Why do we bother having seatbelt signs? I say this for the following reason; Passengers seem to completely disregard them!

Now, all passengers DO fasten their seatbelts for take-off and landing – but only because the crew physically check each and every one of them. But, many seem to believe that they can ignore them once we have landed and started taxiing to the gate.

The Flight Attendants are still wearing seatbelts – so why do passengers believe that they do not need to wear theirs?

It’s a question that crosses me mind EVERY DAY without fail. As soon as we have slowed down after landing, and pulled off the runway, I can hear the sound of metal buckles being unfastened. WHY?! Where do you think you are going? You can’t get out of your seat – so why unfasten your belt?

During taxi I admit it can feel as though we are travelling very slowly – but only because we have just slowed down from 150mph. We are still travelling at approx 30mph. Would you drive your car at that speed without your seatbelt on? Probably not – although I’m sure there are some that would and maybe these are the same passengers that feel it is necessary to unfasten their seatbelt before coming to a final stop.

Even worse, why oh why do some people decide it is safe to STAND UP while we are taxiing? Despite the public announcement stating otherwise.

We do not say the following for fun;

Please keep your seatbelts fastened until we have come to a complete and final stop AND the captain switches off the fasten seatbelt signs above you.

We really mean it. Stay in your seats with your belt fastened until the captain has given you the all clear. It’s for YOUR SAFETY.

Nobody is going to get off the aircraft until;

1. We have arrived at the gate
2. The doors have been opened
3. The ground staff have given us permission to allow you to disembark

So – you are not going to get anywhere faster by attempting to get your bags out of the overhead locker before we have arrived at the gate. So stay in your seats!

This also – of course – applies to your children. Yes, believe it or not (and I wouldn’t if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes), parents let their precious young children jump around with their seatbelts unfastened during the taxi.

Not only this, but those parents tend to ‘give us attitude’ when we demand that they secure their child with the seatbelt until we reach the gate.

The worst example I’ve witnessed took place only a few weeks ago in Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport. It’s a long taxi from the runway to the terminal we use at CDG, and I’m sure it’s a struggle to keep your child entertained whilst strapped in their seats. But a couple on this particular flight decided the best thing to do was to swing their child around by her legs and hang her high above their heads – upside down of course.

Despite TWO public announcements telling them to secure their child immediately – one from myself and the other from one of my colleagues – it still took a member of crew to endanger their own safety by walking up the cabin to demand the child is secured.

Guess what the reply from the mother was?

It is my child, and I decide what is safe and what isn’t

When you are onboard our aircraft madam, WE decide what is safe and what is not. Simple as that. Failure to comply is a criminal offence. In fact – one of our passengers has just been to court after deciding he was not going to fasten his seatbelt during turbulence despite the crew’s insistence that he has to. I’m pretty sure he has now learned his lesson…….

The seatbelt sign is illuminated for a reason – SAFETY. If the captain decides it is safe for you (or your child) to take off the seatbelt, then he or she will turn the sign off.

I will be writing an article on the complete lack of control some parents have over their children in a future article – and how some parents even think it is our responsibility to control them. Prepare to be surprised….

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