The etiquette of calling a flight attendant on a plane can be more complex than you might think. It is not only about safety but also the nature of your request, the location of your seat, and the general flight culture.
Times when it is appropriate
Call buttons, which are available from companies such as https://www.dinggly.com/products/wireless-call-buttons/, can be used on a plane for the following reasons:
- Medical emergency
If someone is having trouble breathing or may be having a heart attack, they must clearly receive medical care as soon as possible. This means immediately notifying the crew.
- Disruption
Any disruptive behaviour that could cause a threat to other passengers or the overall safety of the flight, such as drunkenness or belligerence, is also an immediate reason to call.
- Asking for a drink/snack
This can depend on your flight; however, unless stated otherwise, flight attendants prefer to serve you in your seat.
- You are in a window or middle seat
There may be an expectation for someone in an aisle seat to stand and find a flight attendant; however, crew members understand that if you are blocked by someone else, you may need your call button.
Times when it is not appropriate
Outside of obvious emergencies, avoid these situations:
- Taxi, take-off, and landing
These are the riskiest periods of the flight, which is why the fasten seatbelt sign is switched on and even the cabin crew take their seats. Wait until the sign has gone off.
- Disposing of rubbish
Flight attendants will bring a bag to collect all rubbish at some point. They are not there to go back and forth with your rubbish.
- When they are busy
Don’t interrupt a flight attendant for your personal needs when you can see they are engaged with something else, such as dealing with an emergency or serving meals.
Flight attendants are there to ensure your needs are met, alongside other considerations. Whether it is appropriate to use the call button is highly situational.