Have you guys watched "Made"? It's in theatres right now. TW attendents in First do respond quickly.

I used it once by mistake....

I don't think I've ever used it except when they ask for me to ring my call button. I'm more than happy to do it then, because it means they're upgrading me!

Maybe once or twice.

A friend, who is a new FA, once announced that "if anyone would like a second ice cream bar, please ring your call button" - I guess it was pretty funny. I would have rung it then also.


I appreciate their safety role as well as their service role.

Compton Sid:

But do you expect the restaurant to offer you an airplane ride, Sid?...

*I* can't stand when a passenger keeps ringing the call button.

BING BING BING BING BING BING for every little thing.

There was some guy on a recent CO EWR/HKG nonstop a couple rows in front of me in BusinessFirst. Couldn't keep his fingers off that call button, let alone figure what he needed in one shot.

I was not only P.O.'ed at him for annoying the hell out of me for his incessant BING BING BING'ing, but for causing his seatmate to likewise get annoyed such that he changed seats... into the empty one next to me.

So it's not just annoying to the flight crew - it's annoying to fellow passengers.

I consider the class I am travelling. Flying coach, I usually don't ring the bell because I think they are pretty much understaffed. In addition, I always try to get the lowest possible prices, so I accept that the FA's are not my personal servants.

Flying business, I don't have any scruples. The ticket costs a lot of money, and there are enough FA's around.

The reaction of the FA's depends on the airline. In asian airlines, the FA's seem to be embarassed when you walk over to them to get something. It's just the opposite with european FA's.

On BA: "Hi, I am Scott, your Cabin Service Director on your flight to Amsterdam today If there is anything I, or indeed any of my crew can do to make your flight more pleasant, please do not hesitate to ask, or use the call button above your head"

(I have heard it so many times I know the exact words),

do I use the button? no.... I guess frequent flyers consider the button of limits..

I probably use the button once a year. On most of what I fly (AA MD80/737 less than 1000 miles), there should be no need to ever hit the call button if the FA is doing a good job. Not even an outstanding job, just a tolerable one. Especially on an MD80, where there's 1 FA for 14 people that for the most part know the drill and when to ask for what.

I don't use it nearly enough

I am not sure but I certainly heard no "dong" (or sound of any kind) the times that I have used it. Sad really since the FA probably did not hear anything either. On LH in Y a FA came by and turned the light off and walked fast further down the aisle without asking me if I might have had a reason for pushing the button. In Y (which in my opinion is where one needs the button the most) it takes ages for the FA to come and bring one drinks or whatever.

In Business it at least works pretty quickly but then you get much more attention there so it is not really needed.

I must say I have difficulty understanding how someone could fly for ages and not use the button, and I certainly fail to see what is rude about using it.

Obviously the button was put there for people to be able to get the attention of the crew for bringing them drinks, snacks or helping them with other requests. That is what it is there for.

Furthermore, when I am in a window seat (and I almost always am) then I am certainly not going to do the very difficult movements required to get out of the seat. If you don't want me to use the button then either:
1) Remove it
OR
2) Built airplanes with space enough for one to move around.

And on a side note: as far as I am concerned the FA is primarily there to get me food and drinks. If the plane is really going to crash then the FA will die like everybody else...!

Getting back to my first sentence, I think I should slowly learn to use it more. That is the only way one can really benefit from the service offered in Y and max out on the airfare. So far I am way to polite/shy (or whatever) to use it often to get cola and water but I am hoping I will be able to change this gradually.

It's unfortunate that call button requests are so frequently ignored by so many FA's.

i use it frequently on dfw-lga or jfk or bos when i get upgraded, usually for wine refill when i'm at the back of the order taking. the first to be served get 3 or 4 passes w/ wine, bread , etc . the last to be served may get 2, but often the gally chats begin after 1. don't use it in coach.

Scott!! I do not think that you heard any CSD or Purser at British Airways announce "HI, I'm Scott"

You may have heard them say "Ladies and Gentlemen, my name is Scott....."


Back to the Training School for you!!!!


PG

The last time I used it was the first time I was on a particular class of plane (A320, I think) and I couldn't figure out why the light didn't turn on when I hit the button.

FA points out that I've been "ringin' my chimes." Duuh.

I can judge the quality of service and the upgrade, if I don't have to use my Call Button. It gets an A.