Date: 201507
Aircraft: Commercial Fixed Wing
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Initial Approach
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Flight Attendant (On Duty)
Reporter qualification: Flight Attendant Current
Human factors: Situational Awareness
Anomaly: Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Passenger Electronic Device; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Passenger Misconduct
Detector: Person Flight Attendant
When detected: In-flight
Result: General None Reported / Taken
Contributing factors: Human Factors
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: I was in the aisle assisting with the preparation for landing. I reached 10F and noted a woman with her seat back. Her tray table was down and her back pack was behind her legs. I asked that she bring her seat forward and she did not react. She had her head forward; pressed against the seat in front and scrolling on her PED with ear buds in her ears. I repeated my request a bit louder; but still; there was no reply. The man seated next to her was asleep; also with headphones on and also seemed to not hear me. Unable to reach the woman; I again requested that she prepare for landing; louder still; but again; there was no response from her. Finally; the man behind her jostled her seat and she looked up at me a bit startled. I again asked that she prepare for landing but she had to remove her ear buds. For the 5th time; I asked this young lady to stow her bag; raise her tray table and return her seat to the upright position. Still; the man next to her remained silent with his eyes closed. With more seats to check; I found 22A was unable to hear my request that his laptop be turned off and stowed and his tray table returned. I saw that row 26 had their blue light indicating an electronic device was still plugged in. I asked them to unplug their device; but the man in 26E couldn't hear me and I had to wait for him to remove his headphones for him to hear me ask again that he unplug his PED. Upon returning to the first class area to take my seat; I also had to ask twice of 8B and 9E to unplug items from the outlets; as required by the FAA.These are again examples of why the use of PEDs should not be allowed for approach and landing. Passengers are unaware of our efforts to provide a safe environment and our being in the aisles longer to seek compliance puts us at risk of injury; or worse; if it gets overlooked by flight attendants; puts passengers at risk of injury or not making a safe evacuation in the event of an emergency.We pride ourselves on situational awareness to be prepared for an emergency and expect our passengers to be able to hear commands and requests for complying with FAA requirements that seats be upright; bags stowed; seat belts fastened and tray tables returned; yet we are not able to do this efficiently because passengers are not situationally aware of their surroundings. Other passengers get frustrated; such as the man shaking her seat and pressing it forward before she was ready to bring it upright. Sometimes; we are not able to go down the aisles in situations where there is turbulence and we ask our passengers to comply over the PA. For those lost in their PEDs with head phones; they cannot hear us.




Synopsis: Air carrier Flight Attendant reported continuing issues with Personal Electronic Devices that the reporter feels pose a danger to the safety of flight.