Overuse of the flight attendant call bell

[Mattg]

I recently flew with Air India from Delhi to Singapore. It was an A320 and I was in the third (and last) row of business class.

Throughout the flight, I was constantly hearing the chime of the flight attendant call button. Like, every few minutes. And most of the time, it seemed to be the guy in 1C (who was travelling with his wife in 1A).

It's a 5.5 hour flight, and for around 5 of those hours, the two male flight attendants looking after business class were basically this guy's servant. He was hitting the call bell so frequently that at some point, you could visibly see the cabin crew's eyes rolling whenever they heard the chime again.

I could not fault the flight attendants. They attentively and patiently gave this guy everything he asked for, with a (no doubt forced) smile. The guy never seemed satisfied or said thank you though.

Luckily for the crew, this guy did fall asleep for around half an hour during the middle of the flight - you could tell because he was snoring very loudly - and they got a bit of a break then.

Now, this guy had paid for a business class ticket and the call bell exists to get the attention of a flight attendant. But at some point, surely there's a limit to how much you *should* use it.

At least he didn't click his fingers at the crew to get their attention, as I've seen some people do in the past...

When we were disembarking in Singapore, the flight attendants made polite conversation with me. I mentioned that they'd done a lot of work for the guy in 1C, and could visibly see the relief on their faces to see that someone else had noticed and for this to be acknowledged. The purser actually asked if I could submit this feedback to Air India (mainly in case the guy complained that the service was bad!) which I did.

I spotted the guy in the terminal again after disembarking. He was arguing with his wife and a ground staff member that he should be allowed to take his trolley with his 5 carry-on bags down the escalator into the immigration area. Charming bloke (and I felt sorry for his wife)...

 

[p--and--t]

In the last 20 years I have only used the call bell once. That was to report a traveller nearby who was talking on her phone during the take off roll.

 

[daft009]

is one allowed to make fun of a race if the one making the joke is from the same race?

 

[SYD]

Apart from finding that missing PAX “Please press the call button”…. We do hear it a lot less to the point you wonder if there is a master switch now to disable them

 

[HirafuHeartAttack]

I spotted the guy in the terminal again after disembarking. He was arguing with his wife and a ground staff member that he should be allowed to take his trolley with his 5 carry-on bags down the escalator into the immigration area. Charming bloke (and I felt sorry for his wife)...

I mean it might've made up for your distress in humour if they let him try, and you got to see the impending sh*tshow of trying to not only fit a cart through the bollard created gap onto the escalator but also him holding on for dear life as he embarks on the unrestrained rollercoaster ride on the way down.

But also lawsuits and stuff...

 

[bussyboy]

In the last 20 years I have only used the call bell once. That was to report a traveller nearby who was talking on her phone during the take off roll.

Yep, twice for me, one was the passenger next to me having an epileptic seizure

 

[snabbu]

Sounds like a typical DYKWIA.

 

[Sprucegoose]

I am not a fan of the bell, preferring instead to catch attention with my eyes or quirky facial expressions............but if that's not working, then it's the bell.

I think your Indian chap has some issues, though I would suggest he fly private next time.

 

[RooFlyer]

Seems to be some assumptions here about where the guy was from .....

On some airlines the 'call' button is known as the 'ignore' button, so well done Air India!!

 

[LadyC]

I flew a 17 hour flight from Seattle to Singapore last week - I definitely rang the call bell a few times during that period to get drinks throughout the flight - especially as the majority of it was lights off with the crew not moving through the cabin.

 

[Denali]

Im struggling to remember when Ive used the call button. Im sure I have but Im struggling because I dont ask for drinks (we dont drink alcohol and rarely soft drinks and usually we get a large/1.5lt water bottle from the FAs).

I recall one Y flight and the FAs were having lots of issues with a pax because their super special meal, that they did not order, was not available for them and they were very vocal about their complaints. We assured the FA that we were comfortable ect (when asked) and enjoyed the flight and the FA asked if we would complete a card with feedback (to counter the complainer). That was also the flight that meals ran out and lamb was the only meat meal available and I dont eat lamb so the FA got me a J meal.

My philosophy when flying is keep your head down, enjoy the perks and be polite. I try to sleep most of my flight so I like to think Im a low maint pax.

 

[Gold Member]

This sounds like third world new money. Could have been any nationality for that matter. Maybe this is the Indian version of Aussie Ken? (Karen)

 

[Matt_01]

I sure over the years I have pushed the call bell but cannot remember when, it tend not to use it.

 

[blackcat20]

I've used it a handful of times but I always feel very awkward about it. Pre-kids I was happier to wander to the galley to ask for whatever it was I needed.

 

[Quickstatus]

Never used the call button

 

[Mattg]

I flew a 17 hour flight from Seattle to Singapore last week - I definitely rang the call bell a few times during that period to get drinks throughout the flight - especially as the majority of it was lights off with the crew not moving through the cabin.

That's totally fine IMHO.

This guy was on another level - he wasn't just asking for the occasional drink and was using the bell even when a crew member was just a few metres away in the forward galley.

On some airlines the 'call' button is known as the 'ignore' button, so well done Air India!!

The last time I used my call bell was on Air Canada, to ask the crew to reset my IFE screen because it was broken. They never did respond - the call bell light was still on and my IFE still not working when we landed!

 

[dajop]

Is there a badge of honor for "never using the call button"?

I do occasionally use it on med-long haul flights, judiciously, particularly if I am thirsty and could do with a drink, and always polite and thankful. Mostly on SQ flights, and unlike some carriers they don't train you not to use it. Often I do walk down the back to get something, as I like walking around, but sometimes if I'm on the laptop or the like, there's a hassle factor to getting out the seat, unplugging headphones etc.

Definitely not in the demanding something every few minutes though, regardless of the class. That seems to be a characteristic of routes to certain destinations like the one the subject of this thread. I am pretty sure for this reason, such destinations are the least liked by cabin crew.

Now I have seen crew run ragged by the call button on JQ (like a MEL-MCY flight earlier this year), but they're selling stuff, I assume they get a commission for that.

 

[Ade]

Charming bloke

wife in 1A

He was arguing with his wife and a ground staff member that he should be allowed to take his trolley with his 5 carry-on bags down the escalator into the immigration area

I think I know the *type* ... There seems to be a sense of entitlement that comes with the *type*, unfortunately! With his wife in 1A, I *definitely* know the *type* - I have seen the *type*. And it's not a good color of anyone

Sounds like a typical DYKWIA

new money

sounds like new money ... I don't want to make any assumptions, but I get it ...

 

[SYD]

I can’t help but think of a Pam Ann sketch that’s not repeatable on this forum.

 

[Hvr]

I think your Indian chap has some issues, though I would suggest he fly private next time.

Another peeing incident on Air India flight: Drunk man urinates on woman passenger's blanket

A drunk man allegedly urinated on a female passenger's blanket on a Paris-New Delhi Air India flight on December 6.

www.indiatoday.in

He will need to fly private.