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

[VPS]

I think I would just film then and not understand their language if they complain

 

[COC]

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

Using a Map is cheating

 

[COC]

Same, it’s everywhere.

I now basically carry my NC headphones everywhere to block them out.

You would need the best NC earphones quality wise. And they are……?

 

[antycbr]

Video calls - join the conversation. Can be entertaining.

Video - play something loud (once had a cough soundtrack - note not actual cough). That stopped them in their tracks.

I also disagree that it’s not a safety issue. It prevents you from hearing PA announcements - which are also often low volume and garbled at the best of times.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

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.

It's definitely a culture thing. If this was Qantas or a US based airline, none of this BS will fly. They would have confronted the passenger and dealt with it. Remember what United did to Dr. David Dao when he wouldn't give up his seat?

 

[COC]

It's definitely a culture thing. If this was Qantas or a US based airline, none of this BS will fly. They would have confronted the passenger and dealt with it. Remember what United did to Dr. David Dao when he wouldn't give up his seat?

Have United Recovered from that episode?

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Have United Recovered from that episode?

Never impacted my choice of airlines as I flew them a lot. If anything it made me want to fly them more because BS doesn’t fly with them!

 

[Himeno]

Have United Recovered from that episode?

They still have the United breaks Guitars incident.

 

[Quickstatus]

A recent article about a QF and a VA FA suggest that CC deal with a lot of . And the policy is always about de-escalation not escalation especially in an aluminium tube at 35,000 feet which i think is the correct way to handle situations like this. UA learnt the hard way. Escalation to passenger restraints for something like not turning off speakerphone is a totally disproportionate response. Restraining passengers can also lead to injuries to the passenger, other passengers and CC themselves - hence its last resort policy.

 

[stm1sydney]

Video calls - join the conversation. Can be entertaining.

Video - play something loud (once had a cough soundtrack - note not actual cough). That stopped them in their tracks.

Yes, I've done both of those before, usually works but not always. Joining their video calls is quite good, you can chat with some interesting people!

 

[Eastwick20]

It's a sad state of affairs when people have to be reminded of manners..
But perhaps the solution might be to add it into and part of the Cabin Crew's opening spiel announcements "any personal electronic devices must only be used with earphones at all times during the flight "

At least that might make it easier if having to confront a passenger as non compliance would then be failing to follow crew instructions etc...

 

[justinbrett]

A recent article about a QF and a VA FA suggest that CC deal with a lot of . And the policy is always about de-escalation not escalation especially in an aluminium tube at 35,000 feet which i think is the correct way to handle situations like this. UA learnt the hard way. Escalation to passenger restraints for something like not turning off speakerphone is a totally disproportionate response. Restraining passengers can also lead to injuries to the passenger, other passengers and CC themselves - hence its last resort policy.

De-escalation doesn't mean ignoring the problem and letting the pax break the rules. It describes the manner of which the problem is dealt with - it doesn't mean it's not dealt with.

Crew shouldn't be afraid of pax, the use of restraints was to combat silly talk that the pax is going to turn dangerous and "being in an aluminium tube" if the crew confront them. Who cares where you are, a pub, a shop or a plane. It's the same method.

 

[Quickstatus]

It describes the manner of which the problem is dealt with - it doesn't mean it's not dealt with.

Correct. Easiest way is for the airline to deal with it on the ground - something like banning the passenger for a period of time.

Who cares where you are, a pub, a shop or a plane. It's the same method.

But very different approach required.

 

[Aeryn]

If you are too lazy/precious to use headphones, then turn the subtitles on and mute the speakers.

Waiting until the plane lands to take action is imo unacceptable as it has disturbed other passengers and they cant recover that sleep or focus time.

FA should ask the passenger to turn off volume or connect speakers in consideration of others. If a second request is required they should be clear that failure to comply is likely to result in being banned from future flights including cancellation of any return legs.

An instruction to connect headphones or mute speakers on phones, tablets and laptops is on QF made when they announce that wifi is available, but perhaps needs to also be made when the request to switch to flight mode is. Airlines could have a policy allowing FAs to temporarily confiscate devices if a passenger is using loud speaker, add it to the carriage T&Cs.

I also do not think it is remotely the same as a crying child. One would hope parent/guardian tries to soothe a crying baby or encourage an older toddler or child to behave appropriately and not just sit their ignoring the meltdown.

 

[justinbrett]

Correct. Easiest way is for the airline to deal with it on the ground - something like banning the passenger for a period of time.

No, that's not dealing with it. That's just palming it off to the next agent.

First objective in any situation like this is to get the behaviour to stop. Then you think about ramifications. You don't just let it continue and come back with a ban later.

 

[Quickstatus]

If a second request is required they should be clear that failure to comply is likely to result in being banned from future flights including cancellation of any return legs.

And practically that only applies on future flights.
But i is not the cabin crew's job to do this nor within their power - thats the airline's job - it can easily be done on the ground.

Airlines could have a policy allowing FAs to temporarily confiscate devices if a passenger is using loud speaker, add it to the carriage T&Cs.

And here is the question: to what extent should the cabin crew escalate this situation bearing in mind that there are many flights with obnoxious non complying passengers and some flights with multiple. If they escalate for one and not for everyone, legally that puts the airline in a difficult situation and if they escalate their response for every obnoxious passenger that could be seen as a disproportionate action - especially when injuries occur during the escalation for a non safety related event. Remember Dr Dao?.

Its a difficult situation but one that can be easily managed on the ground if the airline consistently bans passengers and not leave it up to the cabin crew to sort out the issues.

I also do not think it is remotely the same as a crying child

What about an "inconsolable child" which was my earlier comment.

You don't just let it continue and come back with a ban later.

Thats exactly what i think should happen for ostensibly an event for which there is no immediate safety related threat.
A quick media release : Qantas (insert your favourite airline) has decided to ban a passenger on flight QFxx_ for yyyyy for a period of ZZZ". Non compliance with CC instructions will not be tolerated.
And keep doing it consistently....

 

[Pushka]

What about an "inconsolable child" which was my earlier comment.

it's a completely different situation. This is an adult. Capable of following crew instructions and deliberately not. A child is a child is a child.

 

[Quickstatus]

it's a completely different situation.

But an inconsolable child can cause as much disturbance (and likely more) for other passengers - which is the issue here.
And again to be clear, my point about the inconsolable child is this is the category that I as the passenger would put this situation in.
The airline on the other hand can easily deal with it without escalation on the ground by issuing a sin bin/ban

I wonder how long was the speaker phone on speaker for?

 

[Pushka]

But an inconsolable child can cause as much disturbance (and likely more) for other passengers - which is the issue here.

I wonder how long was the speaker phone on speaker for?

Absolutely they can cause stress. But it's involuntary. A poorly behaved adult isn't. And that is the difference.

 

[SYD]

I wonder how long was the speaker phone on speaker for?

From Post #1: "throughout the overnight flight".

Selfish and appalling behavior.