I agree, but I still can't bring myself to press it.

On some flights in Premium Economy, the second meal service is "on request" and consists of your choice of gourmet sandwich. As its prepared in the J galley you cannot just wander to the galley to place your order/request. So the call button is about the only option and works very well for this task.

This was the situation on QF127 SYD-HKG.

To me, it depends upon where the FA's are in their service. If they are still doing stuff, then I will wait until one passes and get their attention, using the "when you get time" line.

If the various "services" are done, I may press the button - or I may get up and stretch the legs...it all depends on if a toilet visit is required.

Sometimes however, being an aisle seater, if one of my seatmates need to get up then I will too.....

It all depends upon the situation - never had any reservations about doing it though!

I did it once on Luftwaffe Airlines and didn't get away with it. I now make a point of pressing it every time I fly Lufthansa now as a point of pettiness.

On long haul I always press the button if I want another drink unless I particularly want to stretch my legs. Short haul I wait for a FA to be passing

Once meal service is out of the way the FAs aren't busy. At that time, I regard the plane as a flying restaurant. If I want another drink in a restaurant I don't go to the bar to get one, I ask a waiter to come over and take my drink order and the plane feels the same

So long as you're polite there should be no need for embarrassment, that's what the FA are there for (amongst other things, naturally)

nickyboy

Ahem.

I would say I use the call button every time I fly a full service carrier. Although I guess whether some U.S airlines are that in Y domestic is debatable.

Back in the 1990s, when I flew a lot on UA transpacific and transatlantic -- in business class -- I found I would be very thirsty if I declined wine with the meal and coffee after the meal (I don't like to drink alcohol while flying, and I don't drink coffee at all). For whatever reason -- and this was unique to UA -- substitute drinks (like water and Coke) were not forthcoming, even if I asked for them. Since I'm a window seat person, I often had to ring the call button to get a drink (especially on transpacific, where the flight attendants disappeared for hours on end).

Never had anything like this on any other airline where I've flown business (Swissair, Delta, Air France, American, Lufthansa, Finnair...). I don't remember using the call button on any of those.

It was one of the big reasons I dropped UA for DL.

So back to the original question. If the drink cart has already gone by and the flight attendants are "behind the curtain" then sure, ring the button. Just be polite and remember your please and thank you. It will go a long way.

When not to ring the button: When the attendant is obviously very busy at the moment dealing with 100 other things. For example. Inflight medical emergency is taking place. Call button is pressed. Passenger wants a coffee. Passenger is irritated when told he will have to hold on. True story.

As far as coming up to the galley. If the curtain is closed it is closed for a reason. Flight attendants have to eat too and are trying to do it out of view of the customers.

It's been a long time since I've seen a front curtain closed. On the most
recent occasion, I inquired, and the word from the FAs was that it was
closed to prevent the F pax from having to see into the kitchen ... but if
they wanted to, that was okay, and it was certainly fine to breach the
barrier to find the toilet.

You need to fly Asiana if you want instant response to the call button. I was in economy returning to the States, and the guy in front of me must have made 20 requests for another beer - the FA was there almost instantly, and the beer usually followed within 3 minutes each time.

If flying on an international carrier, I ring the bell.
Wjhy? They have the curtain closed and I don't want to go through the curtain. (is that silly)

On domestic carriers I usually tie my beverage consumption to streching my legs. Since I'm up anyway, I'll ask for a drink on the way back to my seat.