Flight Attendants Union Challenges FAA Decision Allowing Passengers to Use Electronics in All Phases of Flight

[tattooedyuppie]

Here's a better safety briefing - in case of a crash, you will probably die.

That should save some paper.

 

[friedkimchi]

I seriously doubt that using electronic devices such as our phones and other media consumption devices will affect the safety of the plane.

I've been on flights to third world countries and the locals there use their phones before, during and after the plane has landed. I'm still alive to tell the tale.

 

[Lictor]

Yes, please, keep banning voice communications on planes ! This is one of the last place on earth where you can escape morons spending hours and hours to discuss their life on the phone (I wonder when they actually get the time to live it)...

 

[loon3y]

so relaxation does not count as a holiday ? as that's the point i was making.

If i wanted to fiddle with my gadgets i can do that at home.. why would u also wanna use them on a trip ? It would be a trip for some of us, but a constant annoyance.

im not sure what you're getting at, if your on international flights, flights can be as long as 13 hours, others might be 24 Hours + layover + transfer flights.


Thats why you bring gadgets, not to mention these gadgets are part of my work.

But please, make opinions of your own preference.

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I seriously doubt that using electronic devices such as our phones and other media consumption devices will affect the safety of the plane.

I've been on flights to third world countries and the locals there use their phones before, during and after the plane has landed. I'm still alive to tell the tale.

What i experienced just proves your statement completely wrong.


i was on a flight 1 week ago and one device was giving problems to the cockpit.

It got to the point where the captain of the plane had to ask 3 times, and asked ALL ELECTRONICS to to be turned off, even stowed away in the overhead compartments.


The captain's voice wasn't patient and there was a bit of urgency in it, there was a legitimate concern, it was messing up the airplanes instruments.


The fact is, everyone has to turn it off, while its prob not apple or samsung products, you cant just have one person have it while the others doesnt.

and people are stupid as hell, while people were borderline panicking one guy was still taking pictures with his tablet.

We were over international waters, I'm not trying to die because someone wants to use their smartphone/tablet.

Turn that **** off, coming form someone that actually had an incident with smartphones recently on a flight.


by the way you mean bhokkhum kimichi?

 

[bobbydaz]

What exactly is unreasonable about asking you to hurry with their coffees? FFS, you work selling coffee at an airport and get annoyed because people have flights to catch? Those people buying the overpriced swill you sell pay your unskilled hobo wages, where the hell do you get off acting like they're inconveniencing you?

Sorry but you are coming across as real a***hole with comments like that. Looking down on people that do low skilled jobs reeks of disgusting snobbery and tells us exactly what type of person you are. Anyway, what sort of selfish idiot feels they have time to stop for a hot beverage when they are running late for a flight?

 

[Tech198]

im not sure what you're getting at, if your on international flights, flights can be as long as 13 hours, others might be 24 Hours + layover + transfer flights.


That's why you bring gadgets, not to mention these gadgets are part of my work.

But please, make opinions of your own preference.

I am... if others wanna use gadgets in-flight or whatever, that's fine, but it won't change my mind about "being more relaxed on a plane" IF you do tat 24/7 anyway.

Everyone needs a break from tech, and personally, if wanna use it on a plane as well, then it's not going to be much of a vacation.

Business trip = That's different.

 

[bobbydaz]

I seriously doubt that using electronic devices such as our phones and other media consumption devices will affect the safety of the plane.

I've been on flights to third world countries and the locals there use their phones before, during and after the plane has landed. I'm still alive to tell the tale.

okay professor, we'll pass your extensive research onto the FAA.

 

[loon3y]

I am... if others wanna use gadgets in-flight or whatever, that's fine, but it won't change my mind about "being more relaxed on a plane" IF you do tat 24/7 anyway.

Everyone needs a break from tech, and personally, if wanna use it on a plane as well, then it's not going to be much of a vacation.

Business trip = That's different.

whether its a business trip or vacation.

I wonder what do you plan to do for 13 hours? especially if it isn't a red eye flight.

You do know how bored you get right? Even if I'm on vacation, i just do some work, read books (from my iPad, right? your not going to carry 10+ books to add to your luggage) play some games. Because sometimes you already watched all the movies on that flight, but even watching movies isnt that using "tech"

not to mention i need my smartphone for GPS where ever i go, look up nice restaurants , malls, or what else when I'm in different countries like the UK, France, Germany, China, India, Korea, so on and so forth.


what is more relaxed? I'm not sure what you're getting at.

Have you been on 13 Hour flights that are not red eye? Or on flights that last long as 24 hours because of transfer flights and layovers?

I don't believe you have, otherwise you wouldn't be saying this, nor i don't think you have been on planes much.

theres nothing exciting about airplane flights, i hate it. Its boring, you have to go through security, and got economy is straight horrible.

Im waiting for the days when i have enough mileage to upgrade to business frequently, stupid me i should tracked my mileage since i started flying frequently.


If you haven't flown much, i guess it can be an experience, but it gets old fast. No different from a bus or train ride, except its excruciatingly long with the 13 hour flights.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

And how is the flight attendant supposed to know which one of the 200 people in the airplane are frequent flyers?

Seriously, you people are acting like little 2 year olds.

Actually the flight manifest shows the FF status of each passenger along with their seat location. Also FFs are in a better boarding group and tend sit in the front of the Econ. Cabin which is reserved for them until check in closes, at which time the gate attendant can assign to anyone. (Regular pax can sometimes pay to upgrade to the front rows of Econ, but often these are well flown people too, just not road warriors, or flying b/c their normal carrier doesn't have a good path to their destination.

 

[Dr. Weezil]

Why do businesses still cower at the whimper of union trouble making?

You know what the solution is? Fire all unionized employees and refuse to do any more business with the union. Hire all non-union flight attendants.

Side result: air fares go down.

 

[Lictor]

I seriously doubt that using electronic devices such as our phones and other media consumption devices will affect the safety of the plane.

And I think they do. In case of crash, you will have to deal with idiots taking photos or tweeting live about their experience rather than evacuating the plane in a timely fashion... Like in case of a car accident, you already have to wait for people to finish taking photos, tweetings, posting on Facebook and the like before someone actually thinks about using his phone to call for help...

 

[RedOrchestra]

Like in case of a car accident, you already have to wait for people to finish taking photos, tweetings, posting on Facebook and the like before someone actually thinks about using his phone to call for help...

Ain't that the UGLY TRUTH in today's world ... it sickens me.

 

[loon3y]

And I think they do. In case of crash, you will have to deal with idiots taking photos or tweeting live about their experience rather than evacuating the plane in a timely fashion... Like in case of a car accident, you already have to wait for people to finish taking photos, tweetings, posting on Facebook and the like before someone actually thinks about using his phone to call for help...

they do, i was just on a flight where the captain asked urgently to tell all passengers to turn off electronic equipment in their pockets, bags, and in overhead compartments.

it was messing up the plane's instruments, he asked 3 times, the 3rd time he has a lot of concern.


so its true. it can mess up the plane, and given from the captain's voice. I have doubt that it can make the plane crash one way or another.

 

[Ted13]

Couldn't my device still become a "dangerous projectile" even if it were turned off?

As can your hardcover book, which you will be reading instead. Pure BS. Hope this gets laughed out of court. You know what else has been permitted during takeoff and landing for decades: electric shavers -- I kid you not.

 

[zhenya]

they do, i was just on a flight where the captain asked urgently to tell all passengers to turn off electronic equipment in their pockets, bags, and in overhead compartments.

it was messing up the plane's instruments, he asked 3 times, the 3rd time he has a lot of concern.


so its true. it can mess up the plane, and given from the captain's voice. I have doubt that it can make the plane crash one way or another.

You've already told this story.

Just because the captain thought that was the source doesn't mean it was. Technically, it's extremely unlikely that consumer electronic devices were having an effect on his instruments. While I don't doubt he may have gotten some erratic readings, he was just grasping at straws to figure out the source. There is no proven correlation.

 

[nia820]

Why do flight attendants care anyway? Do they really thrive on the additional task of continually telling passengers to put away their devices or put in airplane mode?

You have no clue what flight attendants are responsible for. They are responsible for passenger safety. If anything goes wrong in the cabin they will be blamed.

Some of the rules may be silly but they have to enforce them. It's their job.

 

[macrumor1]

Flight Attendants are a relic from another age

- You are allowed to read during announcements
- You are allowed to sleep during announcements
- You are allowed to listen to movies during announcements

- Books can also become projectiles

I fly about 150 segments a year and can't remember the last time I heard a pilot or flight attendant say anything remotely important or interesting. It's basically open mic time for bad jokes and uninteresting facts. Make sure to wake us up on a 6 AM flight to announce "It's 80 degrees down there in Little Rock".

My list of fixes:
- Make the safety announcements appear as a popup when you book your ticket.
- Make it a federal crime to use the intercom for non emergency purposes.
- Fire all flight attendants. Replace with 1 security guard, web cams to record events, and a vending machine.
- 3 old women will not stop any threats.
- Repeat - Don't staff the plane with 3 ee's to hand out free Cokes.
- Remove all in flight entertainment and magazines.
- Remove all wire framed seat pockets.
- Put standard 110W chargers on all rows
- WIFI standard on all flights
- If you slow down boarding you get scanned and given zone 5 for a year and pay extra for carry on - unless over 65 or disabled.

 

[Tiger8]

Here's a better safety briefing - in case of a crash, you will probably die.

That should save some paper.

That's not true. There has been proven cases where people were saved by following instructions. Those procedures might sound stupid but they save lives

 

[loon3y]

You've already told this story.

Just because the captain thought that was the source doesn't mean it was. Technically, it's extremely unlikely that consumer electronic devices were having an effect on his instruments. While I don't doubt he may have gotten some erratic readings, he was just grasping at straws to figure out the source. There is no proven correlation.

Then why did he tell us 3 TIME?

told the whole flight to get out all electronics in the bag to turn it off.

The fact is, there are a lot of 3rd world travelers, many who do not have FAA approved devices.

And they cant simply say "Oh anyone without FAA approved devices, please turn your phones off"


After every passenger on the flight made an erratic move to turn off everything it was fine.

Every airline has this electronics rule, the enforce it EVERY trip. Don't get me wrong i never listened to that rule, but not after that time. because consumer electronics shouldn't really effect his instruments, but how do you know about NON-APPROVED FAA devices?

 

[zudy]

They care because flight attendants bear some responsibility for the safety of the aircraft. If you are messing around on your iPhone or iPad then you are not paying attention to the safety announcements at the beginning of the flight, nor are you paying attention to any unexpected behaviour of the airplane during landing.

I just can't understand how it is so hard for somebody to stow away their gadgets for the first and last 10-15 minutes of the flight.

Describe messing around on my iPhone or iPad, am I jumping up and down and all or like most people they are sitting in there seat looking at there device because that does not disrupt anything, if you want to sit there and hang on every word of the Safety message then go ahead. WOW you must have been the fun one in the classroom.

 

[macrumor1]

Then why did he tell us 3 TIME?

told the whole flight to get out all electronics in the bag to turn it off.

The fact is, there are a lot of 3rd world travelers, many who do not have FAA approved devices.

And they cant simply say "Oh anyone without FAA approved devices, please turn your phones off"


After every passenger on the flight made an erratic move to turn off everything it was fine.

Every airline has this electronics rule, the enforce it EVERY trip. Don't get me wrong i never listened to that rule, but not after that time. because consumer electronics shouldn't really effect his instruments, but how do you know about NON-APPROVED FAA devices?

Wrong - The electronics rule was rarely enforced in First Class. If you sat in the window seat the Flight Attendants were too lazy to talk to you. If you sat in the aisle in coach however...

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Yes, please, keep banning voice communications on planes ! This is one of the last place on earth where you can escape morons spending hours and hours to discuss their life on the phone (I wonder when they actually get the time to live it)...

Apply to Pilots and Flight Attendants first. They are the #1 source of noise pollution on flights. FFA fines for unofficial intercom use!

 

[H2SO4]

I fly a lot. Passengers are preoccupied with one thing or another from the moment the get in their seat to landing. It's a weak argument to blame tablets or phones when it's not the sole reason people are not paying attention to FAs announcements or the pre-recorded video. Even in 1985 passengers ignored FAs announcement on how to use a seat as a flotation device. It's human nature.

Aha, so the answer is to give them yet another way to ignore you?

 

[nia820]

they do, i was just on a flight where the captain asked urgently to tell all passengers to turn off electronic equipment in their pockets, bags, and in overhead compartments.

it was messing up the plane's instruments, he asked 3 times, the 3rd time he has a lot of concern.


so its true. it can mess up the plane, and given from the captain's voice. I have doubt that it can make the plane crash one way or another.

I remember about 13 years ago when I was on flight from New York to Cairo (back when Egypt was tourist destination ) we were just cruising and chilling when the oxygen mask dropped from ceiling. Needless people started freaking out. We had to make an emergency landing. Made it safely.

The reason TWA(yeah remember them?lol) gave us was a prohibited electronic device ( they didn't bother specifying what it was.)caused interference with some of the instruments. Now whether that is true or not I don't know. But it freaked me out. I always turn my cellular off during flights.

 

[loon3y]

Wrong - The electronics rule was rarely enforced in First Class. If you sat in the window seat the Flight Attendants were too lazy to talk to you. If you sat in the aisle in coach however...

----------


what do you mean wrong?


everyone was told to turn off electronics first class, window seats. there was a legitimate concern and urgency, you can hear in the captains voice and you can see in the flight attendants urgency to get everyone to turn it off.


I'm sorry, were you on my flight? did you even read and comprehend my post?

----------

- You are allowed to read during announcements
- You are allowed to sleep during announcements
- You are allowed to listen to movies during announcements

- Books can also become projectiles

I fly about 150 segments a year and can't remember the last time I heard a pilot or flight attendant say anything remotely important or interesting. It's basically open mic time for bad jokes and uninteresting facts. Make sure to wake us up on a 6 AM flight to announce "It's 80 degrees down there in Little Rock".

My list of fixes:
- Make the safety announcements appear as a popup when you book your ticket.
- Make it a federal crime to use the intercom for non emergency purposes.
- Fire all flight attendants. Replace with 1 security guard, web cams to record events, and a vending machine.
- 3 old women will not stop any threats.
- Repeat - Don't staff the plane with 3 ee's to hand out free Cokes.
- Remove all in flight entertainment and magazines.
- Remove all wire framed seat pockets.
- Put standard 110W chargers on all rows
- WIFI standard on all flights
- If you slow down boarding you get scanned and given zone 5 for a year and pay extra for carry on - unless over 65 or disabled.

i pay 500-2,000 dollars for a flight, i expect my drinks and food to be served to me.


Wi-Fi isnt standard on international flights because there is no capability yet.

No movies? what the hell are you going to do for 13 hours? You can only work, read, play games so much.

150 flights? i assume they're all domestic flights. Considering you mentioned little rock.


No movies, vending machines don't work for International Flights.

Not to mention how many people would just be abusing the Vending machines getting unlimited free drinks. 3rd world country dudes would just take an extreme advantage of this, not to mention I've seen our own citizens do classless things as well.

Charge them? what currency is it going to take? If it takes all, thats going to be one damn expensive vending machine with some complex software.


13-16Hour flights is much more different then 2-5 Hour flights

 

[Michael Goff]

Why do businesses still cower at the whimper of union trouble making?

You know what the solution is? Fire all unionized employees and refuse to do any more business with the union. Hire all non-union flight attendants.

Side result: air fares go down.

I'd say that's a good joke, but I'd be lying.