Southwest Airlines Changes Cabin Landing Preparations

UA does the same

I wonder as well if this is to incorporate the shorter turnaround times they're aiming for (Along with the fast paced music )

Simple, the flight attendants don't want to do a beverage service on the many short Southwest flights. So this is the excuse.

UA started doing this late last year (interestingly with the same 18k feet parameter). At UA the goal is to be seated by the double ding at 10k feet.

Hey Ben, I covered some of your questions in my post on this policy shift… 36% of turbulence-related accidents occur during descent, and 65% of those accidents occurred below 20,000 feet. 80% of serious turbulence-related injuries are sustained by flight attendants and 60% of flight attendant injuries occur when they are preparing the cabin for landing.

Is that 18k ft above sea-level or above landing airport?
For a few airports there is a significant difference.

But the main question - is that 65% 1000 per year, 13, or what?

Pretty sure it's ASL. That's the transition altitude for US airspace.

Likely at vacating FL180. FL180 makes sense. It is the transition out of Class A airspace and adjustment to local altimeter. It adds a layer of standardization.

Yep. “Due to rough air today, there will be no service on this flight.” This happens a lot less in other countries.

I’d be interested in a comparison of how these procedures vary by country. (e.g. Europe, Japan, etc.)
The US has a ton of not-invented-here syndrome, and this is apparent in many areas (e.g. public health policy, law enforcement, building codes)

This is another great reason why many US regions really should have high-speed rail… imagine being able to get up and go get food (and/or use the restroom) anytime.

So the transition altitude between local barometric pressure and mean sea level (MSL) is also 18,000 feet?

Multiple recent close calls may have been related to flight crews being distracted by non-essential activities.

Situational awareness makes at least as much sense as FA injuries.

The only reason they are doing this is to save money on shorter flights. This gives them an excuse not to serve drinks because they don't have enough time. Airlines are showing passengers just how much they hate us. Why do we keep giving them money?

It was very noticeable on a UA flight into ORD a couple weeks ago. We were probably 130-140 miles SE of ORD when the prepare the cabin for landing was announced. We were a good 30mins from landing. Seemed excessive IMO.

In other words sit down and shut up

Oh... I don't know, maybe because driving across country is boring, time-consuming and not practical?

Ben was asking about absolute risk reduction, not relative.

"Southwest isn’t the first major US airline to make this change, as United Airlines has a similar policy, which was implemented last year."

As a retired flight attendant, I believe that the "safety first" approach most airlines embrace for their passengers should apply to their crew members as well. Especially for flight attendants who work for regional airlines & airlines who fly "short hops." Some flights never get above the turbulence zone of 10,000 to 14,000 feet. This can make food & drink services very bumpy. Flight attendants & their 200 pound carts can get tossed around with the least problems being spills & the worst being injury to crew or passengers. People need to have respect for flight attendants as we all work very hard, can have 16 hour duty days & try to make sure that your trip is as pleasant as possible. Sorry if you can't have your drink or laptop for an extra five minutes. Let's go for all of us arriving safely.

No he specifically was asking about relative. 20% of 10 is 2, 20% of 1000 is 200 fewer injuries. Only one of those is worth discussing a policy change for.

Safety First!!!

As a 45 year flight attendant, the ride can and does become bumpy at that lower altitude upon descent and can be challenging passing through the cabin preparing for arrival. Not aware of a lot of injuries during that time in flight, but the potential is definitely there.

Absolutely. Some interesting stumbles buttoning up the cabin

This is another great reason why many US regions where cities are within a suitable distance really should have high-speed rail… imagine being able to get up and go get food (and/or use the restroom) anytime.

@Samus...

Okay let's spend billions and billions of dollars on high speed rail so you can get a beverage before service stops on descent, or so you can go to the bathroom.

As as Ben wrote, many international airlines stop service and require full seating compliance at top of descent, which is well above 18k feet.

Any other brilliant comments?

As a former FA of 14 years, that was absolutely what we as flight crew wished every passenger would do. You pay for a ride, and the convenience of getting where you are going quickly. Flight crews should never have to deal with having to babysit grown adult people. They are there for passenger safety. Period. The beverage, and maybe a snack tossed out on some flights, is nothing more than a pacifier. A very thankless and difficult job indeed.

@george romey

Why not be self sufficient and pro active on short hops as a passenger? Every airport in the country is full of beverage choices (i.e. coffee, water, sodas, etc). Why not get what you'd like before the flight, and at the same time, allow cabin crews to stay safe from lugging heavy carts during climb/ decent and turbulence? That's a win-win I'd say. Travel is easy. People make it difficult.

An airline hates you because you can’t get a drink on a 30 minute flight? If it’s that serious buy water in the airport!! Geez

@Tina
And as a passenger of twice that long, we wish you weren't there. Got fired and went back to Walmart did you?

So, no service in the state of Hawaii? That'll be good for competing with HA.
Keep letting the union run Southwest into the ground!

Southwest uses carts?

When did Southwest start using carts? Another know-nothing aisle donkey.

Actually, let's spend billions and billions so that airlines have meaningful competition, passengers have an enjoyable experiences and people like you don't have a job.

@Chris
And as a flight attendant Tina is 100% correct! You pay for a seat, if having your coke is that important buy it in the airport and take it with you. If that's a problem maybe if you start a go fund me I'm sure some flight attendants will happily contribute so they wouldn't have to deal with a passenger as nice as you

Hopefully Elliott rightsizes you guys and you get to experience the jots of actually working for a living again!

This is 100% laziness pushed on the flying public by lazy union members. I'll avoid Southwest in the future. With fewer customers they can sit down and look at their phones for longer.

Sitting on a Delta flight to LGA and was just told to put seat back up an hour before landing.

First world problems - but come on.