Diverging from the regional accent discussion and rather picking up on Littlegirl, I find it appalling the low level of language skills the are possessed by the crews. Any European airline makes the speaking of English obligatory and some throw in another language for good measure.

As to the discussion in progress before it becomes a free-for-all, I have no problem as long as they are understandable. Actually I rather like hearing the PAs done in any accent when they are done well and sound warm. As we are always reading from a script, this is not always easy. I am far more concerned about what the person is saying than how he or she is saying it. I can think of one lady from Yorkshire who sounds as though she has fallen straight out of Emmerdale, and she is the loveliest Purser on WW that I know. I can also think of some of the cows on the same fleet whose cut glass accents could exquisitely leave one in no doubt the contempt in which we from merged airlines, and the passengers were held.

I am intrigued with Henkeybaby (Happy New Year to you too, Pet) and his findings - I would have thought that regional accents were far more clung to in the USA. As Mr Berry said, it goes to show you never can tell.