And now for a question completely different
 

This question doesn't have so much to do with actually being somewhere, but the travel itself. As passengers on a flight, what do you think of those stupid announcements we (as pilots/flight attendants/etc) make? It seems like nobody listens to them. I remember a flight on Southwest where the flight attendant kept saying "blah blah blah, you're no listening to me" and no one picked up on it. I think the only time people listen is during a delay.

Anyways, for your benefit, what, as a passenger, do you want to hear during a delay, before takeoff, and when we're nearing landing? Any info besides the weather, time to land?

I tend to fly, domestically about 80K + miles a year. Over the past years, I've been in more than one 'near miss'. During the 'emergency instructions' I know all about the oxygen masks, etc.. and I can and have opened the emergency door. .so I tend to not pay too much attention to that - before I sit down, you can be damn sure I know where the emergency exit is and how many rows forward or back from my seat it is.. So I generally don't pay much attention to those announcements either..

If it's my first time flying on a certain plane, I will listen to the announcements just in case something is different.

Flight announcements... Eh - flight route is interesting to me, becuse when you are a regular on a flight, it's interesting to me to see how many different ways there are to get there -- (especially when we enter Canuckistani air space) I frankly only care if I am delayed if I am transferring planes (and i try to avoid that because there are always so many delays) Delays are more common than being on time flying out of the northeast -- it's bigger news when the plane is on time. Weather I could care less about... What gate we're landing at - matters to me at some airports (if I am not transferring, because I know how far from the baggage claim I am... and where the restrooms are.

A few years ago, Air Canada started detailing the reasons for delays over the PA. We passengers may not be able to do anything with that information, but I find it helpful to understand the logistics of airtravel.

The knowledge that the catering truck has a flat tire, there is a weasel loose in the cargo hold and that the crew is stuck on a flight delayed out of Houston allows me to forgive the airline a little and wait patiently for the problems to be resolved.

Most of the time I don't listen because we've all heard the exact same thing so many times. I'll agree with the others in that I like information as to why we are delayed or the flight route, but beyond that... It's the same thing I've heard on every other flight I've ever taken, and I'd rather keep reading my book.

I think I hear everything you say but I don't look up from my book. What is there to look at? The emergency info is basically the same everytime. I take a quick look to see where the closest exit is... I do look the pamphlet over if I'm in the exit row.

As far as reason's for the delay... sometimes I don't want to know. I really don't want to know if they are still trying to figure out what's wrong with the plane or if it's something to do with the engine or something else "important". I'd rather pretend the airline just can't get their shit together.

i always listen to them and make sure i read the instructions they leave for you in the net behind the seat in front of you..or is that just boredom setting in.... dunno but i do it every time

I half listen while I'm finding my page in my book, or figuring out what movie to watch on my laptop, or figuring out how I am going to be able to sleep with that little brat behind me kicking my seat.


The more information we have about delays, the better (as mentioned above). If you are a bit witty, feel free to crack a joke. I guess the most important thing is that, if we are delayed, held up, or someting is going amiss, tell us as much as you can, so we can understand. Do your best to keep YOUR cool and stay as cheerful as possible, and we're most likely to reciprocate.

I like to know what's going on around me. I'm the sort of person that'll watch the Flight Info channel on flights. That or talk to the stewards if it's long haul. With the advent of budget travel, so many passengers seem to be forgetting that cabin crew are people too, and they've usually got a funny/strange story up their sleeve.

I'll second that. I'd rather know.

I do listen to the announcements, first thing I do is find the nearest exit.

Best one I ever heard: A pilot on America West. "Ladies and Gentlemen, our take off will be delayed shortly while we file an amended flight plan to route around some severe weather.

We'll let you know our progress, but while you wait, please remember that its better to be down here wishing you were up there, than up there wishing you were down here..."

When I'm in the terminal, let me know if there will be a delay, and how long you think the delay will be.

When I'm in the air, let me know if we will be landing late, and some information about gate changing is nice.

Don't bother telling me that we are flying over some landmark; half the people are on the wrong side of the plane to see it, at least half of the people on the correct side don't have a window seat, and many of the people on the correct side with a window seat don't care, are asleep, are reading, or otherwise occupied.

The safety announcements, I listen to them, but even if I didn't, it's a federal regulation.