Cheat sheet for flying: when the captain turns on the fasten seatbelt sign, you fasten your seatbelt. A group of travelers on a flight to Singapore must have slept through that day in class and now find themselves in detention.
When The Captain Turns On The Fasten Seatbelt Sign, It Is Not Optional
In my travels over the years, spanning millions of miles and 141 countries, I’ve observed many different approaches to the seatbelt light onboard. In fact, the two airlines I fly the most seem to take a very different approach to the seatbelt light. On Lufthansa, the light goes off shortly after takeoff and rarely comes on again until just before landing. I’ve been on flights with some serious bumps where the captain left the sign off.
On the other hand, the airline I fly the most is much more aggressive about the fasten seatbelt sign. Generally speaking, a United Airlines captain will take 20-30 minutes to turn the sign off, then turn it back on at a moment’s notice should we hit even the slightest bump.
But whatever the proclivity of the captain, it really does not mater: when the seatbelt sign is on, you respect it.
What about when the flight attendants want a break and ask the captain to turn on the seatbelt sign even the air is smooth? Obey the sign. What about when the captain turns on the seatbelt sign for too early before landing? Obey the sign.
I’d say the only potential grounds for getting up are truly an emergency, which could include an “I can’t hold it anymore” trip to the lavatory (which is why you should use the restroom before boarding always).
An Incident In Singapore
Per, Paddle Your Own Kanoo, on a recent Scoot flight from Bali (DPS) to Singapore (SIN) at least a handful of passengers refused to fasten their seatbelt as the flight began its final approach into Singapore Changi. In fact, the captain announced a go-around, sternly warning the cabin that there would be police summoned if they did not comply.
@audikhalid what happens when you dont fasten your seatbelt
The Airbus A320 landed in Singapore…and was met by police. A woman with child was seen being escorted off and a man was filmed being interviewed in the terminal outside the jetbridge.
I know it’s fairly obvious, but the rule is simple: just fasten your seatbelt.
CONCLUSION
When it comes to flying, the captain is in charge and the captain must follow certain safety protocols. It’s not a good idea to defy the captain or flight attendants when instructed to fasten your seatbelt. To avoid legal jeopardy, just fasten the belt.
“I’d say the only potential grounds for getting up are truly an emergency, which could include an “I can’t hold it anymore” trip to the lavatory (which is why you should use the restroom before boarding always).”
You speak as though if you go before the flight you’ll never have to pee again.
Right?!!! I wonder how old the author is. Hope he never has certain health issues later in life that might make him rethink his high-horsedness.
I get it, and I wear my seatbelt the entire flight, even when the sign is off – unless I have to get up for “something.” But when I do get out of my seat, it’s by absolute necessity. Otherwise, as long as I’m in the seat, the belt is on.
No judgement. Live and let live…
Sorry, Matthew, I would have responded sooner, but I was in the bathroom 😀
Unrelated to the article- but Matthew I was curious about what your thoughts are in terms of the new Star Alliance Credit Card?
Will discuss tomorrow. There’s great promise and potential.
Not wearing seatbelt is an example of stupidity. It is for your own safety (and others as well). I can’t understand people that don’t wear seatbelts (many taxi drivers in Europe plug the seatbelt behind their backs just so the car stops beeping. It is Darwinism at its finest.
Now, airlines need to stop being so by the book with some stupid rules. Yesterday, I boarded a United Express from a small airport in Colorado to Denver. It was a small jet with maybe 40 passengers on it. We boarded on time, doors were closed to just then the captain inform us that due to air traffic control we would be on the ground for another hour. Really?? Couldn’t he have delayed boarding by at least another 30 minutes? Well, to makes things worse, a young FA was in her days to play the boss. As soon as the door was closed and we were all informed we would be sitting there for another hour, she decided that every passenger had to place their cell phones on airplane mode. Not only she repeated that several times but she walked down the aisle several times looking at any passenger that had their phones on their hands and tell them to turn them off. What is wrong with her? Seriously? First, this is the dumbest rule ever as there is no evidence that using a cell phone while taxing will interfere with the way the plane functions. Second.we were parked at the gate for 1 hour so why cell phones could not be used? It is because of stupid rules like this that you see more and more issues between passengers and crew on planes.
Taxi drivers are exempt in many places from using seatbelts. This is so they can make a quick escape from an attack or robbery. Apparently rear seated passengers have used the seatbelts to strangle or restrain drivers. Terrible choice & few Plexiglas dividers.
I view the plane as a foreign country. As soon as the you step on the crew can make all their own rules & better to comply than challenge. And mostly it’s in everybody’s best interest. And sometimes for reasons we won’t know.
Regarding seatbelts, I rather take the chance of not escaping a robbery but living after an accident. I lived in NH for many years. “Live free or die”. Yes, seatbelts are not required. I never understood how can someone be so stupid to not wear seatbelt on a state that gets lots of ice and snow. It is beyond me.
As for the stupid airplane mode rule, please explain me what hidden reason that we don’t know may be that once the door closes but the plane sits by the gate for a full hour using internet on a cell phone is extremely dangerous. It is simply a FA trying to be “by the book” and using her power to make people’s lives miserable.
As I said the drivers face an awful choice. As the no cell phone whilst at the gate for an hour who knows? When something silly like that happens I imagine an equally silly reason. But it’s their turf, their rules and I try not to poke bears.
Doesn’t really make sense to me. The time saved by not being buckled in is almost non existent. If the rider has a gun, running away is unlikely to help. It would save more time by allowing taxis to not have driver side doors because I promise opening the door and climbing out takes more time.
I don’t believe I’ve ever read of a taxi driver preventing a robbery by abandoning the car and running off. Sure, it pretty much has to have happened but I hardly see a police chief looking over a set of statistics, nodding his head in relief and saying, “You know, this new law allowing taxi drivers to not wearing seat belts has dramatically reduced taxi robberies”.
Just to help make travellers more aware, notice of delays due to Air Traffic Control are not always known in advance and even when they are the flight is not entered into the “queue” until a request has been made to push back. Which means even if airline knows there is going to be a delay coming they must board and prepare to push back as normal.
There would be fewer violations of getting up while the seat belt sign is on if the captain was considerate when making the “seatbelts on” announcement.
Last month I was on a flight where the captain turned on the seatbelt sign without any warning 40 minutes out from landing on a 90 minute flight — just after the FAs had finished beverage service — and there was absolutely no turbulence. That created an uncomfortable situation for those who needed to use the restroom.
Last week I was on a flight where the captain came on to say “I will be turning on the seatbelt sign in 15 minutes so this is your chance to move around the cabin.” That was appreciated and gave people time to make a trip to the restroom — a much better way to handle turning on the seatbelt sign.
I agree. There was a time when the seatbelt sign regularly went off very promptly and if it came back on before the descent, there was a darn good reason for it.
These days the light is on far too much. I don’t pay much attention to it for that reason.
I would if I were going into Singapore with a warning about it though…
To bandmeeting. I use a driver who explained the situation to me. It’s true, awful and real. This is why drivers received this exemption and it’s not a new law. And if you’re still doubtful please look into it. It’s not just large cities in the US other countries as well. It’s a dangerous job
Supposed to be a thumbs up but I guess that doesn’t work here
Until recently – I assume it’s no longer the case but I’ll find out tomorrow – Ryanair had a policy, due to Covid19 of keep the seatbelt sign on for the entire flight. But pax ignored it and, more importantly, there was no pushback from the cabin crew.
What an imbecilic thing to say. If you said to obey the seat belt sign during take off and landing, everyone would agree. That’s not what you said. Captains routinely leave the seat belt sign on multiple hours on some flights despite little turbulence. Are passengers supposed to sit and not use the restroom when it is empty for 2 hours despite little turbulence: f no. Your post is absurd. Did you take your medicine today? It’s not reasonable from a safety and medical perspective for passengers to remain seated during cruise if they need to use the restroom or stretch their legs. Why don’t you move to North Korea, although, they probably have more freedom than people like you want here and in Europe. This and the nonsense of paying respects to “statesmen” who sold out our freedom because we must obey the will of rats.
Are you a Trump supporter?
Now there’s someone I would stay away from if he did not obey. I would not want my own safety to be compromised and possibly to be physically assaulted by his potential anger if I told him to “obey.”
What a beta response.
Gamma sweetheart.
You do know that I can track your IP, right?
There are too many in-flight incidents to address in confirmation of it, but the primary reason an inexplicable seat belt sign comes on in what would be characterized as smooth air is summarized in what is referred to in aviation vernacular as “clear air turbulence”, also known by its acronym, CAT. It can pop up out of nowhere and airborne radar does not pick it up. Almost always, it is other aircraft in the vicinity who experience CAT and report it to ATC for dissemination down the line between sectors. You will never know what hit you if you do encounter it with no advance warning and your seat belt is off. They will be pealing you off the ceiling. In-flight pictures of aircraft that have encountered it would make you think the airplane had experienced an explosive decompression. Passengers have been killed numerous times over the years and such events often require a diversion to the nearest suitable airport to deal with multiple injuries, with the FAs usually heading up the list. Keep the thing on – even if it’s on loosely, it will give you some measure of protection when CAT does occur. As for me, my seatbelt stays firmly in place (just like the crew upfront does), as you don”t know when or where CAT can and will show itself. If you do experience it, I promise you will never unbuckle again in-flight unless you really need to visit the lavatory. It’s quite a demonstration of physics and aerodynamic principles at work.
If you’re in your seat on an airplane and not wearing your seatbelt you are a fool. Ever hear of unanticipated turbulence, people?
As the occupant of the left hand seat up the pointy end, when I flick the switch I expect all pax to be sensible and buckle up………..there’s always a good reason for it, aside from departure and landing, but always somebody on board who clambers out of their middle row seat to use a washroom with the plane on finals. The other annoying habit of some pax is to be unbuckled, up out of their seats, clogging the aisles trying to empty the overhead bins with the plane still rolling down to taxi speed on the runway. Numpties.
Cap’t, human behavior is what it is, it is definitely difficult and almost impossible to control everyone. And you want to stay away from angry, anxious, non-compliant people to avoid escalating the situation. They have been warned if they get injured in turbulence. Right?
The trouble is that when the idiot who won’t obey goes flying around the cabin in turbulence, he bashes into people who did obey and they get hurt too. His right to make stupid choices ends when those choices harm others.
From my experience I’ve found that US based airline are much more conservative with the seatbelt light than the European based carriers I’ve flown.
Definitely. Americans have a military mindset and to obey.
People get angry and upset and it might be risky for the flight attendant’s safety if you tell them to “obey.” If you have an angry, violent person that does not obey, I would say leave them alone because you are at risk of being physically assaulted. It is their problem if they get injured in turbulence; they have been warned. Therefore, if I were the instructor in flight attendant school, I would say it is up to the discretion of the flight attendant to enforce the seat belt rule. You don’t want to escalate the situation if someone does not obey.
My experience is that if the captain tells flight attendants to sit down then it’s probably going to be bumpy and justify strict enforcement, otherwise it’s a cya thing. I seen in other countries that when the seatbelt sign comes on flight attendants actually sit down, which explains why some airlines turn it on less.
When I’m sitting down I wear it just in case, but I find it really hard to believe there is a high likelihood of danger on a flight with a US airline unless the flight attendants have been told to sit down. And if you get up while they are up they have mostly just reminded you it’s on, but I’ve never really seen them pushing it too much.
I have been on flights where the crew has scrambled to replace a bottom seat cushion, and that delays the flight. I don’t know the exact cause of the soaked seat nor how it voted.
On a recent flight from Berlin to Newark, the captain turned the seat belt sign on twice after the main meal was served. There was no turbulence. I assume he had told the flight crew to notify him if too many people get up to use the toilet. This made sleeping very difficult. Next time I’ll fly Lufthansa.
I don’t agree with your “follow it in all cases rule.” I would say on a European, African, Middle Eastern, Pacific, or non-Chinese Asian carrier, yes, when it’s on, sit down and buckle up.
On US carriers, I do think the pilots can be a little over-zealous with the seat belt sign. If the flight has been smooth for 30 minutes, but the light is on, I don’t think going to the bathroom is a big deal. There is also no doubt in my mind that there are times when the crew asks them to turn it on so they don’t have to provide service. I generally follow the seat belt sign in the US, but when it’s obviously egregious, I don’t.
Mainland Chinese carriers generally keep the seat belt sign on the entire flight, and just ding it twice when passing through rough air. IMO, the seat belt sign on Mainland Carriers is about as enforceable as their “turn your phone off” rule.