No flight deck PA
Feb 7, 2024, 12:09 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 226
No flight deck PA
Flew LHR-BGI this week. Everything was on time, boarding complete 15 mins before departure time. Everything was normal except there was no PA from the flight deck. We only heard from the Captain 40 minutes out. This isn’t policy now is it?
Feb 7, 2024, 12:14 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold, SQ Gold, KQ Platinum, IHG Diamond Ambassador, Hilton Gold, Marriott Silver, Accor Silver
Posts: 16,356
It’s very likely the flight crew were too busy on Page 36 of trying to work out how the membership year alignments were going to affect them.
Feb 7, 2024, 12:29 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Programs: Mucci des Hommes Magiques et Magnifiques
Posts: 19,107
Policy is to get everyone there safely.
Feb 7, 2024, 1:32 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 226
Feb 7, 2024, 2:20 pm
#8
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: UK
Programs: BA GGL, BA Amex Prem, Amex Plat, Hilton Diamond, Sir Crazy8534 de l'ordres des aides de Pucci
Posts: 4,468
There’s some rather well-known audio of an American pilot accidentally doing his “Welcome to New York, the temperature is….” etc. speech on the JFK Tower frequency, followed by an absolute ribbing by everyone else on the channel.
Come to think of it when BA38 crashed I think the pilot accidentally initially transmitted the evacuation order on frequency,
So I guess it might happen from time to time!
Come to think of it when BA38 crashed I think the pilot accidentally initially transmitted the evacuation order on frequency,
So I guess it might happen from time to time!
Feb 7, 2024, 4:05 pm
#9
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: TPA/ABZ
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold. GGL/CCR.
Posts: 13,252
My guess - and it's just that - is that this came under the 'Aviate, Navigate, Communicate' axiom. In general terms communication is the least important of the three and the other two take priority. I accept that there would not have been much aviating at that point but if something has to be dropped due to time pressures then talking to the passengers prior to departure will probably be uppermost on that list.
Feb 7, 2024, 4:11 pm
#10
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club, Marriott Bonvoy
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Englandshire
Programs: SPG LT Plat, BA G, BD*LG, MG Blue+ ...
Posts: 16,034
Feb 7, 2024, 4:20 pm
#11
Join Date: Mar 2018
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 90
Am I the only one who finds the 40 seconds of incomprehensible muttering utterly pointless? If it's a point of safety, sort of ensuring that pilots are capable of communicating with passengers, I don't think that it's working very well.
Cabin crew are better trained and get a lot more practice of making PAs; I'd rather they told us whether we'll be cruising at 36 or 38, not that it matters much either way.
Cabin crew are better trained and get a lot more practice of making PAs; I'd rather they told us whether we'll be cruising at 36 or 38, not that it matters much either way.
Feb 7, 2024, 6:32 pm
#12
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: London
Programs: BA Silver, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Silver, IHG Gold
Posts: 454
Am I the only one who finds the 40 seconds of incomprehensible muttering utterly pointless? If it's a point of safety, sort of ensuring that pilots are capable of communicating with passengers, I don't think that it's working very well.
Cabin crew are better trained and get a lot more practice of making PAs; I'd rather they told us whether we'll be cruising at 36 or 38, not that it matters much either way.
Cabin crew are better trained and get a lot more practice of making PAs; I'd rather they told us whether we'll be cruising at 36 or 38, not that it matters much either way.
Appreciate this might not be something that those who have no issue can understand but trust me plenty do like that 40 seconds of muttering.
My last two Qantas flights didn’t have it, but always had it on BA. I like them and would not want them to go. Obviously safety over the announcement but I think everyone knows the OP is not actually suggesting that, but was jumped on unnecessarily there.
Feb 7, 2024, 6:54 pm
#13
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,624
I really don't see the point of the pilot making an announcement unless there is something out of the normal that needs mentioning. That the aeroplane will take off from a runway, fly and then land at the destination is kind of easy to predict with a flight
Feb 7, 2024, 7:31 pm
#14
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: London
Programs: BA Silver, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Silver, IHG Gold
Posts: 454
I refer to the above part, I do appreciate it doesn’t make sense to most people here. I like it, and wouldn’t want it to go.
Feb 7, 2024, 11:26 pm
#15
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: BA (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 1,256
The one part I find useful is that the announcement usually provides the first accurate indication of the actual length of the flight given the weather conditions en route etc. I appreciate the in flight entertainment (if there is any), and no doubt certain apps, can also provide this, but I find it helpful to be notified, given the flight length can differ from day to day and the timetable is not necessarily a reliable guide.