KLM Flying Dutchman - New on board announcement

Living in Asia and using a wide array of different airlines I was again on KLM between Bali and Singapore last weekend.

I have a fairly low expectations on this short flight and KLM in particular.

This time when boarding was complete part of the annoucement asked passengers (male passengers) to assist in closing the "heavy" overhead bins. A bin in the row ahead of me was still open and the stewardess just looked at the male passenger in the C isle seat, did not say a word and walked on leaving the bin open. The passenger after 2 minutes unfastened his seatbelt (while the light was on) and closed the bin and sat down again.

I have in my experience not encountered that before on any airline.

Globalist

I don't see a problem with that…

I don't see a problem with that…

A problem, no.
But making your paying customers do part of the job that is usually done by the cabin crew seems odd to me.

Globalist

It's not as if they asked for assistance in landing the plane!!!

What annoys me, though, is when someone gets up during a flight, opens the overhead locker to get something, then sits down again leaving the locker open when it is clear that they've not just taken something they will only need for a few minutes and intend to put back almost straight away.

Nothing new. KLM does that already many years on their 777. And nothing shocking. They can be very heavy, and having to close 20 of them a few times a week can't be a healthy occupation imho.

What annoys me, though, is when someone gets up during a flight, opens the overhead locker to get something, then sits down again leaving the locker open when it is clear that they've not just taken something they will only need for a few minutes and intend to put back almost straight away.

+1 ^ It's also unsafe. Sudden turbulence could launch some luggage into the cabin.

When will the time come that the pilots are asked to provide a helping hand? :)

When will the time come that the pilots are asked to provide a helping hand? :)

That has already happened!

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/klm-flying-dutchman/963005-kl-luggage-handling-priority-boarding-improve-dramatically.html

You can help to expedite the 'On Time' departure
by simply helping the crew - is that really too much
to ask or in other words you can be part of the
solution instead of the (possible) problem !

Smart move after the bin is full - to close it as
a signal that this one is full - find another !

Another fine point is if your carry on will just
not quite fit in the bin - best you find out about
it and do something to remedy the situation.
Nothing like delaying the flight for someone
with oversized baggage trying to fit the square
peg in the round hole and then having the carry-on
removed at the last minute to stow in the cargo hold !

And a little courtesy when leaving the aircraft - - -
After you have fetched your carry on gear
from the overhead bin and it is empty just
simply close it. Some tall bloke will appreciate
it not having to weave his head around all the
open bins.

Safety is really everyone's job *****

Dlert

If a flight is delayed I can understand. I would certainly do it for safety & always shut them if mine is the last bag.

But it should be a request and nothing more. Intimidation by stare and stuff like that is wrong. FA's job description/requirement does include doing this type of work.

After you have fetched your carry on gear from the overhead bin and it is empty just simply close it. I'm not sure the cabin crew would appreciate that. After all passengers have disembarked, it is their job to check that all the bins are empty and nothing has been left behind. The fewer bins they have to open again, the better.

Johan

You can help to expedite the 'On Time' departure
by simply helping the crew - is that really too much
to ask or in other words you can be part of the
solution instead of the (possible) problem !

Smart move after the bin is full - to close it as
a signal that this one is full - find another !


Dlert

Just to put some nuance here, helping the crew is never a bad thing. Closing a bin that is full is common courtesy.

The crew expecting this behaviour is wrong and i dont think it should be asked from paying passengers. It came across as plain lazy to do something that might be hard but still part of the crew their role. It also gives the idea that the crew is not strong enough to do this simole task and i really wonder if they have the strength to open an emergency door if needed.

Globalist