Airlines and Turbulence - what changes could and should be made?

 After two major incidents of passengers and crew injured during turbulence, on Singapore Airlines, and another Airline, airlines, crew and passengers and thinking about improving safety.

Airlines Are Considering

1 No babies sitting on an adult's lap.

2 Crew to sit during turbulence.

3 No drinks and meals served during turbulence.

What else could be done?

Easy to do.

Time for aircraft crews to manage toilet visits by rows to prevent queues. 

More long term

Redesign planes to stow lugage under seats instead of overhead.

Useful Websites

https://travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com/2024/05/precautions-to-take-when-flying.html

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13475407/turbulence-Airlines-tightening-rules-passengers-seatbelts-babies.html

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13452315/Inside-Boeing-tragedy-state-art-weather-radar-POWERLESS-stop-Singapore-Airlines-plane-flying-deadly-turbulence.html

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How to get and keep the aircraft seat you want - When you should and should not swap seats

Aircraft seats. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

 To get the seat you want, first check the season (month) day of the week, times of day of your flight and the prices. An early flight might require an early checkin and getting up early to leave home or check out of your hotel. 

Breakfast

You might be missing breakfast. One year in the USA I had four breakfasts, one at home and three on flights, and was offered another on arriving at my hotel. 

Check seat availability. The window seat alows you to see the scenery, take photos, sleep against the wall. The aisle seat is good for jumping up when the toilets are free, hailing the passing steward for food or a query. 

I like the aisel because I have a mild claustrophobia and fear of flying at heights, seeing down the aisle, watching other screens and crew looking calm, not seeing the ground far below. It is easier for my husband to find me, check up, chat, help me with overhead luggage, and surrptitiously pass me chocolates. I would be happy to change an window or middle seat for the aisle. 

The middle doubles your chances of chats with a new friend. You can hop out to the toilet when the person in the aisle gets up.

If you are in the aisle, when you get up for a restroom break, you might ask the others if they wish to go. If you are not in a hurry, if you let them go first, you don't have to stand up again when they return.

You can lift the armrest of the aisle seat to let yourself and the others out more easily.

Should you swap seats? If the other seat is an advantage. If you don't care. If you are not obliged to abandon the goods in your overhead locker. 

On a cheap flight with non assigned seats, sometimes the crew ask you if you would mind changing seats.

On a large aircraft with assigned seating, sometimes the crew ask you not to swap seats until after takeoff, and to resume the correct seat during landing. That is so that in the event of an accident, the right family is informed of your injury, death, transfer to hospital, whatever.

You also want to consider your speed in exiting the plane, if you are in transit, or being met by a taxi or family. A seat nearer the front exit might suit you better.

In flight Special Meals

During the flight, staying in the correct seat is helpful if you have ordered a special meal. It saves the staff from having to hunt for you. No risk of your meal being given to the wrong person or not getting any meal.

Losing the aisle seat during takeooff and landing could mean that you don't get to see the view and take photos. However, mostly if the person by the window has their eyes open, or their own camera taking pictures, they will gladly take a photo or two for you using your camera or mobile phone.

Useful websites

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-12886815/Never-switch-seats-man-plane-spot-moving.html#comments

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Delayed Flight - Stuck on A Plane - Paying For Water - On Ryanair

A recent fuss about a five hour runway delay, when passengers had to pay for food and drink, reminded me of my experience in America.

Delay On The Runway In The USA
I was on a plane stuck on a runway in the USA. We asked why we were not allowed to get off the plane or be served meals. The crew told us that the plane had to be ready to fly so the tray tables had to be up.

The crew could not let passengers off because the airline could not chase us all over the airport to get everyone back if we were suddenly told we were ready to leave and had a takeoff slot scheduled.

Solution
A passenger with babies and children with serious conditions negotatied for just one person to be allowed off to fetch a pizza - promising to be back in under 15 minutes.

Hearing this another passenger gave the passsenger about to exit a twenty dollar bill and said, "Please get my familly a pizza, too."

Another person, said, "And me!"

The passenger who left the plane ended up coming back with about twelve boxes of pizza. I thought, silly of me to be too mean to offer to buy a whole box of pizza and too shy to ask him to carry one more box.

Then I was offered a single piece, leftover.
I asked, "How much do I owe you for the slice?

No charge.

By now everybody had had enough.

Pizza choices
Not everybody wanted the pizza. Some people wanted meat and not vegetarian, or vice versa. Some had already eaten their own food. Some were asleep.

Some of the families had enough leftovers to sell half a box. Then some shared around a piece or two for free to everybody else in that cabin.

Slices and Seats
Researhing online I see that Pizza Hut offers the largest box with 12 slices. Ten boxes would be 120 slices.

How many seats in a cabin? Depending on the size of the aircraft. In some cabins in Economy as many as 301 seats.

If you let three passengers off to buy 12 pizzas, that would be enough. At a small pizza outlet, would the first man ordering 10 pizzas delay the second man?




Ryanair
So, what about Ryanair? I have been on Ryanair several times. They offer cheap flights. They make up money by charging for food and drink. According to comments in the Daily Mail, staff are not allowed to give out free food and drink and even have to buy their own food.

Some people are outraged and complain that other airlines give out free water or both free food and water during delays.

Other comments are along the lines of you get what you pay for. You shuld not expect nor demand more. One phrase used was 'beer money for Champagne service'.

Other budget airlines which may have different policies include:
You could check the company's food pricing policy and write and ask the airline what happens during delays if you are not prepared to pay in those circumstances, before making future bookings.

EasyJet plane with the company's phone number.

Water And Laws
In my opinion the law should require an airline to stock and serve free water after a two hour delay. Or allow one passener per cabin to go off and bring back supplies. Or for the airline to order a delivery to the plane.

Useful Websites
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7516081/Delayed-Ryanair-passengers-furious-crew-charge-water.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ico=taboola_feed#reader-comments
ryanair.com
singaporeair.com

Angela Lansbury
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Catering College Students Restaurants Offers Two For One Meals in Singapore

Shatec is a privately owned catering college in Singapore which trains would-be chefs and others aspiring to work in the catering and hotel management businesses.

The Students
A young woman who lives near my family got talking to me on the train into town. She is a student at the college. The course she is taking lasts over a year but under two years. Where does the course lead you?
"I want to be a chef!" she enthuses, her smile doubling, her eyes lighting up.

Catering College Meals Offer
The college is currently (April 2019) running a promotional offer. Buy two meals in their restaurant and you get the lower priced item free. this offer runs until mid-summer, June 28th.

Assumption Pathway School Value Meals
Another opportunity to try a moderately priced three course meal and help out the students is near Cashew MRT. During term time, students serve a three course set menu for lunch. You can usually find some reasonably priced small cakes to take home sold by the cash desk when you go to pay. Must book.

The wait staff are sometimes nervous. The food is grander than the pleasant, light, airy surroundings. I thought the meals were great value and beautifully presented.

You will find many catering colleges around the world offering something similar.

Useful Websites
Sapling Restaurant At Shatec
http://thesapling.sg/
http://thesapling.sg/homecoming-at-shatec/
http://thesapling.sg/about/

Art at Assumption Pathway School
https://www.aps.edu.sg/theart
https://www.aps.edu.sg/theart/menu
Near Cashew MRT, almost opposite exit by the lift.

TRAVEL
singaporeair.com

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.