The cheeky reason seat belt signs turn on when there’s no turbulence

When we’re 40,000 feet high in the sky, it’s normal to feel a bump or two.

Turbulence is effectively like travelling along a particularly pothole-ridden road, and while it might feel slightly nerve-wracking, there’s usually nothing to worry about. Simply watch the seat belt sign come on, and strap in.

Occasionally, though, that little orange light pops on when it seems calm.

Del Willden was a cabin crew member for 26 years, and explains that, most of the time, the seatbelt sign was only put on if turbulence was either already happening, or if it was expected ahead.

And, sometimes, that might’ve been before things got bumpy, prompting confusion from passengers who thought everything was plain sailing.

But, in his experience, there’s another reason it sometimes comes on.

‘I can confess that there were some occasions, usually when clearing in meal trays, we’d ask the flight deck to put the sign on,’ he tells Metro.

‘After the meal service was the worst time for passengers to get up and go to the toilet.’

It gets funnier, too. Del adds: ‘What I’ve noticed with certain low-cost carriers, who I use often, they seem to use the seatbelt sign when a member of the cockpit uses the toilet. That might be their security policy.’

In Del’s experience, even when the seatbelt sign is turned on, there’s almost always an unruly passenger who fails to pay attention to it.

‘Don’t get me started on passengers trying to open the toilet door, or passengers who unfasten their seatbelts as soon as the sign goes off, or as soon as we land,’ he jokes.

During his flying career, crew food usually included a hot meal, cheese, and anything left over from first or club class. Again, it presented a opportunity to take advantage of the seatbelt sign.

‘I have known crew asking for the seatbelt sign to be switched on while crew have their meal after a long food service,’ he says.

‘On long-haul, you’d have passengers coming into the galley after the meal service and doing stretching exercises, so someone’s bum is in your face while you’re trying to eat.

‘I know these days on the low-cost carriers there’s no such thing as crew food, and they have to take their own.’

This isn’t the only insight from cabin crew we’ve seen of late.

A Virgin Atlantic flight attendant recently debunked some of the most common ‘hacks’ for trying to get an upgrade and shared the best way to actually go about securing a better seat.

The flight attendant, who works on long-haul trips, claimed there are several things they’d seen passengers do in a bid to get into first class that ‘rarely work’, including dressing to impress. 

‘A rumour we hear all the time is that if you dress really smart, you’ll get upgraded,’ the flight attendant said.

‘It’s a fun idea, but honestly, it’s pretty outdated. Upgrades these days are not down to whether you’re wearing a blazer.’

They added that giving cabin crew a box of chocolates, flowers, coffee, or any other kind of gift also won’t be ‘your golden ticket’ into a different cabin.

Instead, upgrades are generally based on ‘availability, loyalty status, and operational needs’. 

The best way to get an upgrade is still simply to pay for it, as the expert claims those willing to pay have a ‘genuine chance’ of moving to a better cabin – all you have to do is ask.

‘If you’d like to upgrade once you’re on board, you can simply ask any member of the cabin crew. We’ll check the availability and the cost, and if you’re happy with the price, we can take payment and move you as soon as possible,’ they said.

‘Upgrading on board is often one of the cheapest options.

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