Pax putting phone on speaker mode throughout flight and ignoring crew requests

[ermen]

Not sure how to deal with this but I was flying intra Asia J overnight on an Asian airline the other day.

Had this pax who was keeping her phone on speaker throughout the overnight flight whilst sleeping (or trying to sleep). I managed to fall asleep but partner could still hear her drama series through her noise canceling earpods.

Cabin crew went over multiple times but she simply just ignores their request. Not sure her ruse ‐ maybe just feigning ignorance or not understanding English or the local language. Cabin crew from a non confrontational culture... so they did not want to escalate. They just came over and apologised to us and said sorry we told her many times but she is just inconsiderate.

I hate these inconsiderate boors. In an ideal world I would go over, take her phone away and throw it in the bin. Or go over and turn it off. But that aside what are some legal ways to get her to stop without getting into trouble with the law? I do not want to be accused of assault or criminal damage.

Or if I wasn't sleeping... I would go over every 5 minutes and turn on her reading lamp and wake her up so she doesn't get her rest. Or accidently spill a can of coke on her Chanel coat? Lodge a police report so that she is interviewed and inconvenienced on arrival in the country?

Sadly methinks though there is nothing much that can be done.. in the end it's the boorish and and inconsiderate pax that can get away with things.

 

[Quickstatus]

there is nothing much that can be done

From a passenger's perspective - correct.

It is in the same category as an unconsolable child.

 

[Pushka]

Not sure how to deal with this but I was flying intra Asia J overnight on an Asian airline the other day.

Had this pax who was keeping her phone on speaker throughout the overnight flight whilst sleeping (or trying to sleep). I managed to fall asleep but partner could still hear her drama series through her noise canceling earpods.

Cabin crew went over multiple times but she simply just ignores their request. Not sure her ruse ‐ maybe just feigning ignorance or not understanding English or the local language. Cabin crew from a non confrontational culture... so they did not want to escalate. They just came over and apologised to us and said sorry we told her many times but she is just inconsiderate.

I hate these inconsiderate boors. In an ideal world I would go over, take her phone away and throw it in the bin. Or go over and turn it off. But that aside what are some legal ways to get her to stop without getting into trouble with the law? I do not want to be accused of assault or criminal damage.

Or if I wasn't sleeping... I would go over every 5 minutes and turn on her reading lamp and wake her up so she doesn't get her rest. Or accidently spill a can of coke on her Chanel coat? Lodge a police report so that she is interviewed and inconvenienced on arrival in the country?

Sadly methinks though there is nothing much that can be done.. in the end it's the boorish and and inconsiderate pax that can get away with things.

Non confrontational culture in this regard suggests that they choose who to be confrontational with. In this case, the hapless traveller who is following the rules. Sorry sorry wouldn't cut it in this situation.

 

[dajop]

Sadly methinks though there is nothing much that can be done.. in the end it's the boorish and and inconsiderate pax that can get away with things.

Not just on planes but in life as well, we see this sort of person in the public eye every day. But don’t worry, kharma will catch up with them eventually

 

[Quickstatus]

Legally not following a cabin crew directive can be illegal - if it interferes with their duties.

 

[justinbrett]

I've noticed this happening more and more, not just on flights.

People watching videos or listening to music on their phone with the sound through the speaker, even in a quiet carriage. Not just the usual suspects but even what would appear to be professional or otherwise considerate people.

Last year on an AA domestic flight, in First, the pax in the front row was doing this. The FA came around and offered a free set of cheap headphones. When he discovered he couldn't plug it into his phone he complained and said he has to use the speaker. FA said he will not and it's against their policy.

He was quite a difficult pax and also complained that he didn't get his meal preference. She also had some other difficult pax in row 3 or 4. That was the first and only flight I gave a gift - a packet of Tim Tams - and said I really appreciate her service. Came back from the loo and she handed me 4 mini bottles of gin (I had been drinking G&Ts on the flight).

 

[Himeno]

I see this sort of thing a number of times every day.

Mobile phones are not radios. You don't need to have it on speaker.

People watching videos or listening to music on their phone with the sound through the speaker, even in a quiet carriage. Not just the usual suspects but even what would appear to be professional or otherwise considerate people.

That has only increased since the phone companies stupidly decided that mobile devices don't need headphone jacks.

 

[SeaWolf]

I had this happen on a Thai airways flight a few months back. It was a day flight out of Sydney to Bangkok, so I guess less annoying in that no one was trying to sleep, but still irritating. I was in Y and the three passengers in the row behind me we all watching something together on one phone, propped up on the middle tray table. At one point one of them said to the others, "Can you hear that properly?" and turned it up. I felt like leaning over the seat and saying, "Yes, yes I can hear that."

I've noticed this happening more and more, not just on flights.

I'd agree, it's definitely on the rise. At least on a train though you can usually just get up and move elsewhere to get away from it. Can't do that on a flight though, you're stuck there. :-(

 

[dajop]

I'd agree, it's definitely on the rise. At least on a train though you can usually just get up and move elsewhere to get away from it. Can't do that on a flight though, you're stuck there. :-(

Not always with pre booked seats or full trains.

But there are other options - particularly if you have a rail pass - recently on a full international train service we had someone opposite us start a face time call and simultaneously the person next to us start watching videos, both on speaker (both from same family).. So we got off at the next stop and caught the next domestic train … set us back 20 mins but definitely worthwhile as that train was relatively empty. Obviously can’t do this in aircraft !

Those who have seen any of YouTuber and former flight attendant Jeenie Weenie videos, would have an idea what her solution would be. Involve opening aircraft door and shoving said passenger out the door.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Take your own device over to them and play something at full volume. Their call on what the next move is.

 

[Quickstatus]

Lots of "solutions"here but none surpasses a Zen state of mind.
It is not hard to cultivate a Zen state of mind.....

 

[RooFlyer]

It is not hard to cultivate a Zen state of mind.....

What?

 

[SeatBackForward]

It is not hard to cultivate a Zen state of mind.....

Don't they call that "Raw-dogging" on flights now?: Raw-dogging on planes: Heroic or just plain stupid?

 

[Forg]

Lots of "solutions"here but none surpasses a Zen state of mind.
It is not hard to cultivate a Zen state of mind.....

Do you have a mind-control gun to Zen other passengers into stopping their misbehaviour?!

 

[Quickstatus]

What?

Parents of 3 kids under 2 including twins like us have cultivated at least some elements of Zen:
If you have to react to a particular behaviour you have lost the battle.

....
But seriously,
Cabin Crew in this case is right. There is a time and place to escalate matters. An aluminium tube at 35,000 feet is often not the place.

 

[anat0l]

Lots of "solutions"here but none surpasses a Zen state of mind.
It is not hard to cultivate a Zen state of mind.....

What?

I suspect this implies, just ignore it, zone out.


So much of having an enjoyable experience on board an aircraft relies on people doing the right thing... and as I've said many times before, doing the right thing is a lot more than just doing what is legal (or avoiding what is illegal), viz. not just "don't break the law", but rather "be nice".

Not much that can be done that, as mentioned, doesn't cross into assault; not sure what is the crime for damaging or destroying the offending device, let alone in the jurisdictions involved.

I suppose you could have taken a video of the offending behaviour, perhaps loudly narrating the behaviour and making the offender notice (get their face). Then later upload this to every social media site and send to the local media. Seems to be a contemporary solution.

 

[RooFlyer]

I find Zen is much easier to achieve once you've shoved the offending phone up the perp's rear end.

But no, I don't need to change any of my behaviours, to zen or otherwise, because of some wanker with a loud phone.

 

[Quickstatus]

doing the right thing is a lot more than just doing what is legal

What is "doing the right thing".
There are a lot of things that can be done, but they all have consequences - often negative.
A lot of the solutions offered have been escalatory - almost akin to Road rage - You do something to me, Ill make you pay.
If people can't control themselves including those reacting to the issue, that is their failure and only serves to raise their own BP/HR.

It really comes down to perspective. My perspective is I would put this into the same category as an unconsolable child. There will always be inconsiderate people/screaming kids. Zen....

 

[trisreed]

I had a passenger in 1A (was in 1C) on a VA flight last year between MEL and HBA decide that they wanted to use FaceTime (on speaker) throughout the thankfully short (to me) flight. Me and the passenger in 1D turned to each other to give a look of incredulity but the FA (CM) did well... FA. A downside to having WiFi available on flights now!

More recently the passengers in 1D, 2D and 2F on a long evening flight decided it was appropriate to have a very loud, shouty chat - the CM came around a couple of times after myself and others nearby complained to tell them to tone it down but this had no effect. It seemed she did not want to escalate as all I got was a 'sorry' on deplaning.

In short, it seems manners have gone out the window, "it's all about me", and cabin crew don't want to escalate on board.

 

[anat0l]

What is "doing the right thing".

When your mum sends you out the door to school each day and says, "be good", what does she mean?

That's a problem - we can't write down everything that is "doing the right thing".

Some might say we need to draw on religion for this - I think every religion has a "do unto others as you would have them do unto you" rule somewhere.

I could call you very unflattering and rude names (and maybe your mother). In most countries, that is not illegal. But it's not appropriate and is not right; I would not do it, even if you think you deserve it or do not care what I say.

Laws alone cannot be the only basis for how people are expected to behave in civil society. This is even more pronounced when on an aircraft - a pleasant experience on board cannot rely on laws and rules alone, everyone needs to act nice and civil as well. As can be seen, consequences are mainly only possible to enforce what is legal, but not what is right or fair.