I'm wondering.... where are the speakers for the 'call' button (the DING thing) and the A330? I always seem to be seated too near the speakers or else they are just excessively loud when I'm in coach and some idiot seems to be constantly hitting it, sometimes by mistake with the remote, sometimes because they're just plain PESTS! Can the FAs control the volume or disable certain users' remotes?? On the overnight flights (MSP-AMS) I've been tempted to get up and slap people, is that out of line after 5 or 6 'oops' calls?


Sheila

The flight attendants have no control over the volume on those damned things. And you are right, they are too loud. Most often, they are accidentally pressed when trying to turn on the reading light. Worse were the DC10's, as they were located in the side of the seat arm, and if you had anything in your pockets, it was pressed if you were even thinking of moving in your seat.

But as for the slapping.... uh, well...... I say go for it! Doesn't do much for the company's PR if I'm seen doing it in my uniform, but if you'd like to do it for yourself, I'm not going to stop you... <wink, wink!> (Now I'll be accused of being a customer-hater and told to find a non-contact type of job!) LOL

Happy Thanksgiving!


edit to add: Sheila, if you're already in Toulouse, go slap some Airbus people around.... that's where they're from, right?

I agree! ^ Sometimes the speaker volume is indeed too loud. Sometimes it's the DING. Especially on long flights, when you're just dosing off and a DING scares the wind out of you. Other times though it's the speakers altogether. I've been on several CRJ's that had the speaker volume ridiculously loud, to the point where the ears hurt during the announcements. I wish they took that into consideration because it can be very unpleasant.

(Another thing I might add: on transatlantic flights, once people are relaxing/sleeping, the pilots coming on to tell us about the altitude and stuff may not be the best idea. Most people can do without that useful information when they're trying to sleep. It's not like I go to pilots to let them know what I'm doing - now I finished eating, now I'm going to the bathroom, etc. )

I've found that on trans-atlantic flights the flight deck makes one announcement shortly after takeoff and then not again until approach.

It would be nice if they disabled the button on the remotes on the A330. Very bad design. You can still ring the call button with the button right next to the light above your seat - found out that is how you have to do it when the IFE is not working.