Seatbelt policy
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 231
Seatbelt policy
Is there a seatbelt policy or is it up to individual flight crew? Is there a difference between long and short haul?
There doesn't appear to be any flat rule...sometimes it goes off minutes after takeoff, other times it's 15 minutes after takeoff. On descent they can sometimes come on 20 minutes out, other times 10 minutes out.
Obviously it's weather dependent, but I have seen signs go off after a long time or come on early when there doesn't appear to be any bad weather.
There doesn't appear to be any flat rule...sometimes it goes off minutes after takeoff, other times it's 15 minutes after takeoff. On descent they can sometimes come on 20 minutes out, other times 10 minutes out.
Obviously it's weather dependent, but I have seen signs go off after a long time or come on early when there doesn't appear to be any bad weather.
#2
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: London (née Melbourne)
Programs: Qantas Platinum (Oneworld Emerald)
Posts: 1,013
I have a scale from America to Iberia.
America = seat belt sign stays on the entire flight (but is also routinely ignored by passengers and crew)
Iberia = cabin crew take their seats for landing about 30 seconds from touchdown.
BA is usually somewhere in between.
America = seat belt sign stays on the entire flight (but is also routinely ignored by passengers and crew)
Iberia = cabin crew take their seats for landing about 30 seconds from touchdown.
BA is usually somewhere in between.
#3
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 43,215
usually comes on at 20 minutes for long haul, and 10 minutes for short haul.
going off for short haul it can be quite quick so only a few minutes or once above 10000ft, long haul it will be more like 10 minutes in to the flight when it comes off.
obviously weather may mean it stays on longer or goes back on earlier.
going off for short haul it can be quite quick so only a few minutes or once above 10000ft, long haul it will be more like 10 minutes in to the flight when it comes off.
obviously weather may mean it stays on longer or goes back on earlier.
#4
Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: EDI/BCN
Programs: IB Plata, BA Silver, AZ Executive
Posts: 8
I think it also depends on a particular country's regulations. Every time I flew into SCL on BA, seatbelt sign went on 40 minutes before landing, and crew explained it was to do with local Chilean regulations (and possibly crossing the Andes)
#5
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Nottingham
Programs: BA GGL
Posts: 1,377
However, turbelence can also be a big issue over mountains due to unpredictable updrafts, so that probably has a big role to play.
#7
Join Date: Nov 2005
Programs: BA Exec
Posts: 648
Regarding Santiago, there is a procedure requiring flight crew to switch the signs on 40 minutes before landing, and leave them on 30 minutes after takeoff, due to the possibility of severe turbulence over the Andes (Im sure one of our resident flight crew will confirm). There are certain other regions where seat belt signs are required to be switched on at certain points, but these are procedures related to the security requirements of certain countries.
On shorthaul, its generally when flight crew agree it is safe and appropriate to switch the seat belt signs off. Weather is always taken into consideration along with things such as deck angle - in other words, if the aircraft is about to commence a rapid climb or is already climbing at a considerable angle for whatever reason, that might not be the appropriate time to release pax.
On shorthaul, its generally when flight crew agree it is safe and appropriate to switch the seat belt signs off. Weather is always taken into consideration along with things such as deck angle - in other words, if the aircraft is about to commence a rapid climb or is already climbing at a considerable angle for whatever reason, that might not be the appropriate time to release pax.
#8
Join Date: Jun 2021
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 567
Anecdotally, it seems to stay on a little longer departing LHR than departing outstations - I guess because its often a step-climb approach until clear of traffic.
Fastest Ive ever seen was aboard an Iberia Express flight from Granada. The sign went off somewhere between 2 and 3 minutes after takeoff.
Fastest Ive ever seen was aboard an Iberia Express flight from Granada. The sign went off somewhere between 2 and 3 minutes after takeoff.
#9
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Krakow
Programs: BAEC Silver, Miles and More(FTL), IHG(Platinum), Accor, HHonors(Diamond), SPG, Hertz Five Star
Posts: 6,078
Is there a seatbelt policy or is it up to individual flight crew? Is there a difference between long and short haul?
There doesn't appear to be any flat rule...sometimes it goes off minutes after takeoff, other times it's 15 minutes after takeoff. On descent they can sometimes come on 20 minutes out, other times 10 minutes out.
Obviously it's weather dependent, but I have seen signs go off after a long time or come on early when there doesn't appear to be any bad weather.
There doesn't appear to be any flat rule...sometimes it goes off minutes after takeoff, other times it's 15 minutes after takeoff. On descent they can sometimes come on 20 minutes out, other times 10 minutes out.
Obviously it's weather dependent, but I have seen signs go off after a long time or come on early when there doesn't appear to be any bad weather.
One of the reasons on ascent is the climb out of Heathrow can often take a long time depending what needs to be done to avoid the incoming traffic. You may notice you sometimes level off for a while then climb again. This will affect when thevseat belt sign can go off.
#10
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2023
Location: LALA LAND
Programs: BAEC GOLD, AS,AA,HILTON,IHG
Posts: 243
I was told on an Aerolíneas Argentinas flight that it's due to the fact that over the Andes in the event of a rapid decompression you cannot descend to a safe altitude where the air is breathable (obviously there's a big old mountain range in the way).
However, turbelence can also be a big issue over mountains due to unpredictable updrafts, so that probably has a big role to play.
However, turbelence can also be a big issue over mountains due to unpredictable updrafts, so that probably has a big role to play.
On one flight there was zero pre-landing check. I saw tray tables down while landing so I presume many seatbelts went unused.
Oh, they never came through and picked up the rubbish from the budgie smuggler butties they tossed at us for lunch! The cabin was a right mess!
#11
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,635
On Aerolineas Argentinas seatbelts are seemingly optional, depending on how many pressing issues the FAs have to discuss while they hide.
On one flight there was zero pre-landing check. I saw tray tables down while landing so I presume many seatbelts went unused.
Oh, they never came through and picked up the rubbish from the budgie smuggler butties they tossed at us for lunch! The cabin was a right mess!
On one flight there was zero pre-landing check. I saw tray tables down while landing so I presume many seatbelts went unused.
Oh, they never came through and picked up the rubbish from the budgie smuggler butties they tossed at us for lunch! The cabin was a right mess!