Comments on: Everywhere a sign: Obey or ignore at your own peril

By: Clive

Clive — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 15:11:26 +0000

>This woman may regret that decision for a lifetime.

I don’t think we know that she decided anything more than to go to the lavatory.

That said, I’ve done a couple of trips recently from London to Singapore and back, with several hours of mild to moderate turbulence each way – to the point where I knew every word of the cabin crew’s instruction to return to seats, fasten seat belts, remove infants from bassinets and so on. This didn’t prevent an alarming number of passengers from wandering about to do whatever they thought was more important.

As an aside to my observation, I wonder if the A380′s higher cabin humidity was a factor. I was certainly conscious of – ahem – greater liquid throughput than I’m used to on a long-haul flight – and I don’t think it was just because SIA flight attendants are easier to flag down for a drink than those of other airlines I’ve travelled with!

By: Chris

Chris — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 17:14:40 +0000

I’ve been stuck in the lavatory in turbulence and wasn’t able to make it back to my seat for several minutes, still having to return during the turbulence. Where are the seatbelts in the lav?

By: R.V.

R.V. — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 07:41:20 +0000

Just because it’s an FAA regulation does NOT give you, or your crew members, carte blanche to treat us rudely on the plane when we’re up and about when we shouldn’t be. It also does NOT give the pilot of the airplane carte blanche to divert the airplane just because one person couldn’t follow the rules. You want us to sit down? Fine. But don’t you DARE even threaten us with stuff that you know you can’t enforce.

By: Frank

Frank — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 22:03:29 +0000

That was MORE IMPORTANT then your safety?????

On April 23rd, 2009 at 9:43 am Carlo said Sometimes, yes.
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This time is wasnt. I cant imagine laying in a hospital bed wondering if I’ll be able to walk again because I had to pee. This woman may regret that decision for a lifetime.

By: Carlo

Carlo — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 14:43:46 +0000

Sometimes, yes. You have to go that bad. But I do suspect the majority of folks who decide to take a bathroom break during turbulence probably haven’t given any thought to THAT kind of turbulence and probably could wait.

By: Frank

Frank — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 13:00:21 +0000

So, the lesson I’m taking away from this is that no matter how many miles I’ve flown, or how amusing the Southwest safety spiel is, I think I’ll listen to any advice they can give me. My life, or quality of life, may depend on it.
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Great article, Laura. It underscores how severe injuries can be when you dont follow safety procedures. How many times have we stated, “Turbulence is not always predicted, keep your seatbelt on at ALL TIMES”. It’s an FAA regulation. I’ve had to argue with passengers who feel the rules dont apply to them. Even worse, while I felt my own safety was in question, I’ve gone and buckled in only to look up the aisle and watch some (foolish) passenger get up!
FYI: If you’re in bad turbulence, and your safety is in question, HIT THE FLOOR and HOLD ON.
Years ago, I was on a flight where the aircraft dropped over 700 FEET. My co-worker and I were THROWN to the ceiling from our jumpseats. My face was pressed against the ceiling lights. All I heard was my coworker, screaming. When the pilot corrected the aircraft, we were then THROWN to the floor. She looked like a rag doll being thrown around the galley floor. She was hurt. Upon landing, paramedics met the aircraft. I learned later that she had several ruptured disc’s in her back. Had no feeling in her legs for several days. Was out of work for over 7 months.

Follow instructions? I wish.
I see it everyday. Yelling from my jumpseat, “Sit DOWN”. Only to get a response, “But, I have to go.”
That was MORE IMPORTANT then your safety?????