Every flight starts with a safety demonstration, but one ex-cabin crew member says passengers who ignored the advice would “annoy” her before the plane has even taken off
A former cabin crew member has lifted the lid on the common behaviour of passengers who have just boarded a flight – and how it makes flight attendants feel.
In an Ask Me Anything thread on Reddit, a social platform, the poster who said she was a former Emirates worker, invited questions from the public on a range of issues. One person asked about the in-flight safety advice and how passengers sometimes disregard it.
They said: “While announcing the safety tips / regulations, do you guys get angry or irritated when someone doesn’t look or pay attention? Or you just don’t care?
Usually on many airlines, a short video is played to the cabin, while the crew demonstrate how to inflate a life jacket, use the attached whistle, and where the oxygen masks fall in the event of an emergency. They also point out the emergency exits and what to do if they need to be used.
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But as many may have experienced, not everyone pays complete attention – and that includes reading the often-laminated safety cards tucked into seat pockets.
The unnamed air hostess said: “We have a safety video but of course we get annoyed when we are securing the cabin and the passengers still have their seats down or window blinds down.”
Passengers are often reminded that their seats cannot be reclined nor can their tray tables be left down during take-off and landing. Additionally, they must ensure their seat belts are fastened and their window blinds open.
Window blinds must remain up with full visibility until the aircraft is in the air, or has touched down, so the crew can see any potential issues or obstructions and alert them to the pilot immediately. Blinds can of course be closed once the plane is in mid-air for passenger comfort.
Seats also cannot be reclined until the aircraft is in the air. According to HuffPost, reclined seats give less protection and can obstruct an aisle in the event of a quick evacuation.
As for tray tables, the reason is similar – if they are left down in the event of an emergency they can cause injury and make evacuation harder and slower. They could also cause injury if the aircraft is forced to stop abruptly.
While many people are getting themselves settled in their chairs as the safety demonstrations go ahead, the cabin crew often gives the rows a quick once over before take-off to check if these things have been done.
They may also ask to see your seatbelt if it’s covered by a blanket or clothing to ensure everyone is strapped in.
