infants and toddlers amused on prior flights.

And once on BA when my IFE in the F cabin wasn't working. Attended to immediately but without success but I did have 25000 extra Avios in my account by the time I arrived in SIN.

 

[Austman]

I’ve been on flights where the cabin crew have actually requested that pax use it for food and beverage requests instead of going to the galley.

For sure on some LCCs. Jetstar (also in JQi’s business class) and AirAsia have both requested it.

I suppose it’s not overuse in that case. And most pax will be paying for the requested items.

 

[OZDUCK]

I rarely use the bell and prefer to 'catch' the eye of an FA walking past. But on our long CX flights from HK/Toronto you had no chance to catch anyone's eye as the FA's were very definitely not walking around to offer service on either leg..

 

[Eastwick20]

I always if possible take a walk to the galley to ask for something as A/ I don't expect the crew to be at my beck and call and B/ I like the walk and leg stretch!

I recall one Singapore Airlines flight where a crew member was horrified that I hadn't used the call button, weather because I had invaded the galley space or because she was happy to come to my seat to serve me I'll never know!

 

[Happy Dude]

I can’t help but think of a Pam Ann sketch that’s not repeatable on this forum.

Here's a g-rated version and possibly the answer to all @Mattg's questions. First 20 seconds, but the rest is good too.

 

[LadyC]

That's totally fine IMHO.

This guy was on another level - he wasn't just asking for the occasional drink and was using the bell even when a crew member was just a few metres away in the forward galley.

Understand and agree- I don't want to be a PITA but equally I'm not going to wait for hours to get service on a long haul flight. I can't recall a time where I have rang the bell in anything other than long-haul flights- maybe where I needed something for my son.

 

[Peter D]

I rarely use the bell and prefer to 'catch' the eye of an FA walking past. But on our long CX flights from HK/Toronto you had no chance to catch anyone's eye as the FA's were very definitely not walking around to offer service on either leg..

Déjà vu.

The same happened to me with CX in PE on the same route.

Meal tray delivered, meal tray removed before I realised they hadn’t served tea and coffee.

At breakfast I meekly asked for tea and got it with cold stare. It was not offered to other passengers whose trays were quickly removed with cups still empty.

The HK - MEL leg was a bit better.

Sorry to be a bit off topic it still rankles.

 

[Quickstatus]

Never used the call button

Actually that is not true
There have been several occasions (but only in Y) where I have dinged the FA bell - the pocket call variety

 

[SYD]

Here's a g-rated version

Not even close….

 

[The black sheep]

Im struggling to remember when Ive used the call button. Im sure I have but Im struggling because I dont ask for drinks (we dont drink alcohol and rarely soft drinks and usually we get a large/1.5lt water bottle from the FAs).

I recall one Y flight and the FAs were having lots of issues with a pax because their super special meal, that the did not order, was not available for them and they were very vocal about their complaints. We assured the FA that we were comfortable ect (when asked) and enjoyed the flight and the FA asked if we would complete a card with feedback (to counter the complainer). That was also the flight that meals ran out and lamb was the only meat meal available and I dont eat lamb so the FA got me a J meal.

My philosophy when flying is keep your head down, enjoy the perks and be polite. I try to sleep most of my flight so I like to think Im a low maint pax.

Yes! Keeping your head down and being polite. I completely agree with this.

On a long haul flight, when everyone "goes to sleep", and I have a need, I will walk up to the staff and gently and politely request my need. This has always been a very succesful approach for me.

 

[Rich]

I first pressed the button when I was travelling as an UM aged 11 or 12 for a Coke. How cool was that for younger me?
I don't really have an issue with someone pressing the call button (within reason, not like the person mentioned at the start of this thread). Maybe others here are so used to flying J or better that they don't think it is necessary!
IMO it is better to press the button if you want a drink for example, so the FA can attend to you when they are available, rather than walking to the galley and asking them there, which to me seems pushy or rude.

 

[The black sheep]

I first pressed the button when I was travelling as an UM aged 11 or 12 for a Coke. How cool was that for younger me?
I don't really have an issue with someone pressing the call button (within reason, not like the person mentioned at the start of this thread). Maybe others here are so used to flying J or better that they don't think it is necessary!
IMO it is better to press the button if you want a drink for example, so the FA can attend to you when they are available, rather than walking to the galley and asking them there, which to me seems pushy or rude.

Hey there Rich,

I get your philosophy, and respect you for it. I get your angle that walking up to them is perhaps pushy. But I also feel that the act of hitting a button for service is in some way dehumanizing? Like they are slaves. Sort of an electronic version of snapping ones fingers.
But no matter which approach you take, to me the key thing is the actual interaction. Being polite and asking for something is so different to being a prat and demanding same. No matter how you first got their attention.

 

[justinbrett]

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.

 

[Forg]

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 you’re in Y and during that period dictated by the flight as “night”, no crew is walking past …

 

[justinbrett]

If you’re in Y and during that period dictated by the flight as “night”, no crew is walking past …

They do on QFi. Usually with trays of water, and occasionally snacks.

I think I remember hearing an Aussie FA youtuber saying it was a legal requirement for them to walk the aisles at a certain frequency?

 

[flyingfan]

imo what the OP witnessed was definitely overuse of the call bell and huge entitlement.

I avoid using the button too - prefer to catch crew other ways and consider myself low-maintenance. Although once I did use it out of irritation - was on QF dom J, one of the flight attendants stopped in a different row to have a five-minute chinwag with one of the pax (staff travel?), bringing all other service in J to a halt. After waiting well beyond the average for my tray to be cleared, pressed the button and another FA came to take it while the first FA just kept chatting.

Wonder what the FAs who lurk this forum think about the button?

 

[The black sheep]

imo what the OP witnessed was definitely overuse of the call bell and huge entitlement.

I avoid using the button too - prefer to catch crew other ways and consider myself low-maintenance. Although once I did use it out of irritation - was on QF dom J, one of the flight attendants stopped in a different row to have a five-minute chinwag with one of the pax (staff travel?), bringing all other service in J to a halt. After waiting well beyond the average for my tray to be cleared, pressed the button and another FA came to take it while the first FA just kept chatting.

Wonder what the FAs who lurk this forum think about the button?

I suspect this is a thing that is entirely driven by the actual airline involved. I know from experience that hitting the call button in Qantas, flying J, is essentially unanswered. You hit the call button on an airline form Japan, etc, and there is someone there within seconds.
As per above, I am reluctant to use it anytime. So I use the approach method. Works equally well with both airline models.

 

[TheRealTMA]

I suspect this is a thing that is entirely driven by the actual airline involved. I know from experience that hitting the call button in Qantas, flying J, is essentially unanswered. You hit the call button on an airline form Japan, etc, and there is someone there within seconds.
As per above, I am reluctant to use it anytime. So I use the approach method. Works equally well with both airline models.

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.

 

[justinbrett]

UK Points Guy usually includes a call bell challenge when they are doing airline reviews.