Better Briefings Can Make All the Difference

There’s no such thing as too much information when speaking preflight to passengers.

Joseph "Jeb" Burnside

Friday, December 12, 2025 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Think about what to tell your passengers before a flight because each one has a different background and expectation. [Credit: Meg Godlewski]

Key Takeaways:

Pilots under Part 91 must brief passengers on safety belt use, but the article strongly encourages going beyond this minimal legal requirement for comprehensive safety and comfort.
Effective passenger briefings should be tailored to the individual's experience level, ranging from simple reminders for frequent flyers to detailed instructions for first-time passengers.
Crucial topics to cover, especially for new passengers, include safe boarding and movement, proper use of cabin features, door operation, location of safety equipment, and emergency egress procedures.
Various methods and tools, such as manufacturer briefing cards, custom checklists, or digital apps, can be utilized to deliver thorough and personalized pre-flight safety information.

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“Sit down, shut up, and hold on” might work as a passenger briefing in an action movie, but in the real world, it falls short of adequate. Or even legal, for that matter.

The FAR in question is 91.107: Use of safety belts, shoulder harnesses, and child restraint systems. Its only real requirement is that, before takeoff, “each person on board is briefed on how to fasten and unfasten that person’s safety belt and, if installed, shoulder harness.” That’s it for Part 91 operators. (If you’re flying 135 and/or 121, see FARs 135.177 and 121.571.)