Perhaps you could have a bit of a show. Turn up the cabin temp, play the sounds of fire through the PA, let some stage smoke or dry ice float through the cabin, maybe a scream or two... then kick in some nice floaty music, spotlight on the demonstrator who's appeared angelically through the dissipating mist, and into the safety briefing.

R

Have just read throught the entire post and have to agree with different sides of this thread.

I fly quite often and am guilty of thinking 'Another safety dem argghhh' however I do pay attention. As I am a saddo who gets to the airport early simply to try and bag a seat with a little extra room being the upper side of 6' tall I also familiarise myself with how the doors open.

What annoys me most is the bored look on the faces of the CC who also nod messages between each other whilst in the midst of their demonstration there is little wonder that passengers ignore them when they hardly seem interested themselves.

"airports install wide-screens in departure lounges with a video/DVD connection so airlines could run etc"

Stange but true that the mega airline "Skybus" which routes to the Scilly Isles does run a briefing video in departure shed, mainly due to the problem that there are no CC and if there were, they would have to do it on their knees.
[the briefing that is]

kingair90

quote "When having a seat at the overwing exit I was personallyadressed by the F/A after the brief whether I knew how to work the exit."

That's SOP at AC and I was under the impression that all the majors did it...

It is sad but true that pax always think they know better than the cabin crew, but the reality of it is that we will never have the full attention of pax during the dafety demo. Even the emergency demo, pax will be panicking, thinking " am I going to die" not listening in the slightest to the brief. This will always be a touchy subject , and all we can do is to do our best and hope that at least 1 in 3 have listened and will be able to help others in an emergency.
I think the cabin crew have every right to move or even off load pax if they are blatenly ovious in not paying attention during the demo, especialy when seated next to an exit and already having a warning from the vrew member concerned. After all, there are air navigation orders which do state the 'rules' and the consequences facing the pax if they fail to comply.
When a pax buys a ticket, they are buying into a legaly binding contract of terma and conditions in which the airline operates by, and like any other kind of contract, there are consequences if broken.

The best safety briefing that I ever listened to was given by a Caledonian girl. She used humour to get people's attention. Once the laughter started, everyone (and I mean everyone) listened attentively just to hear what was making the other passengers laugh.

I only wish I could remember the whole speech but one little nugget was "your lifejacket has thoughtfully been fitted with a light and a whistle for attracting sharks". The punters loved it.

I totally agree with that statement. I'f you add a little humour, the pax will listen more attentively to hear whats going to come out next!! Just wish The CAA, would agree too!!