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

[jb747]

We often warn the crew if we intend either putting the signs on early, or doing the announcement early. So, it wasn’t a weather prediction from the cabin crew, but rather the response we want to an early warning. The alternative is to put the signs on early as well, and so preclude many of those last minute trips to the toilet.

 

[ap_spd]

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.

The announcement was made around 15 minutes later.

 

[ap_spd]

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.

It was more of her trying to justify why I shud stow the laptop.

 

[ap_spd]

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.

Seatbelt sign came on around 15 minutes before landing

 

[jb747]

Just a bit of info on how the seat belt sign works.

It has three settings...ON-AUTO-OFF. On/off function as you'd expect. Auto puts them on whilst on the ground, or airborne if the flaps are up. On the ground, they are selected off until the completion of refuelling, at which point they are selected on. Airborne they are normally in the auto position.

 

[shuuy]

This was an early bug bear of mine when I travelled in Australia vs North America.. North America laptops on as late as possible (10,000’ when seatbelt sign on, or 10 mins to landing)... in Oz, 20-30 mins before landing (frustrating when SYD-BNE or SYD-MEL).

I don’t think it’s safety, it’s just the Australia way (quality) of life!

 

[jb747]

Just a bit of info on how the seat belt sign works.

It has three settings...ON-AUTO-OFF. On/off function as you'd expect. Auto puts them on whilst on the ground, or airborne if the flaps are up. On the ground, they are selected off until the completion of refuelling, at which point they are selected on. Airborne they are normally in the auto position.

Correction required....

Auto puts them on whilst on the ground, or airborne if the flaps are other than up.

 

[dk4]

This was an early bug bear of mine when I travelled in Australia vs North America...

Let me be clearer, I posted before, but for lap tops...
VA = international standard = seat belt sign
QF = own self-standard = prepare the cabin announcement

VA = go to the loo if you urgently need to do so, at descent sign light up (same as most airlines in the world),
QF = cough*ing sit down now, at descent sign light up (only on Qantas).

OR

ON DESCENT

VA seat belt sign = amber light
QF seat belt sign = red light

 

[jb747]

There is no such thing as the 'descent sign'. The seat belt sign is either on or off. If it is on, it means I have decided that it is unsafe for you to go to the toilet. I know that can be terribly inconvenient...but I also know what negative g feels like, and I doubt that you do.

 

[GSP]

There is no such thing as the 'descent sign'. The seat belt sign is either on or off. If it is on, it means I have decided that it is unsafe for you to go to the toilet. I know that can be terribly inconvenient...but I also know what negative g feels like, and I doubt that you do.

Regarding the negative g, sure majority don't know either as you point out, but be interested in knowing the odds of this really happening - is there any stats on this? I've missed the opportunity myself for a nature stop when allowed only to "hold tight" and during that time (surely biased by this point) wish there was some compromise to the zero tolerance without setting precedence.

 

[Franky]

Regarding the negative g, sure majority don't know either as you point out, but be interested in knowing the odds of this really happening - is there any stats on this? I've missed the opportunity myself for a nature stop when allowed only to "hold tight" and during that time (surely biased by this point) wish there was some compromise to the zero tolerance without setting precedence.

GSP - what ever the odds, it would be your neck on the line, or perhaps on the aircraft ceiling..

 

[theblank]

No, I think you missed the point.

You think wrong.

 

[GSP]

GSP - what ever the odds, it would be your neck on the line, or perhaps on the aircraft ceiling..

Trust me, there's been a few occasions I've been willing to take the chance even if the odds were 1 in 2, let alone 1 in nnnn !!

 

[Dnicoll]

I also find it irritating on a short Qantas flight when they insist on putting laptops away well before the seatbelt sign is off.so you lose 15 minutes work time - as per comments above, well before other airlines request to do so, and if you request 5 minutes grace to finish an email then you cop an earful. My solution has been to bring a SurfacePro tablet with keyboard cover and a USB stick with a document to work on, which you can keep working on right until the gate (except if you are in an emergency exit row).

 

[MEL_Traveller]

There is no such thing as the 'descent sign'. The seat belt sign is either on or off. If it is on, it means I have decided that it is unsafe for you to go to the toilet. I know that can be terribly inconvenient...but I also know what negative g feels like, and I doubt that you do.

I agree with what you're saying from a QF perspective, but it's potentially confusing for passengers when Qantas is perhaps the only airline in the world where this interpretation is given for the seat belt sign. This shouldn't be seen as a challenge to crew authority, just that passengers don't necessarily know the procedures on a single isolated airline. The seat belt sign used to signal descent has an advantage for passengers not speaking english or the language of the airline as it's an (almost) universal signal. A verbal announcement on QF for passengers to prepare (in advance of the seat belt sign) may not be understood by everyone.

On every other carrier pretty much the commencement of descent is accompanied by the seat belt sign and 'prepare the cabin for landing' (or similar). This is the signal for passengers to take action to secure their belongings, perhaps go to the WC, clear bedding and put their seats in the upright position. The cabin crew stow items in the galley, collect trash and do their final checks of pax and seats.

 

[jb747]

On every other carrier pretty much the commencement of descent is accompanied by the seat belt sign and 'prepare the cabin for landing' (or similar). This is the signal for passengers to take action to secure their belongings, perhaps go to the WC, clear bedding and put their seats in the upright position. The cabin crew stow items in the galley, collect trash and do their final checks of pax and seats.

The problem is really that so many airlines don't really mean it when the turn the seat belt signs on. They're on all the time...which is utterly pointless, or they are on, and the cabin crew are doing something unimportant (such as cabin service)...and that simply serves to teach the passengers that the signs mean nothing.

QF may be the only airline that actually means it when we use the signs.....but that doesn't mean we are wrong to treat them as meant.

 

[milehighclub]

Qantas is unique that when the seatbelt sign is on, it applies to everyone - including crew. We actually begin to prepare the cabin at top of decent (collecting items, folding blankets etc) , the PA comes in at 20,000ft 99.9% of the time (to bring seats up, have laptops stowed etc) and if it is necessary for it to be on earlier due to weather, the pilots, where possible will time it to allow 10 minutes after the PA before the sign comes on. When the sign does come on, crew are seated, so there isn't time for them to be checking anything else at that time.

I for one like our policy regarding the sign. It makes it easier to enforce passengers to sit, when we have to as well and I would say majority of passengers respect the sign when flying us. I can think of other carriers where outside of take off and landing, the sign is just a pretty light that is almost always ignored. I myself have had to ignore the sign on US carriers to use the bathroom since they seem to have no really policy regarding the sign.

My solution has been to bring a SurfacePro tablet with keyboard cover and a USB stick with a document to work on, which you can keep working on right until the gate (except if you are in an emergency exit row).

Surface Pros along with the iPad Pro are not allowed to be used for take off or landing either. Anything bigger than the folded safety card has to be put away.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

QF may be the only airline that actually means it when we use the signs.....but that doesn't mean we are wrong to treat them as meant.

It doesn't.

I actually like the QF system, but unless you know how it works - (in)frequency of travel on QF and language being two major issues - you can be caught off guard.

 

[Dnicoll]

Surface Pros along with the iPad Pro are not allowed to be used for take off or landing either. Anything bigger than the folded safety card has to be put away.

Safety card is size of A4 paper, ie. 30x21cm. SurfacePro is 29x20cm. It is quite important to some passengers to be as productive as possible in the air, and this technology seems a good solution that is within the rules.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

This also makes it a PITA to actually watch a movie on a Dom flight. You never really know when you'll be asked to switch off.

On a sidenote .... I'm exceptionally jealous after reading this:

milehighclub
Active Member