[beAbU]

I was under the impression that seatbelts are basically mandatory at all times. On my recent turkish airlines flight the safety video requested you put it on and leave it on, ans the staff would come by and ask you to put your seatbelt on, even when theres no turbulence.

The "seat belt" indicator light should actually be changed to "dont get up and walk around"

[HL33tibCe7]

On the half dozen (European) airlines I’ve flown, it’s always been “seatbelts are recommended at all times”. Never a requirement.

[beAbU]

Well, it may be recommended, but if the attendants constantly nag you to put them on, then that's the same as required, no?

Only the obnoxiously hard headed folks would argue back and go "since it's a recommendation and not a requirement I will not sit with my seatbelt on, and there's nothing you can do about it."

[Gigachad]

I’ve never seen anyone be nagged over seat belts mid flight. The messaging from Australian airlines at least is very much that you are free to take your seatbelt off but that it’s suggested to keep it on while seated.

[lostlogin]

Surely required on takeoff/landing?

[millebe]

14 CFR 121.311(b)

Except as provided in this paragraph, each person on board an airplane operated under this part shall occupy an approved seat or berth with a separate safety belt properly secured about him or her during movement on the surface, takeoff, and landing.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/part-121/section-121.3...

[zerkten]

Absolutely at takeoff, but the emphasis is often missing for the remainder of your time onboard. It's noticeable when crew add extra reminders.

I've never looked for stats on these incidents involving clear air turbulence. The impression I got as a European was that this was a transatlantic and transpacific problem. It's obviously not, but those were the incidents reported on.

[Tor3]

There are occasionally "air holes" happening near my local airport. A friend onboard a particularly severe one told me that the captain said that they'd "fallen" some 160 meters. I also have another friend who, a long time ago, didn't use the seatbelt on a domestic flight - sudden turbulence made him hit his head and injure his neck badly. That's very dangerous. Personally the "worst" I've seen was just enough to break wine bottles in the overhead in front of me. Flight attendants gave out blankets for all of us nearby, as protection for dripping wine..

[lostlogin]

Trans Tasman too now.

According to the below, long haul flights get it more, due to the altitude they fly at.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clear-air_turbulence

[jajko]

Its expected that crew will light seat belt signs when they asses its required. Its literal on/off or yes/no, lets not add some 3rd state to it that will confuse people.

This of course doesn't mean one shouldn't wear it as often as possible, but ie with small kids thats nigh impossible, or for some folks on 10 hour flights (I still used to put it on me when I slept, but mainly to not be woken up by crew when they switch it on and check everybody).

Very similar topic is bus seat belts. All intercity buses (at least in Europe) have them, nobody clips in (apart from driver). I think at this point everybody knows about some horrible bus tragedy which would be a set of minor scratches if all folks had seat belts on. Yet our subconsciousness keeps changing perceived risks and consequences to keep us happy/content instead of worried about everything all the time (makes some sense, cluttered mind ain't best performing in life & death scenarios of bygone era).