Did it every occur to anyone that the crew doesn't always have the whole story? How does the OP not know that the SAN passengers weren't briefed? Again, even if we did know the whole story, there isn't time to explain the gory details of every step that was taken to arrive at the decisions made.

I bet if you survey an entire plane load of passengers very few listen to the crew and could repeat the instructions or details from an announcement... even elites. I don't know how many times I've had a boat load of people ask me "why", when I just made a PA. I don't know how many times people ask where the planeside baggage will be, when the FA JUST made the announcement.

This isn't going to be a thread about crew vs. passengers. I'm done here.