Paul_H

Is it my imagination or do airline pilots and their crews talk too much?

Recently I flew from Auckland to Barcelona, a trip involving about 25 hours in the air (across 3 flights) and about 7 hours in transit. Not being very good at sleeping on planes, I had only dozed intermittently on the first couple of flights, so I was pretty tired by the time we boarded the third, Lufthansa from Frankfurt to Barcelona.

At about three points on this flight my tiredness began to win the battle over my insomnia, but each time the Captain or some other crew member came over the loudspeaker informing me of different things I needed to know. The large German river we were flying above was the Rhine. Actually it was just as well he told me this, as having seen the odd copse of trees here and there along its banks I'd figured it was probably the Amazon. At another point he informed us how much the plane had weighed when we took off vs. how much it would weigh when we landed. Heady stuff. And finally, that there were some clouds in the sky.

Ironically, if I'd been wide awake, those very same announcements would have rendered me comatose.

CH

Melnq8

I've had similar experiences on long haul flights. Mostly flight attendants talking amongst themselves none too quietly in the galley, seemingly oblivious to exhausted passengers who are trying to sleep (United and Swiss come to mind). It drives me insane, as it's so disrespectful, particularly to those of us who've made numerous connections and have been traveling for two days straight.

I've been tempted to scream "shut up, we're trying to sleep back here" but of course I've done no such thing.

I've never had this issue on Singapore Airlines, home to the most respectful, attentive flight attendants I've ever encountered.

Cowboy1968

It's easier to scream "shut up" at the FAs than at the loudspeakers. And, by the way, why should one not tell them to be quieter? Not by yelling at them, obviously.

But the worst of all are early-morning flights (I am NOT a morning person) with Brussels Airlines.
The announcements come in Flemish/Dutch, French, German and English. So whatever you usually hear just once or once more in the local language, you will hear four times.

Jeff_Costa_Rica

I don't think pilots need to or should play tour guide. AA's are pretty good about keeping announcements to a minimum. The captain comes on when the plane is close to cruising altitude to say "Welcome. We're about at our cruising altitude. I'm going to turn the seatbelt sign off but recommend that you keep it fastened when you're seated." Then once again shorty before landing to say "It's been our pleasure serving you today. Flight attendants prepare for landing." Anything else flight-related that requires attention too, obviously.

Once in awhile you get one who gabs into the PA system constantly. I don't like it either.

patandhank

I ditto the above. I don't like the pilot "tour guides" either. Usually the plane is so high up, I really can't make out whatver they're pointing out anyway. If I wanted to see it, I would have driven or that would have been my final destination.

annw

Could not agree more. Thanks for introducing yourselves; now all we ask is for you to fly the plane.

The worst though is the incessant DUTY FREE announcements and other extraneous bs, worsened only by the appearance of the actual cart bashing its way down the aisles.