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Smooth 4.5 Hour Flight; Seat Belt Sign On The Whole Time
Flew ORD-LAX the other day...The captain made 2 announcements:
"Flight attendants, be seated for takeoff."
He came back on to say, "Flight attendants, prepare for landing."
On the sCO flight, there was definitely no "Proudly operated by Continental" announcements here.
It was a rather smooth flight...Sure, a few bumps, but no more than any other flight. After about an hour of smooth sailing, people finally got up on their own, and the FAs, scoldingly announced the standard "the captain still has the seatbelt sign on". After about 2 hours and another announcement or three by the FAs, the crew seemed to give up.
I've never seen this before on any flight over an hour or so...Even on the 40 min MBS-ORD flights, they manage to get the sign off for a few minutes. I'm one to adhere to the rules, but even I gave up after about 2 hours.
I'm generally chatty with FAs, and would have said something about it...But this whole crew was moody (a kind characterization of the demeanor). So didn't feel like saying anything, as I felt that I might be in for a 'smart' lecture about how it's the captain's plane and his decision. Also seemed to be a great excuse for the FAs to disappear, as after meal service, they sat in their jump seats for nearly the rest of the flight. I had to go to the galley twice (disobeying the seat belt sign ) to get a drink refill. Others were just ringing the call button (something I still refuse to do).
I've had exceptional service from some sCO crews, and some really bad ones, but this crew from the captain on down--wow. But to not turn the seat belt sign off AT ALL on a nearly 5 hour flight? Tongue-in-cheek, I think the pilots and FAs were in cahoots on this one...Seems like the only explanation.
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I have noticed this as well when on sCO flights. The seat belt sign might be turned off after takeoff, but at the first sign of turbulence it comes back on and rarely is turned back off even with a smooth ride.
My last flight from NRT to LAX, the pilot left the seat belt sign on for virtually the entire flight. It was totally smooth most of the way.
It's no deep secret that pilots often forget about the sign being on. I doubt that they would normally do it to punish the passengers or make life easier for the FAs. Some might do it out of what is likely a mistaken belief that this reduces liability in some way.
UA has been the only US based carrier I have flown in the past few years, but I do notice on UA flights that the seat belt sign is on for what seems to be an excessive amount of time. On foreign carriers I would just ignore it and get up anyway since I know nothing will be said, but as the OP mentioned, the UA flight attendants will say something when people get up making this quite annoying.
Flying both sCO and sUA going well before the merger, one of the first things I noticed is the different turbulence policies. sCO would leave the sign on significantly more, however, the FAs were more lax with people ignoring it (not your luck this time). Generally it wouldn't even get a mention unless it was FAs "take your seats" level. sUA on the other hand, not on so much, but immediate warning if it was not followed.
Kind of like the exit row briefing. I had a period a few years ago were sCO I was 50% on getting briefed and needing to give the verbal yes (it's 95%+ now). sUA I don't ever recall failing to be briefed and confirmed.
Comparing to international carriers is a different animal. I remember times on bmi (RIP) where light chop didn't even get the seat belt sign.
Certainly channel 9 is nice here when on sUA. If the sign is on for a while in smooth air, but I'm hearing pilot reports and altitude changes to avoid, I'm not feeling like it's been forgotten. I'm with you in that I've had several SFO-IAH or return flights where forecasts and PIREPs showed all clear, yet the light was on the whole time. That's what first caught my attention about this.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by escapefromphl
You can still get up if you need to...
I feel like this is second only to "is it okay to recline?" as a matter of deep and bitter confusion among flyers and FAs. My personal understanding of the seat belt sign is that it is an order -- thou shalt sit down NOW and fasten thy seat belt and not get up, even if it involves urinating on the seat. But after a few flights like the OP describes, I've unwillingly come to the conclusion that for some pilots and FAs, it's just a suggestion.
This drives me nuts, because I just want consistent and sensible rules. Either the seat belt sign is holy writ, in which case I want the FAs to enforce it with an iron fist (pet peeve: seat belts clicking off 30 seconds before we get to the gate) and the pilots to turn it off when possible so I can go to the loo, or it's just a guideline, in which case I don't want to be given a hard time when I get up to go to the can after the sign has been on for 90 minutes.
On foreign carriers I would just ignore it and get up anyway since I know nothing will be said...
On the SE Asian carriers I've flown the seatbelt sign is off 10 min after takeoff barring serious turbulence. It's always annoying when the carrier leaves the sign on unnecessarily.
I feel like this is second only to "is it okay to recline?" as a matter of deep and bitter confusion among flyers and FAs. My personal understanding of the seat belt sign is that it is an order -- thou shalt sit down NOW and fasten thy seat belt and not get up, even if it involves urinating on the seat. But after a few flights like the OP describes, I've unwillingly come to the conclusion that for some pilots and FAs, it's just a suggestion.
This drives me nuts, because I just want consistent and sensible rules. Either the seat belt sign is holy writ, in which case I want the FAs to enforce it with an iron fist (pet peeve: seat belts clicking off 30 seconds before we get to the gate) and the pilots to turn it off when possible so I can go to the loo, or it's just a guideline, in which case I don't want to be given a hard time when I get up to go to the can after the sign has been on for 90 minutes.
Most of the time if I get up or see someone get up with the seatbelt sign on the FAs usually just say "I have to tell you the seatbelt sign is on". Last week the FAs were more stern about having people sit back down instead of using the bathroom.
I've also noticed that on sCO planes there's a recorded announcement when the sign comes on but the FAs don't bother to check actual compliance, whereas on sUA the FAs make the seatbelt announcement and then do a visual check of all the passengers. I agree with those who say it seems to stay on much longer with sCO. I wonder if the purser on sUA sometimes reminds the Captain that it's still on.
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I've noticed on some flights where I've paid attention that the FA's lock the lav at pushback from the outside (lift the little flap on the door and push the bar to lock it) then will unlock the door only after the seatbelt sign goes off. Or if they themselves need to use it (which is usually the case). Once, the seat belt sign went off and none of the FA's were near the lav, so I went up and unlocked it myself. (Warning - only do this if you've been paying careful attention to ensure no one is already in there. 'nuff said....)
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I hear pilots are normally "perfect" most of the time... but believe they do make mistakes on occasion ;/ and forget the light.
I would ask the flight attendants as they are walking the cabin to "ask" the captain... if you still don't get an answer then get up when you deem necessary.
major peeve of mine. How can pilots neglect (yes, neglect) their passengers needs, then some FAs join in with nagging and what can be embarrassing public humiliation? Somebody's grandma won't ever fly again because they were traumatized that they would wet their pants.
If my actions caused that I would feel terrible, but astounding the number of flights on UA where this plays out.
Flew ORD-LAX the other day...The captain made 2 announcements:
"Flight attendants, be seated for takeoff."
He came back on to say, "Flight attendants, prepare for landing."
On the sCO flight, there was definitely no "Proudly operated by Continental" announcements here.
It was a rather smooth flight...Sure, a few bumps, but no more than any other flight. After about an hour of smooth sailing, people finally got up on their own, and the FAs, scoldingly announced the standard "the captain still has the seatbelt sign on". After about 2 hours and another announcement or three by the FAs, the crew seemed to give up.
I've never seen this before on any flight over an hour or so...Even on the 40 min MBS-ORD flights, they manage to get the sign off for a few minutes. I'm one to adhere to the rules, but even I gave up after about 2 hours.
I'm generally chatty with FAs, and would have said something about it...But this whole crew was moody (a kind characterization of the demeanor). So didn't feel like saying anything, as I felt that I might be in for a 'smart' lecture about how it's the captain's plane and his decision. Also seemed to be a great excuse for the FAs to disappear, as after meal service, they sat in their jump seats for nearly the rest of the flight. I had to go to the galley twice (disobeying the seat belt sign ) to get a drink refill. Others were just ringing the call button (something I still refuse to do).
I've had exceptional service from some sCO crews, and some really bad ones, but this crew from the captain on down--wow. But to not turn the seat belt sign off AT ALL on a nearly 5 hour flight? Tongue-in-cheek, I think the pilots and FAs were in cahoots on this one...Seems like the only explanation.
Was this 1571 on Saturday? If so, I was on this flight and notices the same thing.
) to get a drink refill. Others were just ringing the call button (something I still refuse to do).
