DTWFlyer1990

Hey all. Doesn't seem this issue has seen a lot of attention, but I wanted to get everyone else's insight.

I flew PHX-DTW last week on the redeye on the new 737-900ER, and I was really annoyed with the onboard service. Nothing was wrong with the crew - they were friendly and happy to serve - but rather I thought that the service was not very courteous to the fact that it was a redeye.

The flight was only 3 hours long, so I was looking to just sit down and get as much sleep as possible. However, numerous announcements were being made throughout the flight, the cabin lights were turned on and off as F/As came through offering drinks, and the IFE played two ads shortly after takeoff even though I had turned the screen off! Whenever I did manage to doze off, one of those things woke me back up.

Has anyone else experienced this and/or have insight into Delta's redeye practices/policies? I'm flying the redeye from SFO-DTW in a few weeks, and if I should expect the same thing again, I might just have my friend punch me until I'm unconscious so I can actually get some sleep.

readywhenyouare

I've had to remind flight attendants to shut the cabin lights off. Not sure how in the world they forget to do that since every flight they makes the "we will be dimming the cabin lights" speech.

kettle1

Usually, on red eyes they crank the heat up so everyone falls to sleep. Perhaps this crew had to much Starbucks and wanted the flt to turn into a big party plane. How much sleep do you get on a 3 hour flt?

Detroiter

A couple of Percocets washed down with Woodford should achieve the same effect with less pain ...

But seriously, I agree a redeye should be about getting some sleep, on the assumption that most people have to be at work that morning. At least in F, service on domestic redeyes ought to be limited to a simple snack for those who want it after takeoff, and coffee (plus maybe danish/croissants) before landing, and PA announcements ought to be limited to "the captain has requested everyone to be sure their seatbelts are fastened".

comptr

Well I will be taking this same flight this thursday so I hope there is less announcements too. In the past when ever I have taken this flight it was not that bad except for the screens going on with ads in the beginning of the flight.

javabytes

I've generally had decent experience with redeyes... although I agree the commercials are incredibly annoying. By the time you get up to cruising altitude you may have been on the plane for nearly an hour, so it can really jolt you out of a decent sleep. Most flight crews keep announcements to a minimum, and only do drink service for passengers who they can see are clearly awake.

Last red-eye I took, a passenger's cell phone alarm kept going off mid-flight. This was on a 763 with the flat bed seats... he didn't hear it. The flight attendants were walking around trying to figure out where it was coming from, but it would only go for a minute or so and then snooze. About the third or fourth time it happened, some guy came from like 4 rows back and found the owner, and was nearly ready to fight the guy, but the FAs arrived at the same moment.

jdrtravel

I agree. I think they are required to play the adds, but I've been on flight where the FA was nice enough to turn the sound off or down very very low. I have also had them specifically say that they are going to keep announcements to a minimum and even seen then do drink service in the dark.

udontknowme

Many people (especially chronically irregularly sleep-deprived people, especially physicians, soldiers and travelers) learn to fall asleep instantly when given the opportunity. And every hour counts.

troyintn

Three and a half. I stay on east coast time. I fight to stay awake to get on the plane.

drumbum

I too recently flew PDX - MSP on a 3 hour DL redeye. Captain made a point to make most of the announcements he'd make in the air before take-off. Beverage service was conducted in dimmed cabin and cabin crew talked in hushed tones.

Biggest disappointment on the MD88 was the guy three rows up who insisted on watching a movie on his laptop. Flashing light from the screen bounced off ceiling and illuminated ten rows fore and aft.

jdrtravel

I always travel with an eye mask and ear plugs.

comptr

bringing noise canceling headphones would probably help with the announcements and the ads on the in flight monitor I usually do that and it helps some what.

koreanair720

PDX-MSP is such a horrible red-eye. Sometimes it's only about 2:40. Waaay too short to get anything resembling a proper rest.

readywhenyouare

Maybe they should rehire the pilots who flew past MSP to perform that flight. They can market it as the "Extended Redeye Service".

bpe

These, as well as a neck pillow. It's worth carrying on even if I only use it once on a 3 hour flight. I still wouldn't call the sleep 'good', but these all help a lot.

SEA-MSP and SLC-ATL as well.