When using laptop on flights, upon decent when is it required that they are turned off and put away?

When using laptop on flights, upon decent when is it required that they are turned off and put away?

1. At top of decent?

2. When captain requests cabin crew to prepare cabin for landing?

3. When seat belt sign goes on?

I‎ seem to get varied 'service levels' and wondering if there was any common protocol?

It can vary from airline to airline based on their procedures, however with QF it is when the captain requests the cabin crew to prepare for landing and then the CSM makes the required announcement.

Descent (including the pilots PA) is mostly an indication that "cabin preparation" is imminent so that would give you an idea of when the cabin crew may ask you to stow your laptop. 

You may have experienced different times where the crew have allowed you to finish what you are working on, but theoretically when the crew are preparing the cabin for landing is the time to stow your laptop.

When the seatbelt sign goes on, crew are required to be seating for landing so are unable to double check the cabin is secure (i.e. laptops stowed) therefore its not always possible to allow someone to use their laptop until the seatbelt sign is on.

Hope that helps :) 

It does seem different from airline to airline.  Singapore Airlines are as soon as captain announces that we are starting our decent, they are all over you like a fly to turn your laptop off.  I just find it easier that as soon as you get the "we are starting our decent" message over the PA, I start to pack up my laptop. I fly so many different airlines I just find that the easiest   

I just wait until the FAs come and officially tell everyone to stow away their trays, for phones I turn them off when I feel like it.

You must be one of those inconsiderate people that also get up out of their seat when the aircraft is still taxiing.  It may not be unsafe to you, but it's so inconsiderate to the cabin crew at the least.

No sir I don't start opening up the overhead lockers when the plane is taxiing I just check my pockets and stuff to see whether I have everything or not while I am in my seat.

How childish

and one of those people who recline their chair on a short flight, without looking behind you to see that i am working on my laptop

That statement could generate a whole separate argument with plenty of regular travellers holding an opposing view to yours.

I don't actually recline my chair, that's really dog to the passenger behind me.

...and I don't think it's reasonable to creep at the person behind me who is working on their laptop.

Each airline will have their own policy about what time/altitude they require cabin crew to prepare the cabin for landing.  From CAO 20.16.3, 'All solid articles shall be placed in approved stowage at all times when seat belts are required to be worn which is: during take-off and landing; during an instrument approach; when the aircraft is flying at less than 1,000 feet above terrain; in turbulent conditions'.  It's up to the definition of when approach becomes landing but it MUST be complete by 1,000 feet above terrain.  Hope this helps.

For some planes, when the Mobile Phone lights above you turn on, that's when I turn them off or turn them on depending what stage of the flight it might be.

Mr Pedantic here.

Decent = good and worthy, ie. what most ABT readers are.

Descent = to drop altitude, go down, or to fall.