Rare reply, but figure I have 2 recent cents worth to add. For the lights on my flight to LHR (888 on the 24th of April), I didn't notice - I have what has to bee the coolest piece of travel wear ever, the Burton Sleeper hoodie, with shades built into the hood, an inflatable neck pillow, iPod and passport pockets. For today's 875 back from FRA, however announcements were made after take off on and off for 20 minutes, then before the first "meal" service, then after the first "meal" service, then for duty free, then for the second service, then after the second service, then to tell us duty free was now closed, then the landing announcements. All of it done in butchered French, butchered English and what I can only presume was butchered German.

Now I don't mind announcements, but each set took about 6 minutes, cut into the movie I was watching, and if I left the earbuds in, were almost deafening. Do they jack the volume for announcments like TV does for commercials?