No Response to Call Button in AC Signature Business Class
Nov 11, 2023, 10:08 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE, AA EXP MM, UA Gold MM, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Titanium, HH Dia, IHG Plat
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No Response to Call Button in AC Signature Business Class
Pressed the call button to have dishes and tablecloth removed after dinner service on AC 42, Toronto-Delhi. Everyone else had finished. No response and after 10+ minutes, the call button light was extinguished! I had to bus my own dishes to the nearest galley, which was unstaffed. Is this typical?
In fairness, I will say that during dinner service the staff was friendly and engaged, although there were no pre-departure beverages except sparkling water, and no beverage service until after the appetizer had been delivered. Then the wrong main entree was presented, and hurriedly exchanged a minute later (the same thing had happened on my connecting SFO-YYZ flight!)
Thoughts?
In fairness, I will say that during dinner service the staff was friendly and engaged, although there were no pre-departure beverages except sparkling water, and no beverage service until after the appetizer had been delivered. Then the wrong main entree was presented, and hurriedly exchanged a minute later (the same thing had happened on my connecting SFO-YYZ flight!)
Thoughts?
Nov 11, 2023, 10:28 pm
#2
Join Date: Mar 2023
Location: Foothills County, Alta
Programs: Westjet, Air Canada 3MM, Best Western, Marriott
Posts: 249
Pressed the call button to have dishes and tablecloth removed after dinner service on AC 42, Toronto-Delhi. Everyone else had finished. No response and after 10+ minutes, the call button light was extinguished! I had to bus my own dishes to the nearest galley, which was unstaffed. Is this typical?
In fairness, I will say that during dinner service the staff was friendly and engaged, although there were no pre-departure beverages except sparkling water, and no beverage service until after the appetizer had been delivered. Then the wrong main entree was presented, and hurriedly exchanged a minute later (the same thing had happened on my connecting SFO-YYZ flight!)
Thoughts?
In fairness, I will say that during dinner service the staff was friendly and engaged, although there were no pre-departure beverages except sparkling water, and no beverage service until after the appetizer had been delivered. Then the wrong main entree was presented, and hurriedly exchanged a minute later (the same thing had happened on my connecting SFO-YYZ flight!)
Thoughts?
Nov 11, 2023, 10:39 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE, AA EXP MM, UA Gold MM, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Titanium, HH Dia, IHG Plat
Posts: 4,798
Who pushes the call button? After 35 years of flying 80 to 110 X per year, I have never pushed the button once. I would only push the call button in an guess emergency. Pushing the call button, in my opinion, would be like snapping your fingers towards someone.
Nov 11, 2023, 10:46 pm
#4
Join Date: Mar 2023
Location: Foothills County, Alta
Programs: Westjet, Air Canada 3MM, Best Western, Marriott
Posts: 249
No, I have flown on many premier global airlines. It’s a cultural issues. Basically, only Asians use the call button. In general, N. American/Europeans never use the call button. It maybe best, if you uses a Asian airline on this route next time.
Nov 11, 2023, 10:55 pm
#5
Original Poster
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Wrong. In business class at least, FAs of virtually all airlines promptly answer the call button. This includes U.S. carriers.
Nov 11, 2023, 11:10 pm
#6
Join Date: Mar 2023
Location: Foothills County, Alta
Programs: Westjet, Air Canada 3MM, Best Western, Marriott
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Not during dinner service. I don’t know much about U.S (I try to stay away from them, except Delta)airlines, but even CX can be very slow answering the call button during food services.
Nov 11, 2023, 11:15 pm
#7
Original Poster
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We're talking about well after dinner service. The FAs are just hanging around.
Nov 11, 2023, 11:20 pm
#8
Join Date: Aug 2013
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Posts: 6,335
I have zero issue pushing the call button for service items, especially when others are sleeping or when the seat belt light is lit. The button/light/chime annunciator are there for a reason.
Nov 11, 2023, 11:58 pm
#9
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: YYZ
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I am Canadian and white. I can tell you that I have no problem pushing the call button in "J" and expect someone to answer it. When I want/need something I generally give it a few minutes to see if someone comes up/down the aisle, and if not I don't hesitate as often as the OP suggests if it's in between service times the FA's are often just 'hanging out' in the front galley chatting with one another.
Nov 12, 2023, 1:08 am
#10
formerly known as DeltaNYC
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I'd love to know how other ethnocultural groups have fared in your scientific study on the correlation between one's national origins and call button utilization. And what peer-reviewed journal you've published said study.
Nov 12, 2023, 1:15 am
#11
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: YVR
Programs: UA Premier Platinum
Posts: 3,759
ULH flights can have many hours between services. It is not uncommon for the crew to "disappear" and it is perfectly normal in my opinion for pax to hit the call button if they want a snack or beverage or anything else that is part of the onboard service offering during that time. After all we are stuck in a metal tube for 13+ hours.
Nov 12, 2023, 3:24 am
#12
Formerly known as newbie elite
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What a baffling take and the 'fly Asian airlines if you want to use the call button' is something else as well. I will stop there.
Nov 12, 2023, 6:55 am
#13
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We did a call button test last summer inn between services.
Winner was EVA with 10 seconds, followed closely by SQ. Thai was quick too. Etihad and Qatar took about 30 seconds, I feel like their premium cabins are understaffed for the level of service that's expected.
United slow but under a minute.
Air Canada was the only airline never to bother answering....
Winner was EVA with 10 seconds, followed closely by SQ. Thai was quick too. Etihad and Qatar took about 30 seconds, I feel like their premium cabins are understaffed for the level of service that's expected.
United slow but under a minute.
Air Canada was the only airline never to bother answering....
Nov 12, 2023, 7:00 am
#14
Original Poster
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Still aboard AC 42, YYZ-DEL. In fairness, when I pressed the call button for water a few hours later, an FA appeared within a minute or so. And when I visited the front galley an hour after that, the FA was happy to prepare samosas and a cappuccino, which were delivered soon after.
So maybe the earlier instance was unusual. On the other hand, crew distraction seems a thing since the wrong meal was initially delivered both on SFO-YYZ and the current flight.
So maybe the earlier instance was unusual. On the other hand, crew distraction seems a thing since the wrong meal was initially delivered both on SFO-YYZ and the current flight.
Nov 12, 2023, 7:11 am
#15
Join Date: Jun 2023
Location: YYZ
Programs: Air Canada Aeroplan
Posts: 229
The problem with Ethiad is that they hide in the galley and don't check on you! Otherwise it's great service. They were quick to respond on recent flight, but Ethiad FAs tend to not remove the light when they come. SO asked for a breakfast meal and someone came to take the order. They left the light on - maybe to remember where to bring it? But in the course of the next 5 minutes 2 more FAs attended SO's call. Eventually the light was removed and meal arrived.