Unplug before takeoff

"Personal headphones or earphones must be unplugged and not in use when the aircraft is taxiing, taking off and landing."

I travel often (as some may already know) on budget airlines and I always hear this on the flight announcement before take off. I bet for those of you that travel on budget airlines. You hear this alot too. Do you really follow and unplug? Or do you just ignore it until the flight attendant comes over to tap you on the shoulder (or better, misses you altogether)?

HAHA.

Here's the thing. Although I always hear it on budget airlines, like jetstar and scoot (my frequent budget go to airlines), I don't hear it when I fly full service flights like SQ or ANA. And on top of not hearing it, you get to keep their headphones or earphones connected to their in flight entertainment systems.

WHY?

I mean. I get it when they say

"Laptops may not be used and must be properly stowed when the aircraft is taking off, landing and on the ground". 

Logically, the laptop will sit on your tray table and you usually have them stowed for whatever's mentioned above. Should the take off or landing be bumpy, I would think that a laptop is a big enough device that may or may not result in some "injuries". Something simple like leaving an unfortunate bump on your forehead before your business meeting or a stamp of shame before your vacation starts that will show in every single photo you take? So yeah. I get it. No laptops.

But why no headphones or earphones?
I didn't understand the double standards (with full service flights).
So I began thinking about the differences.

Budget:

• You bring your own headphones/ earphones
• You connect to your device
• You are in your own world with zero interruptions 

Full service:

• You use their headphones/ earphones (Yes, I know you can use the connector and connect your own headphones/ earphones too)
• You connect to their in flight system
• Your movie gets interrupted every time there is an announcement.

THERE.
THE 3RD POINT.

When we're connected on our own devices, we would have zero interruptions. With loud music and maybe noise cancelling for some, we would not be able to hear any passenger announcements. When we're connected to the in-flight entertainment systems, they get to interrupt us whenever they want. Okay, to be honest. They're not so bad but it just irritates me sometimes that the multi language options takes such a long time and gave me too much of a break from my movie marathon. HAHA. Actually, I really don't know if this is the right reason. But it's something I can understand and live with. If by chance, any flight attendants are reading this, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

Side note. The flight crew today on Scoot TR276 were awesome and funny. "Ladies and Gentlemen, we are very very very pleased to announce at we've arrived 25mins ahead of schedule. Woohoo!"

Yes, he did that woohoo! HAHA
Ciaos~

FAITH IN HUMANITY

I wasn't in my right mind, I think. 

When I got my boarding pass, I remembered very clearly that it stated: "Please be at the boarding gates before 1650". I looked at my watch that showed "1740" and I just sat there thinking why is this time so familiar? This train of thought continued with "Well, let's just send one more email".

And then it struck me. 

MY BOARDING TIME!
(It's an hour ahead because I didn't adjust my watch to cater to the time zone differences)

I haven't missed my flight yet. 

But I was about to. 

I took out my boarding pass again quickly to check and yes, I was right.
Boarding was scheduled at 1655.
Secretly panicking inside because my email is still stuck in my outbox and I really needed to have this sent out before my flight.
The moment it disappeared from my outbox, still wanting to be safe and responsible, I clicked on Sent Items to make sure it's there, and wham! Slammed my laptop shut, kept it and bolted off.

I literally ran to the gates, because I saw that the flight was boarding.
Now. Here's where it's worth writing... Humanity! Hahaha.

There's this additional security scan before the gates and the gates were still a distance away. The queue for this security scan was pretty long - about 10 people in front of me. As my watch showed 1748... I knew I had no choice but to embarrass myself and started apologising with "Hi there. I'm sorry but would it be possible for me to go first? My..."

Before I could even finish my sentence, all these strangers just moved aside and let me through.
There's this Caucasian guy (American, I think, by his accent) that even went, "Go Go! Good luck and safe flight!"

HAHAHA. THAT WAS UNEXPECTED.

First I was super worried that people won't let me through even after they hear my reason, like, "you're late for your flight so deal with it".
Yet they let me pass through so easily without even hearing the reason.
Then, that quick cheer that relieved a wee bit of tension in me!

SO MUCH FAITH RESTORED IN HUMANITY.
Who have I been dealing with all this while to have lost faith?

Robots maybe.

Anyway. I've gotta confess.
When I got to the gates, it wasn't even boarding yet. So here's a proper "Thank you" to all those that gave way to me and I'm sorry I cut your queues.

Thank you for the good cheer, Mr Caucasian. I'm pretty sure you'll never come across this and I can barely remember how you look like. But thank you for your kind words and for "cheering me on" to catch my flight. Under different circumstances, I would have loved to chat.

Albeit scammed by the digital screens, it was a good scare. I got to the gate (barely) on time, and managed to get home safe!

Guess I should always set an alarm 15mins prior to boarding time so I make my way there in good time. And maybe, it's my turn to let people through next... HAHAHAHA.

Till next time~

My one and only BAD SCOOT experience (thus far)

I actually wrote this entire post on my flight back from Bangkok in January. But I kept delaying to post it. Not too sure why myself. But I'm proud to say that I actually took scoot again in February, to the same destination, and there was no nonsense like that you'reabout to read.

FAITH IN SCOOT RESTORED!!!

DEFINITELY. GONNA. SCOOT. AGAIN.

So ya. In case you're wondering what bad experience I had or what nonsense I had to face... Read on...

You're having a bad day, maybe.
I get it. People do. Sometimes.
But here's what I don't get.

Everyone's heading home.

What does it take for you to be a little more friendly?
To accomodate that 1 simple question so that everyone gets to go home on time without delay?

No, you just had to sulk and walk away from that ONE SIMPLE QUESTION...
Is there any other space at the overhead compartments? My seat's full. "NO."

Hello! Walking away with a "No" does not help!
People just end up spending more time, trying to open already closed compartments to find space.
Seriously.
It's a small thing. But it irritates the hell out of me.

Yes, it's only a small thing so why am I writing about this?
Well. Stupid things pisses me off.
I hate how it irks me but things like these always happen.

I was seated at 8D.
It's one of those seats I call the in betweens.
Those parked right in the middle of the emergency exit and the front of the plane.
Those that doesn't matter what time you get to the gate, you will still be the last few to board.
I'm not complaining because this is the logical and efficient way - Fill up the back of the plane first then the front.

When I finally boarded the plane, I saw that the front compartments were almost full but the seats were only half filled. I didn't understand why since everyone's entitled to a max of 2 carry ons right? And right then, I saw.
A few people walked to the front to put their bags in the initially empty compartments and walked back to their seats. Usually I wouldn't care less cause I'll only have a backpack which I tuck into the seat in front of me. But this time, I am actually carrying an additional cabin luggage. When I walked to my seat, the overhead compartments was full. Packed but open. I looked to the back and saw that there are a few additional opened compartments. Out of courtesy, I asked the attendant (A) "Can I put this back there?". She replied, "Your seat no space already" and walked away.
Erm. I don't think you answered my question but I'll take that as your acknowledgement.
There were gaps in the back compartments so I went ahead to squeeze it back there.

Few mins later. Another lady came on board. Also seated in the in betweens, she asked "Is there any other space I can keep this? My seat's full." This same attendant (A) replied, "No" and walked off to the back of the plane. I initially thought she was going to the back to find space but no, she walked off to the tail of the plane past another attendant (B) that was still packing some baggages for other passengers. So guess what. This lady went to open the already closed compartments one by one and check if she could squeeze her baggage in. And I was like, "what the hell" and looked to the back. That attendant (A) was gone and another attendant (B) came to help. She offered to take her baggage a few seats down where she could squeeze it in.
Conclusion, no one seated at the in betweens have their baggage with them and they're all further at the back.

Now. This is really a question I want to ask. I kept thinking about this on the flight back. What should be the correct operating procedure? The SOP? I would assume that we should try to pack the compartments as close as possible before asking passengers to go to other compartments. Right? No?

It seems (and it is) so stupid that you allow people from the back to take space in front when the back isnt entirely full, then in turn, people from the front need to go to the back? Let's not talk about how much time is wasted before takeoff. Can you imagine how much more time and how chaotic the entire plane will be when it is parked? People from the front would be squeezing backwards while people at the back would be inching forward.

Seriously.
Stupidity at its finest.
Inefficiency at its best.

See. If I'm having a bad day, I'll want to end my shift as early and as fast as possible.
Head home.
Rest.

But it appears you're just trying everything to prolong your shift.

HELP. ME. I. CANNOT. UNDERSTAND.
Or help her, repair her brain a little.

I pray our paths will never cross again.
But if it does, I only hope you're "smarter".
Because I give up understanding stupidity.

Good luck. Bye.