life vests
Oct 5, 2018, 3:22 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2009
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life vests
How often does BA check that every seat has a life vest? Background: I have made it a habit to check on short-haul flights whether my seat has a life vest. Today, coming back to LHR, there was none. I notified the FA - since the middle seat was empty, she took that one and put it under my seat. I posed the rhetorical question "I wonder how long this has been missing", to which the FA responded (not exactly very friendly) "I have no way of knowing, as we just came on board ourselves".
Now, I am probably the odd one out checking on the life vest (though, I am sure Monk would do the same) - so, I wonder how often does BA actually check whether every seat has a life vest.
Now, I am probably the odd one out checking on the life vest (though, I am sure Monk would do the same) - so, I wonder how often does BA actually check whether every seat has a life vest.
Oct 5, 2018, 5:09 pm
#4
Join Date: Nov 2006
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Posts: 5,528
I am one who touches it during the safety video, a muscle memory type of thing. Then I know it is there and where to reach for it.
You usually get a lot more notice that you need it than during an explosive decompression [when Time Of Useful Consciousness is about 10 secs at cruising altitude for an old buffer like me!] when you will have to find a mask in the mist - particularly if you are woken from sleep and a brandy or two ...
... not that I worry about these things, but I like to be alert to the risks.
You usually get a lot more notice that you need it than during an explosive decompression [when Time Of Useful Consciousness is about 10 secs at cruising altitude for an old buffer like me!] when you will have to find a mask in the mist - particularly if you are woken from sleep and a brandy or two ...
... not that I worry about these things, but I like to be alert to the risks.
Oct 5, 2018, 5:10 pm
#5
Join Date: Nov 2006
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Oct 5, 2018, 5:14 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Oct 5, 2018, 5:29 pm
#7
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 587
The cleaners complete what’s called a ‘secure clean’ on single aisle aircraft after each landing in Europe and at LHR where they’re meant to randomly select a certain percentage of seats to check.
Either way, there are always additional adult life vests onboard, so the crew should’ve been able to provide one without taking it from another seat, though expect they did this because it was quicker at the time. There’s also extra infant life vests and cots.
It’s good practice though to check you have one. They can go missing.
Either way, there are always additional adult life vests onboard, so the crew should’ve been able to provide one without taking it from another seat, though expect they did this because it was quicker at the time. There’s also extra infant life vests and cots.
It’s good practice though to check you have one. They can go missing.
Last edited by MFCC; Oct 6, 2018 at 3:27 pm
Oct 6, 2018, 1:35 am
#8
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Oct 6, 2018, 1:37 am
#9
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Oct 6, 2018, 1:56 am
#10
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Oct 6, 2018, 2:17 am
#11
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The routes which are prone to life jacket theft are the yachting/sailing routes, so NCE, AGP, PMI, Greece and what not. Plus groups of school kids. I think I've had 3 missing seat jackets over the last decade, which isn't a high percentage - there again in extremis I wouldn't be too reassured to know my predicament was statistically irrelevant. Previous discussion of this here:
Lifejackets...or lack thereof...
"Your life jacket is either beside or underneath your seat" - or is it?
Lifejackets...or lack thereof...
"Your life jacket is either beside or underneath your seat" - or is it?
Oct 6, 2018, 2:21 am
#12
Join Date: Oct 2015
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Programs: BAEC GGL/GFl, HH Diamond, BW Diamond, Virgin Voyages Deep Blue Extra, Blue Peter Badge Holder
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The routes which are prone to life jacket theft are the yachting/sailing routes, so NCE, AGP, PMI, Greece and what not. Plus groups of school kids. I think I've had 3 missing seat jackets over the last decade, which isn't a high percentage - there again in extremis I wouldn't be too reassured to know my predicament was statistically irrelevant. Previous discussion of this here:
Lifejackets...or lack thereof...
"Your life jacket is either beside or underneath your seat" - or is it?
Lifejackets...or lack thereof...
"Your life jacket is either beside or underneath your seat" - or is it?
Oct 6, 2018, 2:31 am
#13
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 532
Although I've never had a missing life jacket myself (and I check every time) they are stolen from time to time and the slightly random nature of checking means they may not be identified on a turn around. (they seem to end up on auction sites for way less than they cost the airline to replace). Spares are (should be) available and please do check and report if you don't have one and don't rely on having notice of needing one.
Oct 6, 2018, 2:34 am
#14
Join Date: Oct 2008
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 883
Interesting article about how Airbus and Fujitsu are developing technology to allow the crew to see if any life vests are missing in real time.
https://runwaygirlnetwork.com/2018/1...flight-checks/
https://runwaygirlnetwork.com/2018/1...flight-checks/
Oct 6, 2018, 3:15 am
#15
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,057
