Would you defend a sleeping stranger from a FA?
 

The question makes the assumption that you believe that a sleeping passenger shouldn't be woken up to ask if they want something to drink. In F, if it makes a difference -- it's not like it will be half an hour before they can get one if they miss their first opportunity.

It's a 737 on a 2-hour flight departing at 5pm. About 5 mins after takeoff 2D falls asleep (and if it matters, she's apparently GS, judging from pre-flight activity detailed here) .

After the seatbelt sign comes off, the guy next to her goes to the lav, and the FA comes around taking drink orders, and wakes her up. They had an ensuing discussion about whether this was OK or not, and I definitely support the pax, but hypothetically:

If the FA started to wake up a sleeping pax next to you to offer them a drink, someone you didn't know, would you try to stop them?

Only if they *nicely* asked that I request that the FA not wake the person. Thought I couldn't guarantee that I'd even be awake as I tend to fall asleep onboard....

I would simply mention "I think he/she's asleep" which might be enough to stop an automatic action sort of thing (the FA just doing things as a routine and not even thinking about it). If not, well, I tried.

Been there, done that.

I would not. First, for all I know, the pax asked the FA to wake him for meals, snacks or beverage service. Second, it's none of my business -- as long as the service is okay for me, I'm not going to interfere.

What I do object to, however, was the FA who made a point of not waking me to offer me a drink in F (which was fine), but then proceeded to stand next to my seatmate's seat and talk loudly for at least 10 minutes, waking me up. I finally told her, "You know, I was sleeping, like most passengers on this flight (it was a late-night transcon), and not only did you wake me up, but you're keeping me up." She apologized and what back to whatever it was she was doing. Friendly service is fine. Noisy/friendly, when most pax are asleep, is not.

Actually, on the last flight I was on (UA220, IAD-SFO, left DC at 12:20 AM...) the flight attendants said that passengers who were going to try to sleep, but who wanted to be woken up for drinks/snack boxes should leave their tray tables down after take off, and that the FA's would wake them up. I thought it was a good job on the FA's part. ^

I once started a thread here about 'please let me sleep!'

I fly a lot of leisure routes for work and often seem to be seated next to the person who is on their first flight in 20 years, and for whom the beverage service and bag of pretzels appears to be a great novelty - they think that it is worth shaking me awake.

Not even a meal in LH C is worth shaking me awake for. It was actually suggested here that I enlist my seatmate as 'protection' ie request politely that they ensure that I am not awoken during my flight.

So, no, please do not wake me for beverage service. And like PTravel, I request that cabin crew are not unduly noisy. I recently had a run in with a LH purser in C, who was giggling and laughing with her friends/passengers and awoke me midway through a long haul flight. She did not appreciate it when I ran into her in the galley and told her that it was inappropriate to awaken sleeping passengers with her antics.

This is a hard one to answer.

What is really needed is a "do not disturb"/"OK to wake" sticker. I believe these still exist on some carriers/routes, though they used to be more common.

Quite often I will doze a bit onboard but I DO want the drink, snack, and/or meal. Luckily I usually wake up from my dozing in time to get it. ;) The suggestion to use your tray table to signal your intention to be served is a good one.

It isn't always easy to "read' other people's intentions. Of course, if someone is using a pillow, blanket, earplugs AND eyemask, that might be a tipoff....

that would be me. I don't sleep a lot most nights, and use plane time as sleep time. Yet even with all of those 'hints', I am often awoken by FAs or fellow passengers. I finally had to have 'a word' with a passenger who awoke me 3 or 4 times for drinks, pretzels, and a customs card (I travel with my own so don't even need to be awoken for one of those)

if the stranger is a guy and happens to fall asleep on my shoulders, i think i would just sit and enjoy:D:D.. otherwise, saying something to the FA would be deemed as minding into other people's business.

The FA in question, who did not apologize but instead tried to defend her action, did suggest that the pax could have told her ahead of time. I agree that a sticker or other proactive communication makes sense for long-haul red-eyes (for example, they ask on US-SYD-US if you want to be woken up for breakfast, at least in F), but for a short flight in late afternoon, I can see how it wouldn't be obvious.

I'd think there would be a policy for the FA's so it's consistent, though. I guess I should post this in "ask a FA", whether there is or not. If there's no guidance and it's up to the individual FA, then I blame UA. There should not only be a policy, it should be known to passengers so they know what to expect and what they need to do in terms of notification.

Personally, I think sleep is 100% sacred, and no one should ever be awakened in a premium cabin unless they specifically requested it. Those of us who are on the road a lot usually have trouble getting enough in the first place.

But the stranger was a girl.

It's all hypothetical anyway, since the neighbor (why do people say seatmate? you're not in the same seat!) wasn't even there at the critical moment...

I think you miss the point - Icarus said s/he wouldn't object to the "guy" drooling on his shoulder. I was just seeking clarification.

I don't want some random guy drooling on me, but on the other hand, if it is a hottie on PS going back to the Playboy mansion....

no, I would not stop them from waking the pax up. Maybe the pax has asked to be woken for dinner or drinks. Unless we had talked and I had some idea of what the pax wanted, I would let the FA do what ever she felt appropriate. When I want to sleep, I tell the FA beforehand that I would like to sleep and when I wake up, I have been offered meals or drinks at that time.

Not that I get to sit in F, but...

No, I wouldn't "protect" the passenger. I'm firmly in the MYOB camp... unless the passenger specifically asked to be "protected" (or, conversely, to be woken), I'd just shut up and pretend the other pax isn't even there.

Good intentions are great, but it's not really anyone's business to act on behalf of another who has not requested such (except in grave situations, which this certainly is not).