transpac-canuck

This could also be stated less cynically as, "Channel 9 is at the pilot's discretion." We're always a bit disappointed when Channel 9 is not available, and I always make a point of requesting it when it's turned off. I have about an 80% hit rate, although your mileage may vary.

mahasamatman

For one of the two reasons I listed, as all others "reasons" are just excuses to mask one of these two.

See above.

UAX_Brasilia

So which of those to cockamamie reasons would you say when there is some type of inflight emergency when it would be in the best interests of the passengers to not be informed?

ryan182

Perhaps rather that beating the glue jar someone could point the OP to one of the many closed threads debating ch9 rather than adding this one to the list@:-)

jhayes_1780

Like when the pilot dies (granted CO doesn't do ch9).... http://wcbstv.com/breakingnewsalerts...2.1049850.html

Or when there are monor/common inflight mechanical problems. No need to cause a panic onboard.

mahasamatman

I don't believe that denying information is ever in the "best interests" of the passengers.

But if they do make that decision, it should only be to disable it for the duration of the emergency, not to deny it forthwith.

aluminumdriver

Glad you enjoyed your flights and are looking at United as your new carrier. Please try us again, we'd like your business.

As for CH 9, it is a United marketing tool. It is at Captain's discretion, so sometimes it won't be on, or it might just be broken on that jet. If in the future you're on a flight and CH 9 isn't on, just ask the FA to see if the Captain will turn it on. Sometimes the Captain before your flight had it off, and your captain doesn't know it's off until a FA asks. You might get it on that way. If you look at the CH 9 thread, I think you'll see that it is on a lot more than off, and has nothing to do with radio skills as one poster ridiculously said.

Thanks for flying United and hope to see you again.

AD

Well, that is up to the Captain to decide. Since every other carrier doesn't have CH 9, are they denying you information on all your flights?

Ryan182 had the right post, there are other threads talking about CH 9, no reason taking over the OP's thread with that issue.

stevenshev

I'm in agreement.

Bad argument, guys - if there's some sort of emergency on board, that's fine, but the mere possibility that an emergency may arise is not sufficient cause for pre-emptive disabling of Channel 9.

Mybutthurts

Am I wrong or is ch 9 usually off on the Hawaii flights? Not enough action?

Pat89339

It was on my flights this past weekend. However, it only works so far from land. Someone here will probably know the exact distance.

ryan182

Sadly my list of data points for Hawaii flights is no where near as large as I'd like but I do know for TPAC/TATL flights they usually turn it off over the water as there's nothing there and then back on about an hour, hour and half, before landing. I'd presume Hawaii flights are probably similar.

mahasamatman

If they don't announce the information over the intercom, yes.

Except that the OP specifically asked about it.

hbyerly

It's much more than that... for those of us who go through periods of being extremely nervous about flying, it goes a long way toward letting us know that everything is still ok when the engines throttle back or when there is turbulence.

To my mind it's an important market differentiator, and a big part of why I fly 100k with UA every year instead of their competitors.

FlyinHawaiian

In the interests of sharing information with the rest of the community, I'm going to (with somewhat great reservation) allow discussion to continue. Why am I nervous? Last, year, we had a similar thread and sadly, discussion reached a point where it was no longer compliant with any minimal interpretation of FlyerTalk's Rules and Guidelines.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...ad-merged.html

If discussion is going to continue in this thread, I'd encourage posters to review the other thread and use it as a guide as to what to try and avoid.

Thanks for your understanding,

FlyinHawaiian, Co-Moderator
United Mileage Plus Forum

aluminumdriver

Your original post made it sound like having CH 9 off was denying you information. I'm glad you have clarified that as long as the pilots try to keep you informed over the PA, you are happy, and that CH 9 has nothing to do with it. Got it now.

I'm glad CH 9 helps you with your flying, but it is a double edged sword. While you get reassurance by listening, I also get calls from the back about a scared passenger that hears there is severe turbulence around (even though it's hundreds of miles away) or windshear reports (at another airport) and jumping to the wrong conclusion. I have it on for the most part, but I understand why pilots also have it off. Thanks for flying United.