When Is It Appropriate to Use the Call Button on an Airplane?
You almost certainly dislike flying: the price, the discomfort, the annoying person in the B seat. Just remember that the flight attendants can be even worse off than you, and they can’t complain about it because it’s their job. All of this means that in general it is important to pay close attention to the experience of your flight attendants. And it looks like the call button is a particularly common cause of bad shipping behavior.
Just yesterday, on a short flight from Florida to Texas, service personnel were to announce over the speakerphone that whoever pressed the call button should turn it off unless it was an emergency; we have not yet reached a height at which it would be safe for them to walk. Flight attendants suffer from turbulence as much as passengers!
In this post from The Points Guy about Jetyket, regarding the so-called “right button”, here are some basic rules to remember the next time you’re in the air and desperate for another miniature. a bottle of wine:
Click if it’s urgent
Are you in cardiac arrest? Have you just started having contractions? Is there a monster that only you can see on an airplane wing fiddling with the engine? Ok, click this button. Sarah Nelson, international president of the Flight Attendants Association, explained to TPG that “it’s really for emergency use, first and foremost.” Most people do not have an emergency in their seat on an airplane, unless the plane crashes. In this case, please reach out only to put on the oxygen mask. They are aware of the problem.
Click to chat
Sometimes a flight attendant needs to contact you and make an announcement over the speakerphone. Maybe they are looking for guests who need help getting off the plane; unaccompanied minors; or you, yes you, specifically. In this case, Nelson says that you are using the button for what it is for: an easy way to indicate where you are in a long flying tube filled with people. This way, you don’t have to shout down the aisle like an idiot. Ideally.
Click if you’re trapped
Maybe you are sitting by the window and your fellow seats are blocking your path. They are also completely disabled. Or maybe you are holding a child who is not easy to maneuver on the plane. In this case, it makes sense to press a button to talk to someone, and the attendants will probably prefer this to making the child (or adult) cry. But if you have children, don’t let them play with the call button. It’s not cute.
Don’t force it for the sake of service
Author and etiquette advisor Diane Gotzman suggested asking yourself this question before ringing the bell: “Can I do this myself or do I need help? This is a litmus test. “
“While the flight attendants are ready to make your flight comfortable, [this is] not a service industry. They are not waiters, Gotzman explained. “If you really need help, this is what the call button is for. If you’re just thirsty and the beverage cart hasn’t arrived yet, sit down and be patient. “
This is an interesting point. I’ve definitely been on planes where it seems like they’re trying to sell you as many drinks as possible, so a few calls would be welcome. But if this is a basic service and you see the cart a few rows down, do not press the call button to make it go faster. Will not be. Flight attendants know that people need things like water and garbage. They will run at appropriate intervals.
Remember that the main purpose of planes is to take you from one place to another. If you want five-star quality food and service, spend that money at Per Se.
Jetiket: when is it appropriate to use the call button? | The points guy