The pilots announcement problem

Oh I don't know, maybe I'm just getting old and impatient and maybe I've lived in a big city too long and maybe I'm just a wally - but I'm getting more and more frustrated with what I see as unnecessary stuff, process or systems, getting in the way. A bit like the stuff I mentioned in this post. Unnecessary complications. Faffing. Milling.

But there's a whole extra layer to this that really annoys me and that's the unnecessary complications that people think are helping. Unnecessary complications that people think are doing you a favour or aiding you in your task, somehow.

The best example I can think of and my most hated example is the pilots announcement. 

You know, this one,

"This is the Captain speaking, the weather at Atlanta is currently a temperature of 70 degrees with light winds. We're cruising now at 35,000 feet. Today our routing takes us over Memphis. We show 50 minutes remaining, arriving 5 minutes ahead of schedule. The selt belt sign is currently off, in case of turbulence we recommend keeping your selt belt on when you're seated. Thank-you."

I hate this so much. I don't care how high we're flying! I have no idea what the difference is between flying at 35,000 feet or at 25,000 feet and I have no idea what you want me to do with this information. And worse - I WAS WATCHING A MOVIE and you interupted to tell me this useless stuff. Every. Damn. Flight.

There's a good page here which encourges pilots to keep up this antiquated, annoying, process. They think they're helping. They think it makes them appear superior and that they're doing a good service. They're not.

Another one.

When the hotel asks if you've had anything from the mini-bar. Grrrrr - there must be a better way of getting that information that doesn't delay me when I'm trying to leave your hotel. Or better still get rid of the stupid mini-bar...

Sorry, I'm ranting now.

Anyway.

I'm calling this the pilots announcement problem from now on.

Also - this madness, "please be prepared to use no more than four coins".

Comments

[Topfife]

"PAP" is an excellent acronym for the useless stuff.

[Yonialter]

jerry seinfeld on airplane travel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0E7EaRLmSI

[Rnichaelt]

I get the train to London every morning. There's 11 stops between my station and London.

There's one particular Train Conductor who, at every stop, will tell all the passengers; what time it is, all the stops the train is making, what time it's due to arrive into London, not to talk, be on your mobile or listen to loud music in the quiet area, where I can find him on this 8 coach train, to be in the front two coaches of this 8 coach train for two of the eleven stops and finally to collect any belongings before getting off the train.

You cant read, you cant watch a movie. He's a class A jobs worth cunt.