The Flight Attendant Call Button: When Is It Right to Use It?

The airplane call button serves as a helpful link to the flight crew, ready to assist with various requests without the need for you to get up. However, it's crucial to understand the responsibility that comes with it—knowing the right moments to use the button and when to refrain.

We reached out to flight attendants worldwide to discover which scenarios justify pressing the call bell and which ones are considered etiquette blunders in the sky.

Keep your hands off if the seatbelt sign is illuminated.

In critical flight phases like takeoff, landing, or during turbulence, flight attendants must stay seated for everyone's safety, just like the passengers.

“Please reserve the call button for genuine emergencies—don’t use it for requests like a pillow or a Coke,” advised Joyce Van Ocken, a flight attendant for a European airline and an Instagram influencer.

Take into account the cultural norms of both the airline and the destination.

According to Jay Robert, a lead cabin crew member with experience in airlines across the USA, Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, he always considers the specific culture of an airline when deciding to use the call button. He runs A Fly Guy’s Cabin Crew Lounge, one of the largest airline networks on social media.

Having grown up around U.S. airlines with an American Airlines flight attendant mother, Robert learned that the call button was strictly for emergencies. When he later worked for Emirates, he was taken aback by the number of calls the crew received on each flight. “On flights to India, a country known for its enthusiasm for call bells, we’d often get around 75 requests before even taking off,” he recalled.

In contrast, many North American airlines have a different approach. “I refer to these airlines as ‘self-service carriers,’” Robert explained. “The crew typically anticipates that passengers will approach them in the galley if they need assistance.”

In the world of low-cost airlines, pressing the call button for anything other than medical emergencies often signals a desire to make a purchase. According to Robert, such requests help flight attendants earn their commissions, so your call and orders are generally welcomed.

A justified press of the button is always acceptable, at times.

If you find yourself in a genuine emergency—be it with yourself, another passenger, or the aircraft—don’t hesitate to use the call bell. “When we hear the bell ringing repeatedly, we start to worry,” Robert said. “If it's a real emergency, keep pressing it until help arrives.”

Liam Walker, a cabin crew manager at Air New Zealand, stated that it’s perfectly fine to use the call button after takeoff and before landing. “It’s not just for emergencies,” Walker noted. “Whether you need assistance with in-flight entertainment, adjusting your seat, or simply want more snacks, we’re here to help.”

Robert also mentioned that passengers in window seats have a special exemption when using the call button. “Even on self-service airlines, flight attendants know that window seat passengers can be blocked by sleeping bodies, making the call bell their only way to ask for help,” he explained.

Avoid interrupting at inopportune moments.

Be considerate during overnight flights, as the call bell ringing can disturb those trying to rest.

“You’re welcome in the galley unless the fasten seat-belt sign is illuminated,” Van Ocken shared. “It’s nice to stretch your legs every now and then. I personally enjoy when passengers come to visit us in the galley, especially on long night flights.” Additionally, she advised that if you need to dispose of trash, it’s best to bring it to the galley or wait for the next waste trolley.

Also, keep in mind that the call button is not a toy, so don’t allow your children to play with it. “The button is a magnet for little fingers,” Robert remarked. “In my career, I’ve wasted countless steps only to find a toddler playing with the button while fascinated by the light overhead.”

Moreover, unless it's an emergency, both Robert and Van Ocken emphasized that you shouldn't press the bell during service. “Nothing frustrates me more than a passenger pressing the bell for service when they can clearly see me attending to others just a few rows ahead,” Robert stated. “There’s usually one crew member for every 50 passengers, and 80 percent of them are hungry or thirsty. So please be patient—or consider upgrading.”