Hello all.

I've been lurking here on and off for almost 18 months, and I'd just like to say on behalf of everyone else who lurks what a fantastic community and a fantastic resource this place is. Thanks to everyone here my air travel experiences have improved no end. There is however, one question I've never seen addressed, probably because it has more to do with my own personal circumstances than anything.

When I was a child, I was lucky enough to do a great deal of LH flying on BA, mostly with my grandparents, and mostly in J or possibly even F - I'm not too sure about that. I had no concept of such things at the time, but I remember absolutely massive seats, lots of adult beverages, and some very fancy (too fancy for my taste) food served on fine china. Unless that's an accurate description of Y in the late 70s/early 80s I recon it must have been at least J. But I digress.

One thing I do remember clearly was a conversation I had with my grandmother when I must have been about 3 or 4 years old. I remember she told me we do not push the FA call button under any circumstances. It is beyond rude, and "the stewardess has far better things to do than answer the bell all the time."

Now this was probably just something you say to child as part of the "how to behave on airplanes" speech, but I took it to heart. And the thing is I don't remember either of them ever using the call button at any point on any of our flights. The rule was modified slightly in later years to say that I was permitted to press the button in case I could not wake them up (!) but it remains in my mind something that is for emergency use only.

Sadly, that phase of my life came to an end when I was about 12. Since then I have probably flown less than the average person - certainly less than the average FT reader - and strictly in Y and strictly on the sort of airlines that wouldn't have any CC at all if they were allowed. There has only been one instance when I felt justified in pushing the call button - when I had been given a broken seat - and in that case after about 10 minutes the FA simply canceled it while walking quickly past without stopping.

Over the last 18 months however, I am making a return to LH flying, again with BA. Mostly in WT+ but sometimes in J, and I see people using the call button, especially in J, and I cant help thinking what a bunch of inconsiderate and self-centered [censored] they are. If they want a drink or a snack or whathaveyou they should get up and get it themselves like I do. I'm sure, however, that there are people who think just the same about me although I usually do without if it means having to climb over someone.

So what is the collective wisdom of FT on the proper use of the call button? Do I have it right or have my views been warped by an unconventional upbringing?