I Don't Have a Problem With Occasional Use
 

Most of the flights I've been on I've never had a problem getting service from an FA by making eye contact or raising my hand. I can only remember two flights last year where I got less than great service.

On the way home from my mileage run from Japan, I was stuck in a window seat with two sleeping people to my left (this was a red eye), and I was dehydrated. I waited probably 30 minutes, and no FA walked down the aisle during that time. Finally, I hit the call button, and an FA was there within 10 seconds, and brought me a refreshing cold drink maybe 60 seconds later. As most of the pax on the flight were sound asleep, I don't blame the FAs for taking a little time off. That is what the call button is for.

If you are on one of these flights you read about on here where the FAs make one quick run through the F cabin and then hide out of sight in the galley for the next 3 hours, I don't have a problem with call button use.

If she is working your flight, you will not have to use it. Her lips are kinda big, but she is a very good FA. Her spanish is HOT too....


Oh, and I have flown Delta jets since the early 70's probably 75% in FC and I have never pushed that button. I make eye contact or get up and talk to them if necessary. I always figured that button was for amateurs....

I love how forums tend to include the typical bash the OP comment. IMHO in a live, person/person situation most of these responders would not even flinch or say anything, but that IS the beauty of the internet. I just read them, laugh and TRY to find something constructive or valid in them, well I tend to laugh more in the end!!

So I intentional MADE UP a number just for reference and EXPECTED many of the responses. Honestly I don't recall how many times I've pressed the CALL BUTTON, but it is there for a reason relic or NOT! Should it not be used maybe they need to include that in the pax T&C and preflight speeches!! Otherwise all of the "it should not be used comments.." well to me are worthless.

I travel 2 - 4x a week usually my in between flights are from one city in a country to another city otherwise the main flights are 5+ hours one way. I am one of those people that drinks a cup/glass of water every hr or as frequently as possible. Also, I do not have the pleassure of being in BE/FC due to company policies, so MY 160K avg of miles travelled in the past 3+ years are earned sitting in the back unless a miracle happens, which it has.

I have three issues with my situation:
1) When ANY pax presses the call button it is for a reason. Should even 1 FA walk by the seat where the light is on and not assist the pax, that IS a problem.
2) No need to make up a story, basically lie to the pax. Just ask them how can they be assisted.
3) The service as a whole has become worse in the past 1.5yr from my personal experience and just seeing how myself and others are treated when in flight.

Whatever my reason or your reason to call for assistance that is YOUR PROBLEM not mine and who am I to judge you for doing so, in particular if it does not intefere with me. To end my posts to this thread - I tend to bring on board a bottle or two of water and fall sleep almost immediately. So when I wake up I want my meal or juice, a bathroom break if needed I WILL press that button 1x per flight - 1x every 100 flights it is there!

SAFE TRAVELS TO ALL!!

I also hydrate continuously on flights. Therefore I always carry an empty water bottle, and fill it after clearing security. On long haul I'll go back to the galley every few hours and refill my bottle. I'm not going to depend on others to help enable my aqua addiction.

I was thinking the same thing.

OP - You have every reason to expect that when you press the call button, someone will respond to it, irrespective of the reason you pressed it.

Bottom line is they are typically used by amateurs. Add or take anything you want from that statement... but it is what it is....

I agree that when pressed, the FA should respond***...

...? what if i don't want to climb over two sleeping people in order to get a drink?

If you never pressed the button why write about it? The guy didn't ask who pressed the button, he ask about the respond from FA.
Maybe Delta should come up with a new rewards program for you guys, like 5, 10, 20 years no FA button elite member.
I can vouch that the button is useless 90% of the time. I'm not only paying for the flight, I'm also paying for the service. So, I would like service that's what the button is there for. I doesn't matter if my audio is out, or if I want a glass of water. If I'm at the restaurant, I don't get up to get my own coffee, I pay for the service of the waitress.

Most of my flights are long haul international, biz class. Many US carriers seems to totally shut down after meal service. I'm sorry, I'm not going to wait 8 hours for another drink or bottle of water. If I'm going to the restroom, I'll ask for it then. If they haven't come by the aisle for awhile, I'll certainly ring the bell.

Most Asian carriers have very frequent drink service, so not a problem. I flew on KE recently, and don't recall having to ring the bell once. I'll usually drink 1-2 liters of water on a 10-14 hour trip, so if they don't come by, and I don't need a restroom break, then I'll certainly ring the bell. That's what it's there for.

Ringing 3 times in one long flight is probably the most I've ever done. If a FA is taking care of the cabin, it's hardly ever necessary to ring it.

If they don't answer within a minute or two they've either forgotten or assumed that someone else answered. Turn it off/on to ring the bell again. When a call light is left on for an extended period it makes it look like it was left on accidentally.

It doesn't matter why you used the call button, that's what it's there for. If it was for emergency use only, the F/As would come running whenever one was pressed.

Not picking on you here, just trying to understand. I get the juice part, especially on an intl flt when, as you said, the other pax are sleeping.

But I don't understand the meal part. You want a meal just because you woke up? :confused:

And if you take a lav break, isn't that a good time to get what you want? :confused:

You all need to watch this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6e25sqD_WA

For the record, I consider the call button the same as butler bells. They're for people way more entitled than I.

Great idea. DL already added a big M on the tags for million milers so they could just as easily add a FA call button with a red X through it. You can be sure FA's will love to see those low maintenance tags on bags. :D

...And those who don't use the call button when necessary are rank amateurs. :rolleyes:

In my 20-something years of regularly flying with DL, I have probably hit the button fewer than 15 times, including a couple of times by accident:o. In each (non-accidental) case, it was necessary. If you have spilled something, for example, the call button is essential - especially if you are in the window seat.

If the FA is slow/ignores the call, then it is an issue of very poor service.