Pax ignoring seat belt sign

[mross]

I flew EasyJet recently. After landing and taxiing was over a pax stood to collect his bag from the o/h bin. This was before the seatbelt sign had been switched off. A Flight Attendant promptly told him to sit down and no other pax stood up. I was impressed. On numerous BA flights the cabin crew take no notice and, consequently, the practice is now rife. Isn't it time rules were enforced?

[DaveReidUK]

Interesting. So how long was there between coming to a stop on the stand and the engines being shut down/seatbelt signs being switched off ?

[keel beam]

BA cabin crew are a bit lax on insisting passengers remain seated until the seat belt sign is off.

During the cabin crew dispute a few years back, I flew on a BA chartered Air Finland aircraft (complete with their cabin crew). As we pulled up to the stand some passengers got out of their seats, only to be met with a severe "Sit Down!" over the PA from the cabin crew, no fluffy explanation, just straight to the point.

It might go against the BA product to be abrupt in a similar situation but after all (as cabin crew routinly tell us on the PA) they are there for our safety!

[crewmeal]

Ask the pilots to do an emergency stop if pax refuse to stay seated, always works, they fall over like skittles. Before anyone says what about sueing the airline, it doesn't count.

[Solar]

Try flying in Russia, no cell phones or remain seated mean the exact opposite. At times it's akin to a cattle mart.

[flydive1]

I always say, cabin crew should be equipped with pellet guns.

[mross]

Not long- 2 or 3 minutes probably, why?

[DaveReidUK]

Not long- 2 or 3 minutes probably, why?

Then I'm not surprised there were some impatient passengers, that's quite a chunk out of an EZY turnround.

[mross]

But they did not know if the delay would be two minutes or ten! they did not wait; as soon as they perceived that the plane had stopped they were out of their seats. And it would not affect what time they actually got to de-board. My point was that EJ have good discipline and BA do not. I think the EJ cc are just way more professional than than the BA team.

[DaveReidUK]

My point was that EJ have good discipline and BA do not. I think the EJ cc are just way more professional than than the BA team.Well that's one way of looking at it.

I can't say I've noticed a lack of professionalism, but then on all the BA flights I have flown on recently, the engines have been shut down and the seat belt signs turned off pretty well as soon as the aircraft has come to a halt on the stand, so the question didn't arise.

And if for any reason the aircraft has to stop on the taxiway before reaching the gate, for example to hold for another aircraft, there will invariably be a PA announcement warning pax to stay seated.

If you want an example of unprofessionalism, try this post from a couple of days ago about EZY playing the safety announcement while passengers were still taking their seats and stowing their carry-ons:

http://www.pprune.org/passengers-slf-self-loading-freight/518624-instructions-pax-ignore-safety-instructions.html#post7928644

[Bealzebub]

Ask the pilots to do an emergency stop if pax refuse to stay seated, always works, they fall over like skittles. Before anyone says what about sueing the airline, it doesn't count.

Don't kid yourself, it would! However it is the responsibility of the Captain to ensure that the cabin is secure whilst the aircraft is taxiing, and the safest course of action if that security is not being maintained, is to stop taxiing. Inform ATC, and inform the passengers of the valid reason. In my experience it has the desired effect very quickly.

[t1grm]

But they did not know if the delay would be two minutes or ten! they did not wait; as soon as they perceived that the plane had stopped they were out of their seats. And it would not affect what time they actually got to de-board. My point was that EJ have good discipline and BA do not. I think the EJ cc are just way more professional than than the BA team.

Seems about the norm to me. Most flights I am on, if the light hasn't gone off 30 secs after the plane has stopped people start to stand up and unload anyway.

[ExXB]

I remain seated until the engines are shut down. They I join the mob. Some airlines use the seat-belt signs but not all.

If the engines are spooling down the aircraft ain't going anywhere.

(Of course you might have to be towed into the gate with engines shut down, but the cockpit has always mentioned this when it happened to me.)

[farci]

Since nobody can deplane until the aircraft doors are open, I tend to stay seated until the already standing passengers start to perform the Boeing Shuffle (other aircraft types are available).

If I'm in an aisle seat I will always respond to a request from my row mates to make way. Returning on a flight recently and seated in a D aisle seat, the woman in E actually climbed over me - no words spoken, not even an apologetic smile - and took her place amongst the standees for 3-4 minutes thereby saving that vital three seconds.

What's the etiquette here? Can anyone think of a pointed yet appropriate remark to make in such a social situation? :E

[thing]

Have to agree with Farci; if you want to see the herd reflex in action then there's no better place to do it than a deplaning aircraft. Stand up, wait for five minutes, get off the plane, be first at the carousel, wait ten minutes while everyone else's luggage comes off first...fascinating.

[ExXB]

Or, when flying non-shengen, get to the 'other passport' queue ahead of a dozen or so other passengers meaning I can connect to my once-an-hour train/bus more often than not.

Not all flights require this but there are times when I do have to leg it. Same when I've checked a bag, but that isn't often.

Yes it's only an hour, but ...

[rudderleft]

This is my absolute pet hate. Good on the Easy Jet cc! I always feel like shouting, "Sit the **** down!" but of course I never do... Although I did shout at a woman on a Jet Konnect domestic flight in India who was still talking into her phone as we started the take off roll.

[Hotel Tango]

Yep, always amuses me how so many stand up only to wait minutes before deplaning begins. Even more amusing when it involves a bus ride. I remain seated reading my book until the herd are off. I'm last on the bus - and first off!

[Exascot]

......stop taxiing. Inform ATC, and inform the passengers of the valid reason.

And hold up all the other arrivals?

Air Botswana are pretty unreliable - this is being kind. However, if you try to stand up before the seat signs are switched off you get screamed at by the cabin crew. I just love it when this happens :E

[Lord Spandex Masher]

Yes hold up all the other arrivals, after all the safety of my passengers is paramount and I can't legally move the aircraft unless they're all sitting down and strapped in.

[ExXB]

We seem to have two categories here:

Those that feel the need to arise before the aircraft has come to a complete stop and the engines shut down. Agree these idiots should be taken outside and spanked.

Those that have a need, some legitimate - some just impatience to get off the frigging airplane. Needs include short connections (to other planes and trains), because the airline hasn't kept their schedule (for whatever reason, yes I know it's rarely their fault :rolleyes:).

I commend you that are happy to sit there and read your book, but often I need to get going. I don't arise before shutdown, but I don't wait for the guys in the pointy end to turn off the seatbelt light. The SN flight I took last night didn't turn off the light, and it was still on when I deplaned.

[Hotel Tango]

Don't worry ExXB, I'll be at the window seat so I won't impair your expeditious needs. Just check that you're not getting a bus ride before you dive out ;)

[Legacy Driver]

Surely, if you need to be off the plane quickly, for whatever reason, book early and get row 1 (A,B,C are the best).* I've done this when connections have been tight, and found that I can be off the plane and through passport control without seeing any other PAX from my flight at all. I do get somewhat annoyed when there is a bus to the terminal, which puts me in with the crowd, and, since first off the plane, I'm likely to be last off the bus (why can't the airlines tell us if a bus is likely at booking time?) However. I never, ever stand before the light goes off, or unless told it's okay by the CC.

* But be prepared to be snarled at if you are short and taking up a legroom seat that I wasn't able to get :p

[Exascot]

I had a hat off interview some years ago due to a press article saying that the Prime Minister's aircraft touched down so gently tbat the press corps sleeping on the floor and tables never even woke up. Stn Cdr didn't read it but apparently the AOC read the Daily Mail. Sad! Thus the 'hat off'.

[RevMan2]

(why can't the airlines tell us if a bus is likely at booking time?)

Oh, come on! The airline's meant to know up to a year in advance how the airport authority's going to assign gate and remote positions?!

[Hotel Tango]

Legacy Driver, gate assignment is down to airport operations and not the airline. It is not (and cannot) be planned far in advance. Gate changes are also inevitable due to delayed departures (thus the gate not being free when it should be) and other operational reasons on the day. I use a particular city-pair service quite regularly. I travel on the same schedule, and on the same days of the week, and the assigned gates vary all the time. I have been on operators whose CC advise pax on arrival that they should expect a bus ride - but there's still that mad scramble to get out of their seats. I just can't understand why.

[t1grm]

Surely, if you need to be off the plane quickly, for whatever reason, book early and get row 1 (A,B,C are the best).* I've done this when connections have been tight, and found that I can be off the plane and through passport control without seeing any other PAX from my flight at all. I do get somewhat annoyed when there is a bus to the terminal, which puts me in with the crowd, and, since first off the plane, I'm likely to be last off the bus (why can't the airlines tell us if a bus is likely at booking time?) However. I never, ever stand before the light goes off, or unless told it's okay by the CC.

* But be prepared to be snarled at if you are short and taking up a legroom seat that I wasn't able to get

Fine if you got the money to fly biz class or pay for a pre-reserved seat but most economy fares won't let you select a seat until checking in and even then you're lucky to get row 4 or 5.

Regards knowing about a bus; how about looking out the window when you arrive? ;) If there's a large building just outside the airplane then it's reasonable to assume you can get straight off. If you appear to be in the middle of a car park full of airplanes with no buildings for 100's of meters around then just relax and get on the bus after everybody else. If you knew at booking there would be a bus would you not book the flight?

TBH if your connection is that tight that being in row 1 or 10 (or on a bus) makes the difference between getting the connection or not then you probably shouldn't be booking the connection.

[Hotel Tango]

t1grm, unfortunately even that doesn't always work unless you're familiar with the airport. There are always exceptions. For example, arriving BRU on a non Schengen flight you may find your aircraft parking at the Schengen terminal (and vv). You will deplane via the airbridge then go down some stairs, situated mid airbridge, to a waiting bus. Pax unfamiliar with the airport will probably not know that and mistakingly believe they are deplaning directly into a terminal.

[DaveReidUK]

TBH if your connection is that tight that being in row 1 or 10 (or on a bus) makes the difference between getting the connection or not then you probably shouldn't be booking the connection.Or your flight has just arrived an hour late ...

[TheDaddy]

If I'm in an aisle seat I will always respond to a request from my row mates to make way. Returning on a flight recently and seated in a D aisle seat, the woman in E actually climbed over me - no words spoken, not even an apologetic smile - and took her place amongst the standees for 3-4 minutes thereby saving that vital three seconds.

The most satisfying thing to do (particularly if you've landed in a more hostile country) is to tip off the security that you are certain you saw said pax swallow something and they seemed to spend a long time in the toilets. This also works for those who like to recline seats further than they were designed to go...

[Legacy Driver]

Apologies - my comment about buses was meant to be light-hearted. However, there are some flights I've used which, after a couple of times, one comes to realise are always going to stuck at the far end of the airport. Since that seems to be standard for that flight, is it really unacceptable to be informed that it is likely? Also, regarding connections, I wasn't just referring to planes. Catching trains can be just as important when travelling for work on a restricted travel budget or when I need to be elsewhere the day after. Yes, things can go wrong regardless of the mode of transport (the number of break-down vans in long-stay carparks is proof of that!), but I don't consider that my point was ill-made.

[mross]

As the OP I was hoping to get some feedback from CC as to why BA ignores the rules? It just made me think that EJ might be better in other ways. When I hear the standard "doors to manual and cross check" it is very rare to see the CC swap sides after disarming the slides; is this because the indication is clearly visible across the aircraft?

[t1grm]

Or your flight has just arrived an hour late ...

True but if I was trying to select row 1 at booking on the basis that I assumed my flight was going to be an hour late then I'd probably be looking for a different carrier/route.