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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to find it rude when people ignore the safety talk on an airplane?

122 replies

Beograde · 31/10/2012 22:38

I find it rude when the aircrew ask us to for just a few minutes attention before we take off, and so many people keep on reading, etc? I know most people have flown a lot of times before, and maybe won't learnt something, but I think we're only being asked for a couple of minutes attention or so, and it just seems rude and disrespectful.

AIBU?

OP posts:
McHappyPants2012 · 31/10/2012 22:41

Yanbu you could of flown a thousand times but it maybe a change in the safety policy.

kim147 · 31/10/2012 22:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Alisvolatpropiis · 31/10/2012 22:51

YABU - I don't imagine surviving a crash is that likely or that having done so,many will remember to do anything they were instructed to in the event of a crash. The cabin crew do it because they are paid to. Doubt they care at all if people watch or not.

LineRunner · 31/10/2012 22:52

Tbh I clock all the ignoramuses from the back, an work out how I will stand on their heads to escape.

TwitchyTail · 31/10/2012 22:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MrsTerryPratchett · 31/10/2012 22:58

I think it was Bill Hicks who said, "a plane crashed today but it was OK. No one died because they had all listened to the safety talk". I have heard that talk 3 times in one day before. It doesn't change a lot.

I am afraid of flying so have alternately listened intently with fingernails embedded in the seat arms or ignored it and pretended planes don't crash.

Original poster
Beograde · 31/10/2012 23:00

I can see it probably won't have a huge impact on one's survival chances. For me, it's largely to do with the way that people are asked, even if they are frequent flyers, just to give a moments attention to the briefing, and people choose to ignore them. It's more to do with respect I think.

OP posts:
Alisvolatpropiis · 31/10/2012 23:07

I did used to listen but being prone to being on the slightly panicky side when flying I've found it helps me not to even think about the fact planes crash. If it does,I'll probably die. I'd never talk over them,I usually just carry on reading.

Depending on the company you're with it's quite possible to not even be able to properly see the cabin crew giving the demonstration. I have flown with some awful companies EasyJet

MrsTerryPratchett · 31/10/2012 23:12

And, I have to listen to them in bloody French and English as well since I fly to and from Canada all the time. so I have actually heard one 5 times in one day. I would listen more if they were more honest... "your legs will probably be broken so you won't be able to get to the nearest exit" or "actually the brace position will probably break your neck". Stuff like that.

ninah · 31/10/2012 23:14

the one where they give you a whistle to blow if you crash over the atlantic? yabu

paneer · 31/10/2012 23:18

YANBU. In fact I was on a work related flight once and they said they were going to redo it as people were not paying attention!!

3 mins of your life...

Shovelnotspade · 31/10/2012 23:21

YABU. I had a loony secondment which meant commenting from London to Manchester so I heard that speech twice a day, every day, as dis most of the other passengers on the red eye.
And if the plane goes down, we re all knackered anyway. It's a statutory safety speech, not a minute's silence because someone has died!

MoonlightandWerewolves · 31/10/2012 23:29

Hmm - YABU from me.
I am afraid this is one that I don't pay any attention to, other than confirming the exits. I don't see not paying attention as rude as I am not preventing their message from getting across to anyone who might find it useful. Like someone said up-thread though, I wouldn't talk through it (as that is rude in my book), but just continue with whatever I'm doing.
In terms of dealings with airline staff though, they certainly get plenty of pleases and thank-you's from me for everything else they do, and I would always say thank you when dis-embarking.

Frankly given that the brace position is designed to help them recover one's dental records, I don't really think it's an important 'survival' chat mind you, more a reassurance for nervous flyers.

dysfunctionalme · 31/10/2012 23:30

YANBU and I know the flight attendants find it deeply insulting.

You may not believe it worthwile but give your fellow passengers the courtesy of a few minutes quiet so they can learn what to do, should they want to.

hmc · 31/10/2012 23:31

YABU - I will sit and read my book during the safety talk if I wish, I have heard it so many times I could probably deliver it myself. What business is it of yours if I don't sit their rapt with attention as long as I don't throw rotten tomatoes or start heckling? Save your energy and harrumph and bluster at something that does directly impinge upon you, you'll live longer

SoleSource · 31/10/2012 23:32

Lmao ninah

I suspect the stewardesses expect all sorts of reactions from all different kinds of people onboard a plane.

squoosh · 31/10/2012 23:35

YABU

When was the last time you heard a news item that said 'a plane went down in the Atlantic, passengers were saved as rescue crew saw their little reflective badges and heard them tooting their whistles'?

The safety talk has absolutely no bearing on whether you live or die, it's just a psychologial tool to make people feel equipped to cope with a possible disaster. If a plane crashes, you die.

pugglefan · 31/10/2012 23:36

I used to work as crew and the "readers" didn't bother me, but the people who talked through it (especially those who increased their volume so they can be heard over it) really used to piss me off. As did those who held their bloody great FT papers aloft so no one could see past.

I used to have a quiet word, then if they continued to talk, I would embarrass them in front of all the other customers. Got several rounds of applause doing that! Yup, I was a bitch....

Lueji · 01/11/2012 00:37

Some people will have heard it on the first leg of their trip, or quite recently.

But, yes, apparently, the brace position is to recover dental records and the life jacket is to more easily recover the bodies. Also why they prefer passengers to remain in their seats.

Still, some crashes are not 100% deadly. There was that river landing in the USA a while ago, for example.

Lueji · 01/11/2012 00:37

Well, not strictly "landing" of course...

ripsishere · 01/11/2012 00:57

I don't listen I'm afraid.
I have heard it so many times, it doesn't vary even according to the airline and I once sat next to a pilot who confirmed my suspicions.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 01/11/2012 01:02

We went abroad this year, first time my DC flew.
DS is nearly 13, DD 10.6.

DS was asking what the buttons/lights were above his seat .
I told him after the safety talk there was a Q&A quick quiz and the the light above your seat lit up you had to answer. And if you got it wrong they weren't allowed to take off.

I've never seen anyone concentrate so hard Grin

Longdistance · 01/11/2012 01:03

Yanbu at all.

I was cabin crew for 15 years, and it always got my goat that people didn't listen.

It is after all, only a few minutes. Regular travelers would ignore it understandably, but some wouldn't even clock to where they were sitting on the plane. It's when they talk through it which got me mad, especially those with loud voices. Loved bollocking them.

The brace position is so that not only are you protecting your head, if a bag falls out from the overhead locker, you'll be able to push it off. Also, if your hands aren't flapping everywhere, then it's less likely that your arms/ hands don't get broken, so you can undo our seatbelt if you survive also, it's a bit like being in a ball position iykwim.

sashh · 01/11/2012 01:04

There was that river landing in the USA a while ago, for example.

And if you look at the film, some people are carrying the seat cushion. They are the ones who paid attention and knew they were / are floatation devices.

The brace position has nothing to do with dental records, mythbusters checked out that one, you are actually better bracing.

I once had a personal briefing, difficult to ignore when you are boarded first and two members of staff come down to your seat and explain the safety briefing to you personally.

ZacharyQuack · 01/11/2012 01:57

Air New Zealand have videos for their safety talk.