I don't travel all that much, but recently got back from a 4 hour flight. The seatbelt sign was on for 80 percent of the flight, both legs. It was totally unnecessary as the clouds were stratus, flat, and uniform. Turbulence was very mild, yet the seatbelt sign came on and stayed on through landing.
Here is my working hypothesis: it all relates to money, specifically insurance premiums Southwest pays for passenger liability. My guess is that their insurance company jacked rates with all the recent news of passengers being thrown about from clear air turbulence and requiring hospitalization. I'm guessing here; perhaps the insurance company said, if you keep the seatbelt sign on X percent of the time, your rate will go down significantly.
Communication came down from upper management and the pilots followed orders.
... View more
