The unwritten rules of the in-flight call button
When is it actually okay to summon a flight attendant? James Booth has a few ideas
S“The call button is not your personal ‘another beer, good sir’ helpline. But there are a few occasions when it’s acceptable to use it.”
ome air travellers believe the in-flight call button is there for them to order a fourth gin and tonic (“with crackers, while you’re at it”). Others think those who use it even for something as simple as asking for a glass of water show a lack of courtesy or preparation. Doesn’t everyone travel with a refillable bottle these days?
So what’s the truth? Why is it even there?
Is it still okay to use on certain occasions?
There has been a lot of talk about this of late, with numerous flight attendants, and ex-flight attendants sharing their thoughts on passenger call button etiquette on social media.
The general sentiment? The in-flight call button is old school: it’s a vestige of, and belongs to, a bygone era – a time when airlines actually cared about their passengers, and there was a shred of dignity, still, about travel. A time before drunken passenger rants, fights over mask wearing, the term “Karen”, being charged money to go to the toilet. A time before eagleeyed flight attendants spotted that your carryon was bulging a bit at the seams and called you over to put a bracelet on it, and throw it into the underbelly of the plane (for a fee).
Our conclusion? The in-flight call button is not your personal “another beer, good sir” helpline. But there are still a few occasions when it’s acceptable to use it.
This in mind, here are the unwritten rules for using the in-flight call button in 2023.
When you’re cold
This is an A-plus opportunity to pummel that call bell like a stubborn pedestrian-crossing button that refuses to go green. Not only are you liable to accidentally elbow a bunch of people in the face (and trip over numerous feet) if you walk up to ask in person, but if the airline has decided to set the cabin temperature to Arctic, they owe it to you to provide you with plenty of blankets.
If you’re dying of thirst
This one is a grey area (to be a considerate, no-fuss passenger we’d suggest drinking water when it’s provided), but technically, it’s an airline’s responsibility to keep you from shrivelling into an emaciated dishcloth, so unless there’s turbulence, it’s normally fine to use the call bell to ask for more water.
If you want to be extra respectful of your flight attendant and seat mates’ patience (and you want to get some blood flowing in your legs), why not walk up to the galley and ask in person (unless there’s turbulence). Speaking of turbulence, don’t hit the call button if the seatbelt sign is on – that means flight attendants are supposed to be sitting down with their seat belts on, too.
If you haven’t used it yet
If it’s a quiet moment on the flight and you have a reasonable request, and the flight attendants aren’t madly rushing around to prepare meals or do their flight check before landing, it’s probably okay to use the in-flight call button – once. As a general rule, if you have used the call bell once, don’t use it again unless you are on death’s door.
On a long-haul flight
According to the flight attendants of Tiktok, everything is worse on a short-haul flight. Reclining, using the in-flight call button, taking your shoes off. While these are all totally acceptable (while using common sense, like keeping your socks on) on a long-haul flight, on short-haul flights they are akin to an act of war. So watch yourself (and plan ahead so you don’t have to inconvenience everyone else).
If your seat mate is a problem
If your neighbour is being annoying, creepy or rude, and you require assistance, don’t hesitate to call for help.