Here’s an odd one: On my recent US Airways flight into Washington National, I couldn’t hear the safety briefing. Why? Because a guy three rows behind me was talking loudly, non-stop, during the briefing. He was in a pilot’s uniform. A first officer. And he wouldn’t shut up.
Now, with four million miles under my belt, I’ve probably heard the safety briefing enough times to know it well. But a lot of other people should probably be listening. Carefully. Frankly, since “the miracle on the Hudson,” even I pay a little more attention. Especially since I was in an exit row on this flight.
I debated getting up — a bad idea while we were taxiing — to ask him to quiet down. Or, I considered asking a flight attendant to have him shut up. But that’s a bad idea, too, and it puts the flight attendant in a very awkward position.
Instead, as I was getting off the plane, I decided to wait for him and politely but firmly offer a suggestion. The exchange went something like this:
(Me): “Can I ask you a favor? You, of all people, should be quiet during the safety briefing. You talked non-stop through it, and even though I was three rows away, I couldn’t hear the briefing because you were talking very loud.”
(Him): “I didn’t talk through the safety briefing.”
“Yes you did.” I said, “In fact, you were so loud that I wasn’t the only person looking at you.”
“I don’t think I talked — in fact, I didn’t even hear the safety briefing.”
“Exactly,” I replied, “because you talked through the whole thing.”
To his great credit — and perhaps because I’d already read the name on his ID badge — he backtracked.
“Well, I must have been talking, and you’re absolutely right. I should have been quiet. I’m sorry, and I’ll keep that in mind. I usually take the emergency information card out of the pocket and check it during the briefing, just like I do checklists in the cockpit. I’ll make sure I’m quiet during the briefings,” the captain said, “Sorry again.”
He was very polite and apologetic, when I had feared a confrontation.
And that’s why I’m not mentioning his name or sending a letter to his airline. (But for the record, he did not work for US Airways; he worked for a regional [commuter] airline.)
Next time someone sitting near you disrupts the safety briefing, you should ask them, politely but firmly, to be quiet. Even if you don’t need it, someone else may.
As Sully Sullenberger proved, it can be the difference between life and death.
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As a safety professional, YOU were amazing.
I was just thanked by a TWO MILLION MILE flyer the other day. Why, I briefed him on my exit. Not the……….are you willing to…blah, blah, blah….but, HERE’S WHAT I’M TAUGHT AS AN F/A. Assess, pull here, direct passengers to..etc…etc…etc
He wrote a complimentary note for my airline and SHOOK my hand.
I’m proud of your actions, Peter.
I really hate people talk loud on Air planes. Most of them are show-off new-rich parvenu want to impress their surrounding. The rest of the loud speaking travelers must have hearing related problem thinking other people need don’t get the talking like them.
On Feb 7, I had and Air Canada AC-112 from Vancouver to Montreal, we unfortunately had a indecent guy who talk loud all the way from theYVR Maple Leaf Lounge to the plane and until the landing in Montreal, 7 hours later, His female employee who accompanied him seems miserable but cannot say a word because he’s her boss.