Preflight Safety Briefings: Understanding the Relationship Between Mode of Delivery, Recall of Key Safety Messages, and Mood

ABSTRACT Objective: The aim of this research was to examine how mode of delivery affects recall of key information presented in the preflight safety briefing as well as mood. Background: Preflight safety briefings are required prior to every commercial flight. To meet this requirement, airlines often use prerecorded briefings, in the form of audio or video, which can sometimes be supplemented with a live demonstration. Method: One hundred and sixty-two participants were randomly divided into 5 groups—control (no briefing), audio only, audio plus live demonstration, video only, and video plus live demonstration—and exposed to a prerecorded safety briefing. Recall performance in terms of key safety messages was analyzed postbriefing, as well as changes in mood from pre- to postbriefing. Results: Recall of certain key safety information is related to both cabin crew members and the medium in which the safety material is delivered. Native English speakers also recalled more information than their non-native counterparts. Participants' mood was adversely affected in the video condition. Conclusion: These results highlight the limitations associated with the way many airlines presently deliver their preflight safety briefing.