Question to anyone...
I haven’t flown over a large body of water in several decades.
In the past, the seat cushions doubled as flotation devices.
As I recall, so many passengers in test flights failed to get their vests on correctly or in a timely manner that American carriers gave up on life vests.
Has this changed?
Not in my fairly recent experiences, although I've never actually checked if there were indeed vests under there. There's the video, usually [I think] actual attendants holding the things up for view, but otherwise... some things just aren't worth knowing, lol.
flights that go more than 50 miles from nearest shore require inflatable vests.
So a flight to Hawaii would have them
American carriers carry inflatable life vests.
San Diego man accused of nabbing life vests from Southwest Airlines plane
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpEATQ-_Vsk
cebu pacific safety demonstration (safety features of aircraft)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSbUd9QbbDc
It depends on how far from shore the flight goes. US rules have different standards for water temperature and 50/100/161 miles from shore. Only those flights within 50 miles have exemptions from vests.
No. EOW ( extended over water) planes are equipped with life rafts and life vests. If a plane flies, I think 50 miles from land, over water, flight attendants are required to demo how to don a life vest.
And NEVER inflate your life vest until you are out of the plane.
We flew from San Antonio to Vegas last summer on Southwest. Attendant gave a life vest demo. Only body of water in the flight path was Lake Mead.