Flight Attendants Weigh in on the Unspoken Etiquette of Paging Cabin Crew
As air travellers, we’ve all been there. Maybe you’re thirsty, hungry, have trash to throw away, or want someone to intervene with a disruptive child seated near you. The flight attendant call button is gleaming overhead, promising to send over a friendly crew member to solve your problems. But is it rude to page a flight attendant for one of these reasons?
The answer varies by situation. Most flight attendants admit that there’s a certain unspoken etiquette to using the call button properly that takes into consideration the phase of the flight, where a passenger is seated, and what the request may be.
Safety always comes first regarding the call button: if you see something unusual or if a situation appears to be unsafe, hit the button quickly without a second thought.
Hands Off the Button During Taxi, Takeoff, and Landing
If you’re contemplating ringing the call button as the aircraft is accelerating down the runway for takeoff to ask for a soda, expect some withering side-eye stares from the cabin crew. “It’s never okay to ring the call button during taxi, take-off, or landing unless it’s an emergency,” says a Boston-based flight attendant. “Those are the phases of the journey that carry the highest likelihood in which something could go wrong.”
Some Things Can Wait
Many flight crew members are happy to respond to a page from a call button once the plane is at cruising altitude—with one major caveat. “I personally tell passengers it’s okay to ring the call button if they want another drink or snack. I’d much rather they call me than block the aisle and path to the bathroom with the beverage carts,” says an Orlando-based flight attendant. However, flight attendants’ patience wears thin when it comes to trash clean-up. “No airline has a trash container on the beverage cart, so please don’t try to hand us your trash while we’re serving drinks and food,” she explains.
It Depends on Where You’re Seated
For some cabin crew, your right-to-call button access depends on where you’re seated. “If the in-flight service is over, and the passenger is seated at the window or in the center seat, they can ring the call button anytime,” says a New York flight attendant. “However, if you’re in the aisle seat, you’re welcome to come to the back and ask for what you need.”
“My Biggest Pet Peeve”
Ringing the call button to flag down a crew member is always a better idea than physically touching a flight attendant to get their attention. “Anything is better than being poked in the side while walking down the aisle. It’s my biggest pet peeve,” explains an Atlanta-based crew member. “The call button is there for a reason. Passengers can use it anytime they have a need—but please don’t touch the flight attendants.”
