People always said "Customer is a King", "customer always correct", but let me tell you this, All of that will not happen in airline industry.
Some of us might be a frequent traveler, some of us may be the first timer, but this information might help you understand more about the aircraft and to let you know what is the reason behind all the cabin crew command, from the time you step in the cabin during boarding until end of your flight.
1. FAST BOARDING
ALL transportation need some parking space and it is chargeable. Same with airline, whenever the aircraft park in an airport, it will be charge per minute. The faster the airplane push back, the lesser the Airline company need to pay the airport. Other reason, ALL FAs in the world will only get paid when the aircraft door is close and push back. The faster you board the aircraft, the faster you will get to your destination and the faster the cabin crew get paid.
2, PED (Portable Electronic Devices) OFF BEFORE DOORS ARE CLOSE
In october last year (2013), FAA allows passenger to use their electronic devices during take off and landing. That will only happen in the States, but not in ASIAN Airlines. Nowadays, everyone will own at least 1 mobile phone. some of them will have 2 phones, a tablet and a laptop to travel with them. the reason we are the passenger to switch off the phone before doors are close because for obvious reason, phone call or other transmitting devices might interfere the communication between cockpit and ATC Tower (Air Traffic Control), although this thing has not happen yet, take some precaution will always a better way to play safe.
second reason, There are hundreds of other passenger in the cabin with only 9 to 15 crew in the cabin (depends on airlines standard). FAs have no time to entertain one by one if one taking their own sweet time to switch off their device. They need to be seated and takeoff as soon as possible. It save FA's time to inform all passengers by making Public Announcement.
3. BAGS STOWED IN THE OVERHEAD COMPARTMENT or UNDER THE SEAT IN FRONT OF YOU
For obvious reason; in case of evacuation especially those who are seated at the emergency row, the passenger seated inside or around you will have difficulties to evacuate if your bags or pillow are all over the floor. worse might be a hazard for all the passenger surround you. That's why FAs will always tell you "you may bring it down after takeoff or after seatbelt signs are switch off.
secondly, in case of emergency evacuation, FAs need a minimum time to evacuate all the passengers. EACH passenger seat in ALL airlines is equipped with lifevest for evacuation purpose. What will happen if you pull your bag instead of lifevest?
4. DIMMING CABIN LIGHT FOR TAKEOFF OR LANDING AT NIGHT
number 1, ALL human need several minutes to adjust our eyes with total darkness. We will see total darkness when the lights is off suddenly. Number 2, most of aircraft accident happens during takeoff and/or landing. This is why, they need to dim or off the cabin light for you to adjust with darkness, in case of emergency evacuation at night, you are able to see during evacuation.
read the research regarding How our eyes adjust to darkness.
5. LATE/SLOW SERVICE
ALL HUMAN only have 2 hands and FAs need to do hundreds of things in flight starting from takeoff to landing. Each flight only have 9 to 16 FAs (Depends on Airline standard) with hundreds of passengers and thousands of requests (each) during the flight. So please bare with the crew if they serve you slow or late; even toilet can only serve 1 person at a time.
6. TURBULENCE
Captain will always Switch On the Fasten-Seatbelt Sign if there's a turbulence/weather condition. Especially if you hear the Captain says "Cabin Crew Please Be Seated", it's going to be super bumpy. As a passenger, you better DO SO.
Generally, Turbulence is quite harmless, Clear Air turbulence, however, is another story. Clear Air Turbulence is the most dangerous kind, as it occurs in cloudless skies with perfect visibility-so oncoming turbulence cannot be picked up by weather radar. This gives leaves little to no time for the pilot to warn passengers to return to their seats and buckle up their seatbelt. Most injuries-inflight happened due to clear air turbulence.
The only way of preventing turbulence-related injuries is to keep your seatbelt fastened whenever you are seated. Simple saying, when the FA tells you to be seated with your seatbelt securely fastened, please do so. You can hold your pee for few minutes, aren't you?
7. DIVERSION
Diversion of a flight will DEFINITELY costly to the airline company; refueling, parking, documentation, doctors, police, etc. ALL of that is to ensure your SAFETY. FULL STOP. You don't want to fly with rowdy, intoxicated, loud, or even dangerous passenger right? Same to the cabin crew and their airlines company. They don't want this thing to happen. So please be a 'good kid' onboard. However, In case of medical case, that will be another story, It's Someone's LIFE.
8. MANY OF THE PLANE ARE FILTHY
First, you need to know that the water we pour from the pitcher or the coffee that we make may taste okay, but that doesn't mean it is clean. Water is housed in a special tank on each aircraft and is supposed to be disinfected on a regular basis by maintenance. The truth is however that many airlines outsource this kind of work to companies that are less than reputable. So, Please do not save you $5 just to get a (filthy) free drink. Buy a bottle of water onboard will keeps you dehydrated and healthier.
Second, many many many of the planes are filthy. Notice of the seats, floor, wall, windows. look around and notice how dirty it is. FAs and/or the cleaner usually do a quick cleaning during a fast turnaround but often there is little time to do it. They have no time to clean each seat, the whole flooring carpet, the wall, window, or even the toilets. Always make sure your carry on bags are zipped up and closed, you won't know how dirty the floor/compartment is.
9. ABUSING THE PASSENGER CALL BUTTON
Of cause we will do our best to serve you. By all means press it if you need to. Imagine working a 10-hours shift of non-stop requests accompanied by the noisy "Ding Ding Ding..." constantly ringing in your ears. keep walking in the different air pressure is a very exhausted things to do. Cabin Air Pressure is equivalent to the outside air pressure at 1800-2400m (6000-8000 feet) above sea level. imagine you need to keep walking for 10 hours on top of the mountain. FAs are human too, right?
10. SPECIAL REQUEST
you know yourself better than anybody else. Please make the necessary special request when you book your ticket. Once you're on the plane, it's too late to inform the FAs that you need a low-sugar, gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian meal. ALL Catering company will not operate in the airport building. They need time to prepare, to access the airport premises, to deliver to aircraft, etc. even a chef need time to prepare and cook for you in a restaurant, but please, this is airport.
If you under medications, by all mean please bring your own medications and a letter from your doctor. ALL airport will allows you to bring onboard with valid documentation proof. Most of the FAs have limited knowledge in medication (some know nothing), that's why they always page for doctor in case of medical emergency.
11. HANDING A BAG OF VOMIT/DIRTY NAPPY/BABY POOPS
Just be at the FAs shoes, will you take other people's vomits or baby poops?
12. SAFETY INFORMATION CARD
this card is not just a note to make your seat pocket full of stuffs, it is your life bible to survive in the aircraft. After takeoff, it's only you, FAs and other passengers. Nobody will help you in case of anything that happen onboard other than the FA. so please help the FAs by understanding and know the important of SAFETY.
13. QUESTIONS?
if you have any concerns, do not hesitate to ask/tell the FAs. They will be more than happy to let you know the answer. At the end of the day, it is Their duty to ensure your safety and comfortable at all time during the flight.
So please, just do whatever cabin crew told you. and if you wondering, FAs stand for Flight Attendant.
*All of the above information are for educational purpose. There's no intention of abusing the airlines company/industries. Any resemblance name, people, place, location, products, photos, company, characters, incident, events, trademarks, or even slogan mentioned are purely coincidental.
