Too many inflight announcements made
Dec 15, 2014, 4:49 pm
#46
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: ATL
Programs: Delta PlM, 1M
Posts: 6,363
Seams like the "Duty Free" and landing announcements start about 30 minutes after the post-takeoff announcements are complete.
I do agree that too much "routine" background talk chatter reduces the information value of a real announcement.
How many of us are now tuned to ignore this stuff?
Dec 15, 2014, 6:30 pm
#47
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: ORD / PHX
Programs: UA LT 1K 3MM (former 12 yr GS), Bonvoy Amb/LT Plat
Posts: 1,341
I dunno; I've taken plenty of flights where the announcements went on for at least 10-15 minutes after takeoff. Back in the days when we actually had a good chance of Channel 9, this was really annoying, as it meant missing out on the most interesting portion of the flight from an ATC perspective.
The worst are the people who keep the mike on but don't talk for long periods, like they're trying to remember what to say or something. "United security policy requests that you please use the bathrooms in your ticketed cabin ... ... ... ... Please do not remove your seatbelts until the captain has turned off the seat belt light ... ... ... ... because there can be turbulence at any time ... ... ... we request you wear your seatbelts at all time ... ... After we have completed our climb, we will be offering a beverage service ... ... beer, wine, and cocktails ... ... may be purchased in the main cabin ... ... please refer to your Hemispheres magazine ... ... for the selection ... ... of beverages on today's flight. ... ... ... ... We apologize in advance if your selection is not available. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Now, please sit back, and relax on our way to ... ... Paris ..." [Then after 15 more seconds of open mike, rinse & repeat in French.].
The worst are the people who keep the mike on but don't talk for long periods, like they're trying to remember what to say or something. "United security policy requests that you please use the bathrooms in your ticketed cabin ... ... ... ... Please do not remove your seatbelts until the captain has turned off the seat belt light ... ... ... ... because there can be turbulence at any time ... ... ... we request you wear your seatbelts at all time ... ... After we have completed our climb, we will be offering a beverage service ... ... beer, wine, and cocktails ... ... may be purchased in the main cabin ... ... please refer to your Hemispheres magazine ... ... for the selection ... ... of beverages on today's flight. ... ... ... ... We apologize in advance if your selection is not available. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Now, please sit back, and relax on our way to ... ... Paris ..." [Then after 15 more seconds of open mike, rinse & repeat in French.].
And don't forget the ever-present
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and the flight attendants are here primarily for your safety,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Dec 15, 2014, 11:53 pm
#48
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Arizona, USA
Posts: 2,403
o mikros
US law requires that the seatbelt sign be accompanied by an audible announcement. But the wise flight deck crews just say, "seatbelts" or "seatbelts, please."
The automated versions are so long, but they're also so loud! It seems to me that both the length and volume could be corrected.
US law requires that the seatbelt sign be accompanied by an audible announcement. But the wise flight deck crews just say, "seatbelts" or "seatbelts, please."
The automated versions are so long, but they're also so loud! It seems to me that both the length and volume could be corrected.
Dec 16, 2014, 12:07 am
#49
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: SFO
Programs: OZ Diamond/*G, IHG Diamond Amb, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,239
If that's the case,
1. You really will be annoyed by any TPAC flights from JL/NH/UA/AA/DL/CX/SQ/AC/KE/OZ/TG. Pick any:
AA DFW-HKG -> English, Cantonese, Mandarin
JL ORD-NRT -> Japanese, English, Mandarin
TG BKK-HKG -> Thai, English, Cantonese
2. I would have been annoyed every time I go international.
Learn to adapt. It's for safety measure. As the others mentioned, perhaps a noise canceling headset would be more appropriate. Also, think about the other side, what if the announcements are not in made in your mother tongue or second language.
1. You really will be annoyed by any TPAC flights from JL/NH/UA/AA/DL/CX/SQ/AC/KE/OZ/TG. Pick any:
AA DFW-HKG -> English, Cantonese, Mandarin
JL ORD-NRT -> Japanese, English, Mandarin
TG BKK-HKG -> Thai, English, Cantonese
2. I would have been annoyed every time I go international.
Learn to adapt. It's for safety measure. As the others mentioned, perhaps a noise canceling headset would be more appropriate. Also, think about the other side, what if the announcements are not in made in your mother tongue or second language.
JL ORD-NRT - > Japanese, English
TG BKK-HKG -> Thai, English, Cantonese, Mandarin
I've never seen it go over 4 languages though.
Dec 16, 2014, 6:14 am
#50
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Houston / Philadelphia
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 276
I must say that while the announcements might be good information for new flyers, I personally always thought UA made announcements much too often. I understand that other airlines might be worse, but since I fly primarily UA, my comment would be that I really do wish they stopped announcing as often as they do on the planes.
I do remember as a new flyer though that the announcements (except for the safety presentation) never made me more informed of anything I wanted to know.
I do remember as a new flyer though that the announcements (except for the safety presentation) never made me more informed of anything I wanted to know.
Dec 16, 2014, 6:19 am
#51
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: MRY - CNX - TXL
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Posts: 7,058
On OZ and NH the announcements in English take about 3x as long as they are in Korean or Japanese. With lots of the long pauses.
Fly UA via BRU and you'll get THREE languages.
Fly UA via BRU and you'll get THREE languages.
Dec 16, 2014, 6:34 am
#52
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Various tier levels of frequent flyer/hotel plans received for bellyaching about minor flaws in the service I received.
Posts: 610
Wow. I thought I was the only one who found the incessant announcements annoying. I recently counted 15 pre-departure announcements IAD-ZRH UA. Then I counted 3 ZRH-BOM on Swiss. The calming effect on the cabin was really noticeable. There are a number of studies that show that constant announcements increase stress. Indeed a number of airports have simply banned them in favor of a "quiet airport."
Regarding the "need" for the announcements, has anyone routinely seen someone clear the aisle when they reached their row after the "please move into your seat" announcement was made? I haven't.
I think the "more announcements = more compliance" is a U.S. cultural thing. I love that for at least 7 years now we've had a "special security announcement" to keep all bags under our control at all times. Not so special if it's been going on for 7 years.
Regarding the "need" for the announcements, has anyone routinely seen someone clear the aisle when they reached their row after the "please move into your seat" announcement was made? I haven't.
I think the "more announcements = more compliance" is a U.S. cultural thing. I love that for at least 7 years now we've had a "special security announcement" to keep all bags under our control at all times. Not so special if it's been going on for 7 years.
Dec 16, 2014, 8:47 pm
#54
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I don't mind it when I'm on the ground, nor do I mind a little information about the flight from the pilots (especially as I have a little logbook I carry). I do mind it when I'm trying to watch a movie and they keep making it pause. Onc we're in the air, leave me alone unless it's important.
Dec 16, 2014, 9:33 pm
#55
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I can't get over how many announcements are made on UA flights by microphone-hyper crew members. Recently I counted 8 pre-departure announcements on my Dubai to IAD flight. In addition, the announcements in English were repeated in Arabic. I mean, how many times should we be alerted that this is the flight to IAD and to get out of the aisles quickly, etc.? Are passengers so thick that they need to constantly be reminded where they are headed and to take their seats on an airplane?
After the mind-numbing pre-departure announcements came the in-flight announcements about seat belts, bathroom use, duty free, meals, seat belts again, customs forms, the weather, the window shades, the name of the purser, the pilots' hobbies and anything else that can disturb the peace of passengers on a 1 AM departure. After the umpteenth obnoxious announcement, the purser made one more announcement: "I will stop making announcements to let you sleep now[!]"
I compare the slew of announcements to the few and actually important announcements made on foreign carriers--I haven't heard of too many passengers on the wrong flight or forgetting to sit down on the foreign airlines.
After the mind-numbing pre-departure announcements came the in-flight announcements about seat belts, bathroom use, duty free, meals, seat belts again, customs forms, the weather, the window shades, the name of the purser, the pilots' hobbies and anything else that can disturb the peace of passengers on a 1 AM departure. After the umpteenth obnoxious announcement, the purser made one more announcement: "I will stop making announcements to let you sleep now[!]"
I compare the slew of announcements to the few and actually important announcements made on foreign carriers--I haven't heard of too many passengers on the wrong flight or forgetting to sit down on the foreign airlines.
LOL so trust me skip Air Canada. they also won an award for the rudest Flight Attendants.
Dec 16, 2014, 9:39 pm
#56
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 272
Is there really such an award? If so, how did Air Canada beat out Ryanair?
Dec 16, 2014, 9:46 pm
#57
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Incorrect. Under the current ATC model, aircraft do not make one continuous descent. There are initial segments, intermediate segments, and final segments, each of which can include descents and periods of leveling off. ("Final descent" has a specific meaning, though it rarely corresponds to what the FAs describe as final descent.)
Dec 16, 2014, 10:16 pm
#58
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: PHL
Programs: NEXUS, UA Club
Posts: 641
Personally, I don't mind when the announcements are made in several languages. While it does make for a longer announcement, I recognize that there are several passengers who probably do not speak English, and for their safety it is necessary. I do find when an announcement is being broadcast in three or four languages, the announcement for each individual language isn't too long. What really annoys me is when the announcement is made in English only and goes on and on and on and on and includes random extended pauses that further lengthen the announcement. (Actually another thing I find annoying is watching a safety video demonstrating how to fasten a seat belt and how to stow luggage after every single person on the flight has fastened their seat belts and stowed their luggage prior to the playing of the video. I always feel like asking if we can skip that part!!!)
Dec 16, 2014, 11:02 pm
#59
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 325
Personally, I don't mind when the announcements are made in several languages. While it does make for a longer announcement, I recognize that there are several passengers who probably do not speak English, and for their safety it is necessary. I do find when an announcement is being broadcast in three or four languages, the announcement for each individual language isn't too long. What really annoys me is when the announcement is made in English only and goes on and on and on and on and includes random extended pauses that further lengthen the announcement. (Actually another thing I find annoying is watching a safety video demonstrating how to fasten a seat belt and how to stow luggage after every single person on the flight has fastened their seat belts and stowed their luggage prior to the playing of the video. I always feel like asking if we can skip that part!!!)
Dec 17, 2014, 2:21 am
#60
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: IAH
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