Originally Posted by
Dirty_Idea
I can see the value, when it's done well, but the rather lacklustre arm waving doesn't tell much in some cases. It's much more useful on wide bodied aircraft.
The area the CC can really improve on is keeping people quiet during the demo. I get so angry with the "I fly 10 times a year, I don't need to listen or shut-up" attitude of some passengers. I fly at least 50 flights a year, and still watch the demo, listening to every bit. Is it because I'm stupid, or forgetful, or even polite? No, it's because the continual drumming-in of the information reinforces the memory in my brain. Should the worst happen, I'd like to think that the procedures would be almost second nature to me. Likewise I always check there IS a lifejacket under my seat, and always count the rows to the overwing exits. When they point out the exits I visually check them and count them off in my head. I know which are "inwards and upwards", which "inwards and downwards" and for which "the hatch should be ejected"
Back to the point. CC, some of you do an excellent job of this already, but for those who stand there and let the jabbering continue: please grow a pair and tell these people to shut up. Every time I do it I get a poor response from the crew (I'm polite in my request btw). Their attitude endangers my life and your life in the event of emergency. Be they jaded commuters or first-time tourists, they will ALWAYS respond better with the memory fresh.
Honey - one adorable soul back in my BCAl days before we had Avatars do this on the telly - stopped in the middle and came back and said to two gentlemen.
"Gentlemen do you mind please? This is for your benefit and not ours. We know what to do if all this metal and high octane fuel goes belly up. We also know who happens to be flying this aircraft so I suggest that you pay
great attention.
I stood there with my life jacket on and corpsed as did a lot of others. It did shut them up.
On another occasion I was in J - again when I was a young Trolly Dolly Pucci (10 years ago

- as I displayed the oxygen mask and how you needed to pull on it I let go of the mask and it smacked me in the kisser. The cabin erupted in laughter and I had to go Shush with my hat on skew wiff and my hair looking like a witch's wig. The Flight Service Director had a nose to see what it was. As he said later the guffaws got everyone's attention and they actually put their papers down and stopped their private conversations.
I might add that several people wanted to know if I was alright - which I thought was rather sweet. We were off to IAH as I recall.