Mini-rant: Seatbacks upright BEFORE the fasten seatbelt sign is switched on

[HKG1]

On my last 2 flights to Bangkok and the returns to SIN in the last 10 days, I have definately noticed that the SIA crew are much more diligent about bags being pushed all the way under the seat in front of you, window shades up earlier and seatbelts on etc almost as soon as the pilot begins finals(anywhere between 20-30 mins approx)

The biggest difference I have noticed is being told to switch the IPod off. I fly at least 6 times a month around Asia and only very occasionally in the past have I been told to switch it off either at take off or landing.

I know of the debate about electronic equipment interference etc rages on, but apart from phones being regularly targeted for being on, it's only these last few flights where a seemingly concerted effort is being deployed to make sure IPods and noise cancelling earphones are switched off at take off and landing.

I'm pretty sure that the cessation of the "blind eye" towards Ipods and related earphones is geared towards a new directive on safety for the crews. Perhaps they are being measured on it somehow.

Hell, I was even told to switch the Ipod off on the A380 the other week in business class just after seatbelt signs were switched on for approach into SYD. I didn't sign up for that !! LOL

Don't get me wrong, I don't really mind, but it is definately more noticable to me.

Is this just an SIA thing? Or does this happen with other Asian carriers at the moment.

I was on a domestic US Continental flight in February and they made it very clear on the flight as to what the rules were, ie, "please turn off all electronic equipemnt, and yes!!!, we do mean IPods and anything with an on off switch!!!" The rule is with them that you can use them when 10,000ft is reached or when directed by the crew.

[jhm]

4)Your plausible reason about the crew's convenience of doing it earlier is err... so that they can sit down and relax a bit for working ever so hard? Then I concur and I think most of them deserve that.

If that's the real reason on a particular flight, then that's perfectly fine with me. Kindness, respect and tolerance to everyone (crew, ground staff etc) should flow both ways. (Yes, I pay for my own tix, a few of which are J or F, but that doesn't change things.)

IMHO, life is too short to get overly steamed up over an extra 10-15 minutes of sleep (yes, I've gone straight from overnight longhaul flights to work before - another one next week) or the crew bending the rules in my favour (or inconsistency if you like ).

[jhm]

Hell, I was even told to switch the Ipod off on the A380 the other week in business class just after seatbelt signs were switched on for approach into SYD. I didn't sign up for that !! LOL

I think the debate in this thread is about whether seats should be put upright, electrical equipment turned off etc before the seat belt sign comes on. I've always understood that we should do all these things once the seat belt light is turned on for the final approach.

[milehighj]

So in Y, we would usually hear, in total 2 'return to your seats' announcements.

Wonder why this was not done on your flt today

1)Anyway, to rest my case, I am just merely saying that in Y the announcements differs slightly from P/J as shown above.

For clarity, I fly Y often - for personal travel and all corporate travel under 3 hours. YMMV, but I concur with StarG's surprise that there are two sets of announcements for Y and P/J. I have not experienced this, and think it is not common practice.

2)The crew has a job to ensure the cabin is cleared and ready for landing as long as the prep for arrival announcement has been made.
There is no new set of directive mentioned by me. Just my observations from flying SQ for more than 10 years in P/J/Y.

Ok now I am confused. I was under the impression that you are in possession of a new set of directives which suggest crew should "prepare the aircraft for arrival" earlier than we have been used to?

3) Seat belt sign is only but a cue that the plane is on it's final approach or in some cases, turbulence.

I respectfully disagree. If the standard cabin announcement which follows the seatbelt sign coming on says "return to your seat, fasten your seatbelt, etc. etc.", then quite naturally you would not be expected to be strapped in, seated upright BEFORE such an announcement.

4)Your plausible reason about the crew's convenience of doing it earlier is err... so that they can sit down and relax a bit for working ever so hard? Then I concur and I think most of them deserve that.

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Again, I disagree. I have no problem if the crew wish to retrieve the headsets, cups etc., for their convenience, or as you put it, to deservedly relax after "working ever so hard".

But I draw the line at being asked to be seated upright 30 mins before landing. It's an unjustifiable and unnecessary inconvenience to the paying passenger. My 2 cents and I stand by that.

[milehighj]

Just to add that, discounting some huffy posts about crew being at "safety risk" in situations where the seatbelt sign is NOT on, I have yet to hear a plausible, coherent reason why customers who pay for the comfort of SQ's First, Business and Economy seats and service would be required to be seated upright 30 minutes before arrival.

[SQ LPP]

For clarity, I fly Y often - for personal travel and all corporate travel under 3 hours. YMMV, but I concur with StarG's surprise that there are two sets of announcements for Y and P/J. I have not experienced this, and think it is not common practice.

Which is also to my surprise why both of you do not hear the said announcements in Y

They must have deliberately turned it on for me then and not do it when both of you are flying in Y

Ok now I am confused. I was under the impression that you are in possession of a new set of directives which suggest crew should "prepare the aircraft for arrival" earlier than we have been used to?

I PM-ed StarG to show him which announcement he was missing out for the past year or more....(apparently you too).
Not a directive...never said anything about that.

Just some announcements for Y and why it differs from P/J.
Which means to say, for those who only obey announcements ...in Y we should be putting our seats upright, etc even if it means 30 mins before touchdown.


OT: I must say then your flt today in Y must have been so abnormal.....no SIN Immigration announcement, no collection of headsets announcement....

[milehighj]

I PM-ed StarG to show him which announcement he was missing out for the past year or more....(apparently you too).
Not a directive...never said anything about that.

My bad. It's not a directive. You said latest document.

OT: I must say then your flt today in Y must have been so abnormal.....no SIN Immigration announcement, no collection of headsets announcement....

Yes there were other standard announcements. No headsets announcement cos it was CGK-SIN.

[StarG]

FWIW, the document I had was current as of mid-2007. So I am not sure why SQ Solitaire said that the new document is around for around two years.

As to why I didn't hear it... maybe because it didn't exist?

With regards to respect to the crew members, I always exercise that. But nevertheless I would appreciate & expect professionalism from crew members.

In any case, since there seem to be a serious communication breakdown in this thread, I would like to ask to be excused from further discussions.

[SQ LPP]

My bad. It's not a directive. You said latest document.

Yeah Was using the same word that StarG used.

Yes there were other standard announcements. No headsets announcement cos it was CGK-SIN

Try listening harder next time when you are not doing a CGK flt ....coz it's a very rushed flt. If in J..ask for the last row...You will hear the announcements come on for Y differently. I know them SO well I can almost recite it along with the LSS My ann. fetish

[jhm]

I know them SO well I can almost recite it along with the LSS My ann. fetish

Once the clash of the titans about the onboard announcements is over, can we move on to the next round of the SQ lurve contest ? Perhaps who can whistle the safety video tune ?

[SQ LPP]

FWIW, the document I had was current as of middle of 2007. So I am not sure why SQ Solitaire said that the new document is around for around two years.

I won't comment as I have not seen what doc you are holding.

As to why I didn't hear it... maybe because it didn't exist?

Some ppl don't naturally listen to announcements.

[SQ LPP]

Once the clash of the titans about the onboard announcements is over, can we move on to the next round of the SQ lurve contest ? Perhaps who can whistle the safety video tune ?

Oooh! I know of a gal who can do that.

I can only say that I know all the words of the safety vidz by heart.

[SQ LPP]

In any case, since there seem to be a serious communication breakdown in this thread, I would like to ask to be excused from further discussions.

I also rest my case.

[banx007]

[QUOTE=milehighj;49966]Just to add that, discounting some huffy posts about crew being at "safety risk" in situations where the seatbelt sign is NOT on, I have yet to hear a plausible, coherent reason why customers who pay for the comfort of SQ's First, Business and Economy seats and service would be required to be seated upright 30 minutes before arrival.[/QUOTE
In within 30 mins of arrival or after he captain has made the annoucement, the crew has to clear the galley, the cabin, do a stockcheck on the drinks and inflight sales, handle last min request on drinks or immigration cards and etc. They also have to wake up a few hundred passengers, to make their seat upright and make sure they are belted down. not forgetting the window shades. Bottom line is that they will be very busy right after the cabin annoucement. It will be more when it is a short flight.So if your sleep is very much important, do let them know and they will gladly wake u up in the final seconds before touchdown.

[milehighj]

I know them SO well I can almost recite it along with the LSS My ann. fetish

Yes but can you do it in Singaporean-accented German, as they do ex-FRA?