Crew Insider is our series of informative articles that answer some of the most common and less common questions about the aviation industry from the point of view of an industry insider. Our question answerer-in-chief is Mateusz Maszczynski, who has worked in the airline industry for nearly two decades and has honed his expertise in the field through this blog since 2015.
What does it mean when a gate agent or flight attendant starts warning passengers that a flight is completely full? Why on earth should this matter and surely a flight is either full or not full… what does ‘completely full’ mean’?
As a flight attendant, this is a question I hear from time to time, often from frequent flyers who, I assume, must also be quite pedantic about grammar and the meaning of words.
But pedantic or not, they do have a point. A flight is either full or it isn’t full… it surely can’t be ‘completely,’ ‘absolutely,’ or ‘very’ full.
The truth of the matter is that we know that you can’t get fuller than full (well, in less you count standby passengers or commuting staff who might be riding on a spare jumpseat) but ‘completely,’ ‘absolutely,’ or ‘very’ serve to add emphasis.
Essentially, it’s polite airline speak, which roughly translates to – some people will have their hand luggage gate checked whether they like it or not and flight attendants will be policing the overhead lockers like their lives depend on it.
The phrase is most commonly said in a distressed tone, probably because gate agents and flight attendants are stressed about getting the flight boarded on time without any issues with finding space in the overhead bins for everyone’s baggage.
What airline staffers are trying to say, as politely as possible, is that space is going to be very limited and that they are asking for the understanding and cooperation of passengers to board as efficiently as possible and stow their hand luggage in a way as respectfully as possible.
It also acts as a way to set expectations. Some passengers in lower boarding groups are probably going to have their hand luggage gate checked whether they like or not. Making the announcement that the flight is ‘completely’ full sets up that mental picture for passengers before they even get to the boarding door.
So yes, airline staffers know that a flight can’t be fuller than full, but if you hear words like ‘completely’ or ‘very’, then you know that space in the overhead lockers is going to be tight.
From a passenger’s perspective, those announcements aren’t helpful. There is a grammar problem (“very full.”) Moreover, the tone can be shaming. I dd not choose the “very full” flight to upset the crew. It was not my idea for others to bring inappropriate amounts of hand luggage. To me, it’s a source of shifting stress from the crew to the passengers. The crew are worried about a D-zero deadline, but that anxiety just makes a stressful boarding process more anxiety-producing for passengers.
In many ways, I think announcements are not terribly helpful: as a passenger, one is polluted with announcements: at check-in (“Who’s going to LAGOS? I said LAGOS only!” (“What did she say? Did she say ‘Naples?” “Why is she screaming?” “Is Lagos the same as Naples?” “Is there something wrong with the plane?” “Are we delayed?”)
Then security, “I said ‘NO jackets in the bin? Did you not hear the announcement? No jackets. Why didn’t you put your jacket in the bin? What’s wrong with you? Why weren’t you listening?”)
Now add the ambient announcements: “This is a security announcement. You are limited to 100 mL…” (Why are you announcing this AFTER the security check? Continuously?)
And then the gate: “This is a VERY full flight.” This is often interrupted by an announcement for a flight that is in another part of the terminal on another airline. “This is the FINAL and IMMEDIATE call for…” “If your boarding card doesn’t say ‘Group 2’ you need to sit down.” “You should be on board AT THIS TIME!”
In a better world, actions would be more effective. This takes staff, teamwork, and coordination. Instead of making an announcement, show the passenger with the large mag where there might be bin space. Instead of announcements about storing bags “like on a bookshelf,” show the passengers how to line them up. You don’t have to lift anything, just go over and show them (as long as you don’t leave a door unattended. “Hi, can you do my a favour, will you hold on to your coat until everyone has put their bags up top? It will help make some more room.” (Done. No need for an announcement.)
A calm plane is a safe plane. I think the same applies for airports. Avoid announcements to the extent possible, use language that makes sense in everyday conversation (“At this time,” and “final and immediate” need go away.) If you’re feeling anxious, stop, breathe, think. Keep your finger off of the “Push to Talk” button and see if there is a calmer way to handle the situation.
“Doors WILL NOT be reopened and all reservations will FORFEIT.”
“Completely full” just illustrates the increasing use of modifiers for nouns which are absolutes. Full is a good example. Another is unique – something is not very unique, it is or it isn’t. The speakers don’t really know what the words mean which they are using,
This trend is not limited to nouns. Now it seems that every verb has to be followed by “up”. Rev up the engine/chop up the vegetables/etc. It the speaker can’t “down” the verb then “up” is likewise misused.
Completely full … understandable … a way to tell passengers that space is going to be tight and request for seat changes will not be entertained. This DOES remind me of a comedian named Marin Wuhl whose “Assume the Position “ comedy that taught American History in a college classroom setting, pointed out that the preamble to the US Constitution starts out with “ We the people, in order to form a more perfect union..”. He points out that “more perfect” in not possible … it’s either perfect or it’s not perfect … and concludes that this country was started with a grammatical f**k-up.
Thought I’d share. Dave Weinstock Age 74
There’s another reason for this. FULL might not mean every seat is occupied, but it might still mean some bags MIGHT have to be checked. Completely full means YES WE WILL BE CHECKING BAGS and you non-revs might start looking at plan B.