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10 passengers we love to hate: Day 8 -- passengers who misuse the FA call button
We've already reached the 8th day of our "10 passengers we love to hate" lineup. You've been able to read about passengers who misbehave around the baggage carousel, people who don't know how an escalator works, and folks who annoy others with their Bluetooth headset.This entry in our lineup is about passengers who think the attendant call button is a butler call bell. For some reason, almost every flight has one of these jackasses on board.
10 minutes into the flight, you'll hear the first ding. Now, I'm not against using the call button for an emergency, or if you are in dire need of a drink to help take some medication, but the call button is not there to assist you in making a drink order before the attendant starts the drink service. It is also not there if you want to know how long it is till the plane lands.
Also, on many flights, there are always people who can't see the difference between white and orange buttons, and keep pressing the call button thinking it'll turn their little light on - unless you are severely color blind there is no valid reason to hit the wrong button.
So, unless you are unable to walk, just get out of your seat and walk up to the galley for whatever it is you need. It'll help stretch your legs (and prevent DVT at the same time). Bottom line - the flight attendant is not your butler, and they have another 100 passengers to deal with.
Filed under: Airlines
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
nzm Jun 10th 2009 11:14AM
Am having real problems with posting comments on Gadling. Sometimes, I have to post the same message up to 3-4 times to get the confirmation email. I get the website message that I've been successful and to look for the email, but it doesn't always arrive.
Malaycobra Jun 10th 2009 2:40PM
Have a look at the bottom of your last confirmation email. Make a note of the password. You can use that from now on.
Craig Jun 10th 2009 2:39PM
First off, on some planes the call button IS in fact the exact same shape and colour as the light button - not all call buttons are orange. (The one in the picture is from a lavatory, not a seat.) On some planes, if the cabin is dark on a night flight it is hard to see the little drawings on the buttons, and thus very easy to accidentally hit the call button - I'm a fairly experienced traveler and I've done it a couple of times (always on A320s, for some reason the order of the buttons isn't instinctive, at least to me.) So, frankly, your "colour blind" remark is very inappropriate.
(Now if you have someone who hits the same button ten times and the result is no light and a repeating "ding" noise, then that's just being ignorant.)
More to the point, presuming that the plane is at cruising altitude and there isn't a meal or beverage service under way, why shouldn't a passenger use the call button? Yes, FAs are there "for my safety" and all that. They're also there to get me a beverage if I want one (presuming no service, at cruise, etc.) The two roles aren't mutually exclusive. Personally, I prefer to get up and go to the galley, but a few flights ago I saw a FA speak very rudely to an elderly lady who dared to use the sacred button rather than make her way back to the galley.
And over the years I've had FAs get snippy with me for daring to come to the galley, so perhaps the FA community should make up its collective mind on this issue. And in the meantime if I'm on a "legacy" carrier domesically I'll just bring a bottle of water...
I'd like to see a Gadling blogger start a "10 types of airline employee we hate..." series.
Scott Carmichael Jun 10th 2009 2:40PM
"I'd like to see a Gadling blogger start a "10 types of airline employee we hate..." series."
I think that is a VERY good idea - expect to see it in the next week. Thanks!
Jack Jun 11th 2009 1:08AM
I agree..and we can start with those snippy F/A's who are only collecting a paycheck and don't care about passenger comfort. They just want to get from point A to point B so they can either go home or to that nice 4-5 star hotel!
nzm Jun 11th 2009 11:02AM
Thanks Malaycobra - took me 4 attempts just to send this message to get the code!
boredwell Aug 4th 2009 8:50PM
Unless you are physically challenged, the call button I consider the call button a blast from the past. And even in those erstwhile days, you'd be lucky if an attendant appeared, like some genii, to make your wish/demand his/her command . Frankly, I've never seen anyone use a call button in very very long while.