Please store your laptop even when the seatbelt sign is not on

[ap_spd]

Hi All,

A first world problem but while on flight to BNE from SYD yesterday, some 45 minutes into flight (and around 15 minutes before descent would commence), I had the FA come over to me and say can you please close your laptop. I said will do it as soon as I finish the email and definitely before the seat belt sign comes on, she said, "do it now, the weather may become bad and anyway we dont want to do another round to check if the laptop is stowed when seatbelt sign comes on"... Now I did comply with the demand but it was just something odd about the experience.

Merry Christmas, Happy New year AFFers...

ap_spd

 

[theblank]

Doesnt seem odd to me

If a passenger ever gets smashed in the head by a flying laptop they wont be happy, and then nobody will be allowed to use laptops on planes at all.

 

[Franky]

Doesnt seem odd to me

If a passenger ever gets smashed in the head by a flying laptop they wont be happy, and then nobody will be allowed to use laptops on planes at all.

TH - I'm not sure you read the initial post properly

 

[offshore171]

Had they made the announcement over the PA about stowing laptops?

 

[andyhui01]

even if you found the right answer, you would still have to comply with the next FA that asks you to put the laptop away early. But at least you can write some feedback to HQ.

 

[ap_spd]

Had they made the announcement over the PA about stowing laptops?

Nopes. not that I heard any way.. The window shades at some seats were still down and not opened until the fasten seatbelt was turned on.

 

[ap_spd]

even if you found the right answer, you would still have to comply with the next FA that asks you to put the laptop away early. But at least you can write some feedback to HQ.

Fully agree, and I complied. It is just that I found it a bit odd and also slight arrogance in the way it was told so was ranting and seeing if anyone else had similar experience

 

[Pushka]

Doesnt seem odd to me

If a passenger ever gets smashed in the head by a flying laptop they wont be happy, and then nobody will be allowed to use laptops on planes at all.

They were using their laptop appropriately in this instance.

 

[theblank]

TH - I'm not sure you read the initial post properly

I am sure I did.

 

[serfty]

If the "Cabin Crew; prepare the cabin for landing" announcement had been made then it was time to put the laptop away.

If not then I'm not sure what the FA was thinking.

 

[Franky]

I am sure I did.

So whilst the FA was telling the passenger to put his lap top away so that they didn't have to come round and check it again, why didn't she also add 'stow your tray table, put your seat in the upright position, open your blind and stow any bags under the seat in front of you' as they would normally do once the seat belt light has been activated?

 

[theblank]

So whilst the FA was telling the passenger to put his lap top away so that they didn't have to come round and check it again, why didn't she also add ...

you will have to check with the guy telling the story, he didnt mention anything about that

 

[Pushka]

you will have to check with the guy telling the story, he didnt mention anything about that

No true but they normally do that routine only when the announcements re landing are made. In which case the OP would not have queried.

 

[Sdtravel]

The OP mentioned that the FA cited possible weather for the reason rather than time for landing. So tray tables, seatbacks and window shades wouldnt be related as it wasnt preparation for landing.

 

[Pushka]

The OP mentioned that the FA cited possible weather for the reason rather than time for landing. So tray tables, seatbacks and window shades wouldnt be related as it wasnt preparation for landing.

That would have been a pilot announcement then and the seat belt signs would be on. They weren’t.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

This could just possibly be an overzealous FA who does this often and this is the first time it’s been witnessed and reported.

 

[docjames]

Whilst I don't debate it could have been handled/communicated better, often the cabin crew seem to be "warned" by the pilots that they can expect the seatbelt sign to come on early. I wonder if this was the case and they were in the process of getting sorted so that "securing the cabin" at short notice would be easier. ie. pax not having to get up and put stuff in overhead etc.

Again, not debating it could have been handled better. But I doubt it was done for no reason.

 

[dk4]

If the "Cabin Crew; prepare the cabin for landing" announcement had been made then it was time to put the laptop away.

Whilst I don't debate it could have been handled/communicated better, often the cabin crew seem to be "warned" by the pilots that they can expect the seatbelt sign to come on early. I wonder if this was the case...

Most likely scenario methinks too. I have certainly seen QF FAs move through securing the cabin, before the CSM has had a chance to get to the PA and make the "prepare the cabin announcement" - in this exact scenario.

Just for clarity though, about the timing to put lap tops away, as the OP mentions the "seat belt sign" - the procedure on Virgin is that lap tops can continue to be used after the "prepare the cabin announcement" and until the seat belt sign is illuminated, but NOT on Qantas, where lap tops are normally put away well before the seat belt sign comes on (at the "prepare the cabin" stage). Both airlines have different descent procedures, and the seat belt sign is turned on at different stages of the flight (IME the "seat belt sign" on Virgin occurs at about the same stage as the "prepare the cabin announcement" on Qantas, during a normal landing.)

 

[cwphoto]

I am sure I did.

No, I think you missed the point.

 

[Franky]

The OP mentioned that the FA cited possible weather for the reason rather than time for landing. So tray tables, seatbacks and window shades wouldnt be related as it wasnt preparation for landing.

In the words of the OP, the FA stated 'do it now, the weather MAY become bad'. Since when has being a weather forecaster been included in an FA duty statement? We all know that possible bad weather is a given at any time on any flight.