In-flight announcements update on April 1 to "show more personality"
Mar 7, 2019, 4:40 pm
#31
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My problem with the current announcements is that some FAs speak way too fast. There is no way for people who have never flown to understand everything when they go that fast, not to mention those whose first language is not English.
I hope this does not make things worse.
I hope this does not make things worse.
Mar 7, 2019, 4:53 pm
#32
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I'm hoping they lose some of the unnecessary chatter that is not needed for safety, security, or what passengers really need to know. How about a goal of 50% fewer words in the mandated announcements on each flight? I'll bet it can be done without losing what's FAA mandated and/or important to communicate.
- We can start with the repetitive boarding announcements, some of which start as soon as the first ten passengers are on-board. I was on a flight recently where it was repeated five times! And the flight was only half full, so there was no congestion in the aisle nor lack of overhead space.
- Let's include, "I'll be back with more about our service when we reach a comfortable cruising altitude." (I'm sure everyone is waiting with anticipation...)
- How about, "Small portable devices such as DVD players..." (When was the last time you took your DVD player on a flight?)
- And, "If necessary, the captain may ask that ALL devices be shut off." (In thousands of flights, I've never had a captain so order; if s/he really needs to, it can just be announced.)
- Or upon landing, "We'd like to be the first to welcome you to XXX, and you are now free to use your cellphones." (Everyone else using them will be your tip-off, and maybe only say where you've landed if it's a place not on the original flight plan?)
- And finally, lose the "We hope you have had an enjoyable experience...," especially when force-read after a late, uncomfortable, or otherwise unenjoyable flight.
Last edited by wxguy; Mar 7, 2019 at 5:00 pm
Mar 7, 2019, 6:06 pm
#33
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I'm assuming it is. Inane announcements are the number one reason I won't fly Southwest or Virgin America. United is already completely unprofessional with respect to the safety videos (to the point where I refuse to watch), and if they broaden the stupidity, that'll be the last straw.
Fortunately, I have no United flights until Labour Day, so we'll see what happens in the meantime.
Fortunately, I have no United flights until Labour Day, so we'll see what happens in the meantime.
Mar 7, 2019, 6:31 pm
#34
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(is there a way NOT to embed a YT video?)
Mar 7, 2019, 7:30 pm
#37
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If you can’t operate a seat belt should you really be flying on your own........ why is this even required with or without more personality
maybe it’s an April fools joke coming
maybe it’s an April fools joke coming
Mar 7, 2019, 7:53 pm
#38
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: SFO
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For those that recall, pmUA had generally shorter and less rigid guidelines for announcements. It was CO that had longer scripts and sticking to the script was strictly enforced as it was more “professional.” Hence the militantly enforced announcements for the last 7 or so years.
I can do without all the device related announcements which are annoying. When the door is closed just say what needs to be turned off. That’s it. Just once during the entire pre departure process. Don’t need another announcement on approach and landing telling me what I can and can’t use at that point. Also don’t need 25 destination checks or rattling off the credit card types accepted for payment. Agreed there’s nothing friendly about the friendly skies when robotically scripted. UA needs to drop that tag line altogether. Sadly the good memories associated with the friendly skies slogan got dragged thru the mud in the last few years.
I’ve already heard shorter, more natural announcements on 2 flights this week. I hope most FAs will take the memo to mean use a more natural conversational style rather than being Southwest silly.
I can do without all the device related announcements which are annoying. When the door is closed just say what needs to be turned off. That’s it. Just once during the entire pre departure process. Don’t need another announcement on approach and landing telling me what I can and can’t use at that point. Also don’t need 25 destination checks or rattling off the credit card types accepted for payment. Agreed there’s nothing friendly about the friendly skies when robotically scripted. UA needs to drop that tag line altogether. Sadly the good memories associated with the friendly skies slogan got dragged thru the mud in the last few years.
I’ve already heard shorter, more natural announcements on 2 flights this week. I hope most FAs will take the memo to mean use a more natural conversational style rather than being Southwest silly.
Last edited by PacificClipper; Mar 7, 2019 at 8:06 pm
Mar 7, 2019, 8:44 pm
#39
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I'm hoping they lose some of the unnecessary chatter that is not needed for safety, security, or what passengers really need to know. How about a goal of 50% fewer words in the mandated announcements on each flight? I'll bet it can be done without losing what's FAA mandated and/or important to communicate.
- We can start with the repetitive boarding announcements, some of which start as soon as the first ten passengers are on-board. I was on a flight recently where it was repeated five times! And the flight was only half full, so there was no congestion in the aisle nor lack of overhead space.
- Let's include, "I'll be back with more about our service when we reach a comfortable cruising altitude." (I'm sure everyone is waiting with anticipation...)
- How about, "Small portable devices such as DVD players..." (When was the last time you took your DVD player on a flight?)
- And, "If necessary, the captain may ask that ALL devices be shut off." (In thousands of flights, I've never had a captain so order; if s/he really needs to, it can just be announced.)
- Or upon landing, "We'd like to be the first to welcome you to XXX, and you are now free to use your cellphones." (Everyone else using them will be your tip-off, and maybe only say where you've landed if it's a place not on the original flight plan?)
- And finally, lose the "We hope you have had an enjoyable experience...," especially when force-read after a late, uncomfortable, or otherwise unenjoyable flight.
LOL, you hit the nail on the head with these points...........All of this could be covered with (as you say) 50% less talking, explaining. I'm so sick of getting an earful of too much information that is redundant, childish (as in talking to five-year-olds) or force-feeding the Disney "experience" on everyone. I had all of that multiplied on a SWA flight once (late at night no less) including the whole cabin (except for me) singing happy birthday to a four-year-old. The FA was standing in the aisle reciting jokes like some sort of lounge act. Utterly ridiculous and we don't need it on United !!
Mar 8, 2019, 6:51 am
#41
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Mar 8, 2019, 7:45 am
#42
Join Date: Jun 2014
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Posts: 4,123
For those that recall, pmUA had generally shorter and less rigid guidelines for announcements. It was CO that had longer scripts and sticking to the script was strictly enforced as it was more “professional.” Hence the militantly enforced announcements for the last 7 or so years.
I can do without all the device related announcements which are annoying. When the door is closed just say what needs to be turned off. That’s it. Just once during the entire pre departure process. Don’t need another announcement on approach and landing telling me what I can and can’t use at that point. Also don’t need 25 destination checks or rattling off the credit card types accepted for payment. Agreed there’s nothing friendly about the friendly skies when robotically scripted. UA needs to drop that tag line altogether. Sadly the good memories associated with the friendly skies slogan got dragged thru the mud in the last few years.
I’ve already heard shorter, more natural announcements on 2 flights this week. I hope most FAs will take the memo to mean use a more natural conversational style rather than being Southwest silly.
I can do without all the device related announcements which are annoying. When the door is closed just say what needs to be turned off. That’s it. Just once during the entire pre departure process. Don’t need another announcement on approach and landing telling me what I can and can’t use at that point. Also don’t need 25 destination checks or rattling off the credit card types accepted for payment. Agreed there’s nothing friendly about the friendly skies when robotically scripted. UA needs to drop that tag line altogether. Sadly the good memories associated with the friendly skies slogan got dragged thru the mud in the last few years.
I’ve already heard shorter, more natural announcements on 2 flights this week. I hope most FAs will take the memo to mean use a more natural conversational style rather than being Southwest silly.
The best I remember was on an Eastern flight many many years ago (obviously). The FA, a male, did the announcements impersonating Father Guido Sarduci and he added a lot of humor to the announcement routine. The whole plane was laughing.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Mar 8, 2019 at 10:03 pm Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member
Mar 8, 2019, 8:18 am
#43
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I'm hoping they lose some of the unnecessary chatter that is not needed for safety, security, or what passengers really need to know. How about a goal of 50% fewer words in the mandated announcements on each flight? I'll bet it can be done without losing what's FAA mandated and/or important to communicate.
- We can start with the repetitive boarding announcements, some of which start as soon as the first ten passengers are on-board. I was on a flight recently where it was repeated five times! And the flight was only half full, so there was no congestion in the aisle nor lack of overhead space.
- Let's include, "I'll be back with more about our service when we reach a comfortable cruising altitude." (I'm sure everyone is waiting with anticipation...)
- How about, "Small portable devices such as DVD players..." (When was the last time you took your DVD player on a flight?)
- And, "If necessary, the captain may ask that ALL devices be shut off." (In thousands of flights, I've never had a captain so order; if s/he really needs to, it can just be announced.)
- Or upon landing, "We'd like to be the first to welcome you to XXX, and you are now free to use your cellphones." (Everyone else using them will be your tip-off, and maybe only say where you've landed if it's a place not on the original flight plan?)
- And finally, lose the "We hope you have had an enjoyable experience...," especially when force-read after a late, uncomfortable, or otherwise unenjoyable flight.
Also, I'm surprised you didn't point to "Please ask a flight attendant to be moved".
It's a FAA reg requirement.
Mar 8, 2019, 8:29 am
#44
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: SFO
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Lucky for you Virgin America no longer exists, and Alaska is firmly in the "professional announcements" camp. I have to fly Southwest occasionally and while folksy announcements are not guaranteed, they definitely annoy me. When I switched my business from United to VX/AS two years ago, the VX singsong safety video went from cute, to annoying, to oddly comforting after about the 30th time, and I ended up missing it when it was gone. Go figure.
Mar 8, 2019, 10:18 am
#45
Join Date: Apr 2008
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And about how a seat belt works
Several year ago on a Delta Regional carrier, the sole flight attendant was a glib young man with a real sense of humor. He covered the scripted pre-flight announcements but added his own humorous twists along the way. An example which especially sticks in my mind is the bit about how the seat belt works. He started with "For those of you who have not been in a car for the last 40 years . . . . "