As a frequent flyer who is also an aviation enthusiast, I love listening to these announcements. As mentioned I really wish I could understand them most of the time. Either too quiet or sounds jibberish, but I think that's a speaker problem because I can't even understand the FAs announcements on the same flight.

Most won't, but as I said there are a number of other aviation enthusiast that love to listen to them as wish every airline had Channel 9!

If it's on a plane with no air map, I would like to know at least which states we fly over on a domestic flight. Also, include the basics such as scheduled flight time, weather conditions, and cruising altitude. You never know if someone on airliners.net will post a trip report and those people enjoy thorough details, including if a pilot gives an announcement or not. :cool:

I will agree with the others, on a redeye flight, it is nice to keep the announcements to a minimal, unless we're flying over a destination with some interesting light patterns.

Oh yeah, especially when I'm sitting on that side of the plane. Otherwise, I'll just sit on the other side acting jealous.

The pilot said nothing about our position for takeoff on my last flight from EWR. Even though it is frustrating for some, I am used to ground delays and would actually like to hear what number we are.

I was landing in IAH once when we had not one but TWO go-arounds due to strong gusty crosswinds. The pilot came on after the first attempt and explained that the FAA would not turn the airport around to the NW/SE runway into the wind, and after the second one explained that he essentially told them he was landing on the NW/SE runway whether they particularly liked it or not. That was pretty cool! And it definitely was a thrill ride on the two attempts on the E/W runway.

--PP

Sometime in the 80's when Continental started their turnaround, I was on a flight down to New Orleans. The captain announced, "Those of you on the left side of the aircraft have a once in a lifetime opportunity. When I tell you look up and to the left in three two one..."
What I saw was an F4 Phantom on the hose in a mid air re-fueling with two more in formation waiting their turn. ^
It was a pretty empty flight. (not unusual for CAL at that time and I was actually surprised it didn't cancel for "mechanical" but I digress) What was really entertaining were the folks getting up from their seats on the right side, moving over to the left and looking up :rolleyes: a half hour later.:rolleyes::rolleyes:

I was leaving my home base of ORD one day when the captain came on just as they were going to close the door to tell us that we had been told that we would not be leaving for at least another 40 minutes due to ATC. He then invited all the youngsters on the plane who wanted to to come up and see the front office. Several took him up on that, got pics of them in the left seat, wicked, wicked cool!!! What an incredibly awesome thing to do, and I'll bet those kids will never forget that day!

--PP

I'd say for a flight that's mid-day, announcements can be fine, but if its an early AM or late pm and especially a redeye, its best to keep them to the only necessary ones.

if there are any ATC/WX issues I'd like to know what's going on.

I feel your pain. As a IAH guy I try to avoid EWR in my schedule!
I think this is great thing too, but since 9-11 many company rules have changed that prevent the capt from spending much time out of the cockpit.

To be fair you are looking out the side of the aircraft and not the front. Just because there are 9 airplanes in view (even in front of you) doesn't mean you are 10th for takeoff. In general we try to relate exactly what we are being told. If it changes or is in error we are not ALWAYS at fault. I have flown with ONE capt who said he always tells 'em "8 minutes." As in, "we'll be out of this turbulence in 8 mins," or "we should be airborne in about 8 minutes." His theory is that 8 minutes is about 3 minutes longer than the attention span of your average person these days!

ps. gold stars to eagle92 and rolov for nailing the announcement content!

Invited my daughter into the cockpit (pre departure) and let her make an announcement. Again, I truly appreciate anytime a pilot goes out of their way to make a nice comment about us flying, etc.

thanks ^

I absolutely love the pilot's guidance re: what we're flying over, what's significant, why I might want to see it, etc. A month before 9/11, we flew over Manhattan at sunset with the pilot's clearly-NYC-born commentary ... it was unforgettable. It was worth well more than the cost of the flight.

+1^

One more point on the announcements... usually, I've no issue (and do like scenery updates during the day). However, I've had cases where let's say I thought the crew wasn't forthcoming with what was going on. Case in point, after pushback and beginning of taxi (EWR) after a 2+ hour MX delay and aircraft swap, I looked out the window and saw the airport's emergency vehicles (all of them, it seemed) heading towards the threshold of 22L. It was a busy night, and pretty clear that we were in for a long delay due to whatever emergency was happening. None of the subsequent PA's touched on what we could plainly see out of the window, and the first several announcements downplayed the delay (even after the engines were shut down). Would have been nice to have a better idea of what was going on... not gory details that might upset anyone... let's say, tactful honesty.

I just want to say to the FA in FC IAH-EWR on the early flight on 1/9....awesome! We were pushing back on a 739, and the video was starting. LK was talking, and alas, there was some technical difficulties.

HAHA, there was this suit, nerd, in front of me in FC who wouldn't get off his phone. Dork, dressed and talked like a dork, and acted like one. :rolleyes: The FC FA, when the video skipped and went off, said:

"Sir, we're waiting on you!"

AWESOME! I was hung over and wasn't paying attenton until then, but it was classic. Unrehersed and numero uno! Why I fly CO x20. Just wanted to add to, what I hope, is a great thread. :)

I like these announcements when we are in a delay situation. Yesterday I was delayed outta SFO on a flight and it is good to know when we will arrive. I think that the time of day of the flight determines the length and frequencey of PA announcements. I recall on an early morning flight having a pilot mention a FedEx plane flying close below. That was cool as I got a glimpse of that. I like the announcements about what is below, I even had a captain that took us on a brief tour of the Grand Canyon on decent into LAS as were were early and he had to burn a little time. I say keep them coming.

I will say that unfortunately the one announcement I tune out is the safety briefing as it is the same and I have been on most of the aircraft in the CO fleet. I did have a FA outta OKC a week ago grill us about the safety features which made me listen a little more but was take aback by it too.

Thanks! ^ :cool: