Cabin Rules?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: UK
Age: 51
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Cabin Rules?
A while back I was on a pretty full BA flight YVR - LHR, upstairs on the 744, and looking forward to a bit of shut eye. Shortly after the meal service I became aware of some music coming from across the aisle, and noticed a guy with a pair of iPod speakers who had decided to offer the rest of the cabin, as well as himself, some late night entertainment. I gave it 5 mins, put my earplugs in but could still hear the music through the plugs, then decided to speak to the CC. I was told someone else had already complained about it, but if we all wouldn't mind putting up with it, we might be spared a difficult situation. This continued for at least another 2 hours during which there were several more complaints from us to the CC who made it very clear that it would be a bad idea for any of us to speak to the passenger directly, but also that they weren't prepared to that either. We were very obedient, but stressed, SLF....
Just curious about what the general thinking is on a situation like this - I'm guessing there must be fairly clear guidelines. But I'm surprised, if what the CC told me is correct, that there is nothing in theory to stop any passenger from boarding a plane with a boom box and broadcasting to the rest of the cabin. Not least when you've paid all that extra money not to travel in Y in the hope of getting a bit of rest....
Just curious about what the general thinking is on a situation like this - I'm guessing there must be fairly clear guidelines. But I'm surprised, if what the CC told me is correct, that there is nothing in theory to stop any passenger from boarding a plane with a boom box and broadcasting to the rest of the cabin. Not least when you've paid all that extra money not to travel in Y in the hope of getting a bit of rest....
I sympathise - on a recent flight to HKG from PVG had a bloke in the next seat across the aisle playing video games on his hand held idiot device - playing with the sound full on. Couldn't get him to switch it down cos he was pig ignorant and pretended not to understand and the CC didn't want to cause a scene as they were girls and he was a big fat middle aged businessman.
If he'd been in a pub I would have decked him.
If he'd been in a pub I would have decked him.
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Sussex,UK
Posts: 469
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
ihatechewinggum,
I didn't think this sounded right. It's taken me a while to find, but.....
If, while you are on board the aircraft, we reasonably believe that youhave:
I think there is actually a more comprehensive ruling written down regarding the use of personal entertainment equipment onboard but typically, I can't for the life of me remember where it is. I'm on days off now but will have a look when I go back. I suspect it may be in the magazine, but the above conditions pretty much cover it anyway.
I'm wondering why the crew were so reluctant to approach this person in the first place. I've dealt with this type of thing many times, usually when parents have put a DVD on for their children to watch and have never had anyone react badly to my request for headphones to be used or the sound to be turned off.
I hope that helps and sorry you had such a rough flight!
I didn't think this sounded right. It's taken me a while to find, but.....
If, while you are on board the aircraft, we reasonably believe that youhave:
- deliberately interfered with the crew in carrying out their duties
- failed to obey the instructions of the crew relating to safety or security
- failed to obey the seat-belt or no-smoking signs
- committed a criminal offence
- allowed your physical or mental state to become affected by drink or drugs
- failed to obey the crew's instructions relating to drink or drugs
- made a hoax bomb or other security threat
- threatene
- behaved in a way which causes discomfort, inconvenience, damage or injury to the crew or other passengersput the aircraft, or any person in it, in danger
I'm wondering why the crew were so reluctant to approach this person in the first place. I've dealt with this type of thing many times, usually when parents have put a DVD on for their children to watch and have never had anyone react badly to my request for headphones to be used or the sound to be turned off.
I hope that helps and sorry you had such a rough flight!
Join Date: May 2007
Location: LGW
Age: 41
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If a passenger is playing something loud and electronic on a flight I'm working on I give them a pair of headphones if they are available. I don't ask them to do anything, I just say: "Would you like these?" This has never failed as a hint. It's usually a child with a DVD player and it's also about saving my own sanity as well as everyone else's.
Paxing All Over The World
I think that cherrycoke has the best solution.
I think that, on the information posted here by the OP and Load Toad for their flight (carrier not stated), the CC failed in their duty.
They probably failed because they had not had sufficient recurrent training and suspected that, if it got rough with the noisy pax - that their CSD would not back them up. That is, of course, pure conjecture, but is based on working in a wide variety of business across 35 years and observing human behaviour.
Had I have been in that situation - I would not have let the matter rest. If I had to go over the head of the CC to the CSD, that is what I would have done. I think, before my next LH, I might print off the relevant rules form the relevant carrier website, to stick up the nose of the CC.
To pick up on a discussion point in the dominant thread of the moment ... If the CC knew that the person making the noise might be a 'mystery shopper' trying to test the pax - would they have ensured that rules were followed? It matters not, they failed to support the majority of their pax.
I think that, on the information posted here by the OP and Load Toad for their flight (carrier not stated), the CC failed in their duty.
They probably failed because they had not had sufficient recurrent training and suspected that, if it got rough with the noisy pax - that their CSD would not back them up. That is, of course, pure conjecture, but is based on working in a wide variety of business across 35 years and observing human behaviour.
Had I have been in that situation - I would not have let the matter rest. If I had to go over the head of the CC to the CSD, that is what I would have done. I think, before my next LH, I might print off the relevant rules form the relevant carrier website, to stick up the nose of the CC.
To pick up on a discussion point in the dominant thread of the moment ... If the CC knew that the person making the noise might be a 'mystery shopper' trying to test the pax - would they have ensured that rules were followed? It matters not, they failed to support the majority of their pax.
It was a Chinese airline and in my experience the young female CC will never take issue with a male passenger older than they are. To be fair to them if they do the older, respectable gentleman invariably causes them a huge amount of grief.
On the flight to CDG earlier in the year in econ, the family in the row of 4 seats to my left had two small girls with a DVD player, no headphones and the whole cabin was subjected to 12 hours of some Disney rubbish on repeat play.
After a while I complained but the CC just shrugged diffidently and said "we know"...
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Australia
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Crew should definately have asked pax to turn it off, no matter who he was. Anything that disturbs other pax is not on. I am always amazed at how self absorbed some people can become when they walk through the airport door (and yes some CC as well). We are all stuck in the tube for a long time together, so lets all do our best to play nice
Unfortunately the problem is some passengers think they are superior and above 'the serving staff'. I've seen an arrogant SOB rip into a young, female CC just because the flight was delayed (for ATC reasons) and he was going to miss a 'very important meeting'.
The problem stems from two things:
- In some cultures, young (especially female) employees (and people generally) are treated like sh1t.
- Airlines have always presented CC foremost as serving staff - not people responsible for safety and security but also who provide in flight care.
The problem stems from two things:
- In some cultures, young (especially female) employees (and people generally) are treated like sh1t.
- Airlines have always presented CC foremost as serving staff - not people responsible for safety and security but also who provide in flight care.
Guest
Posts: n/a
Over 20 years ago I was on a 10 hour flight where the movie started playing after dinner service. I was getting ready to sleep, in business, when suddenly the movie soundtrack started playing over the PA. Apparently there was something wrong with the headphones system. I complained to the "cabin chief" and met wit some resistance, but ultimately they turned the sound off so we could sleep.
Premium passenger being a prat - difficult situation for the CC.
Nevertheless I'm astonished that nothing was done.
cherrycoke seems to have the situation covered
Experience as a pilot taught me to leave it to the CC unless they requested my intervention; I'm not very good with prats
Nevertheless I'm astonished that nothing was done.
cherrycoke seems to have the situation covered
Experience as a pilot taught me to leave it to the CC unless they requested my intervention; I'm not very good with prats
Premium passenger being a prat - difficult situation for the CC.
Nevertheless I'm astonished that nothing was done.
Sometimes something can be done - some years back, I was travelling up front with AA from MIA to LHR when a passenger across the aisle, despite being apparently fast asleep, left his Walkman on so loudly that no one around him - especially me! - could get to sleep because of that dreadful hissing noise. Having tried unsuccessfully to get his attention, I lent across and gently pulled the lead out. He stirred, woke up, looked around very puzzled, shrugged, and reconnected his Walkman, then dropped off again. I only had to do it twice more and then everyone else dropped off to sleep ....
Jack
PS Yes, I know I shouldn't have ....
Nevertheless I'm astonished that nothing was done.
Sometimes something can be done - some years back, I was travelling up front with AA from MIA to LHR when a passenger across the aisle, despite being apparently fast asleep, left his Walkman on so loudly that no one around him - especially me! - could get to sleep because of that dreadful hissing noise. Having tried unsuccessfully to get his attention, I lent across and gently pulled the lead out. He stirred, woke up, looked around very puzzled, shrugged, and reconnected his Walkman, then dropped off again. I only had to do it twice more and then everyone else dropped off to sleep ....
Jack
PS Yes, I know I shouldn't have ....
Guest
Posts: n/a
Premium passenger being a prat - difficult situation for the CC.
With all resepct, I don't agree.
CC are trained to deal with these types of situation and one must remember that they are there to provide a service for ALL the pax in the cabin.
Having said that, I find it difficult to imagine this happening on BA, whose cabin crew are well trained and professional in my experience.
