Here’s an odd one: On my recent US Airways flight into Washington National, I couldn’t hear the safety briefing. Why? Because a guy three rows behind me was talking loudly, non-stop, during the briefing. He was in a pilot’s uniform. A first officer. And he wouldn’t shut up.
Now, with four million miles under my belt, I’ve probably heard the safety briefing enough times to know it well. But a lot of other people should probably be listening. Carefully. Frankly, since “the miracle on the Hudson,” even I pay a little more attention. Especially since I was in an exit row on this flight.
I debated getting up — a bad idea while we were taxiing — to ask him to quiet down. Or, I considered asking a flight attendant to have him shut up. But that’s a bad idea, too, and it puts the flight attendant in a very awkward position.
Instead, as I was getting off the plane, I decided to wait for him and politely but firmly offer a suggestion. The exchange went something like this:
(Me): “Can I ask you a favor? You, of all people, should be quiet during the safety briefing. You talked non-stop through it, and even though I was three rows away, I couldn’t hear the briefing because you were talking very loud.”
(Him): “I didn’t talk through the safety briefing.”
“Yes you did.” I said, “In fact, you were so loud that I wasn’t the only person looking at you.”
“I don’t think I talked — in fact, I didn’t even hear the safety briefing.”
“Exactly,” I replied, “because you talked through the whole thing.”
To his great credit — and perhaps because I’d already read the name on his ID badge — he backtracked.
“Well, I must have been talking, and you’re absolutely right. I should have been quiet. I’m sorry, and I’ll keep that in mind. I usually take the emergency information card out of the pocket and check it during the briefing, just like I do checklists in the cockpit. I’ll make sure I’m quiet during the briefings,” the captain said, “Sorry again.”
He was very polite and apologetic, when I had feared a confrontation.
And that’s why I’m not mentioning his name or sending a letter to his airline. (But for the record, he did not work for US Airways; he worked for a regional [commuter] airline.)
Next time someone sitting near you disrupts the safety briefing, you should ask them, politely but firmly, to be quiet. Even if you don’t need it, someone else may.
As Sully Sullenberger proved, it can be the difference between life and death.
