Passenger etiquette/safety
 

What is the appropriate response to a seatmate who fires up his computer as we are taking off? It is my understanding that there is a legitimate safety reason for the ban on electronics while taking off or landing. The crew are in their jumpseats so are not available for assistance. I'm not interested in getting into a confrontation with a total stranger.

Press the " call attendant' button.

Mark

The real truth..

If this really interfered the way they claim... plains would be falling from the sky daily.

I have (accidentally!) flown with my laptop "on" the entire flight... (I thought it shut down, only to find out it didn't)

I have flown with my phone on the entire flight (just forgot again)

And so far....

I see this all the time and my planes land and take off just fine.....

I would not worry too much about it if I were you.

The problem with US passengers is that they all think that they are so special-shouldn't have to turn off their phones or computers(because" I am more important that the rest of you so I need to check my email or phone calls before you"): shouldn't have to sit down when the seatbelt sign is on and the F/A's are harnessed in their seats("I fly all the time...")and that overhead space above their seats are ONLY for their luggage-well you get the idea?
There is no respect for the other passengers or the crew at times.
Manners and civility to their fellow passengers seems to not be on their packing lists. So sad!

dutyfree - I agree. Flying in the summertime is like flying a Greyhound bus, at least that's the way people act. I usually see 1-2 toy pink flamingos a year carried onboard. That tells me when Greyhound season starts. Greyhound folks don't know how to act politely.

CarolA - you're off your A on this one. Are you buddies with Alec Baldwin?

Just so I'm clear, it's only U.S. citizens who behave poorly, right? Europeans, Asians, Africans, Australians and South Americans are never, ever, rude? I ask because I swear I've seen poor behavior from them over the years, too, but I guess my eyes were deceiving me.



"The problem with US passengers is that they all think that they are so special-shouldn't have to turn off their phones or computers(because" I am more important that the rest of you so I need to check my email or phone calls before you"): shouldn't have to sit down when the seatbelt sign is on and the F/A's are harnessed in their seats("I fly all the time...")and that overhead space above their seats are ONLY for their luggage-well you get the idea?
There is no respect for the other passengers or the crew at times.
Manners and civility to their fellow passengers seems to not be on their packing lists. So sad!"

andrews98682, it doesn't matter what one's nationality is, if it's a rude person, he/she is going to sit near me. I have over a million AA miles, and have seen every possible rudeness there is.

American passengers are pretty much divided into three types, 1) the 'Huh?' passenger, 2) the 'I own this plane passenger' and 3) people who act civilized.

Guess which one gets the best service and attention from the flight crew? Please and thank you works with all of us.

Live and let live there is no "threat to safety" all BS.
I have found your nose.It is in someone else's business.

And NONE of you have ever fogotton to do anything in your life?

Gee, it must be nice to be perfect LOL!

In reply to the "Alec Baldwins" of this world, I disagree on your "risk analaysis" conclusions. There is a documented risk to aircraft controls from personal electronics, especially autopilot sensitivity issues. The risk may be small, but it does exist and has caused problems in the past.
From a risk/benifit comparison, why would a person want to assume the possiblitiy of such a catastrophic outcome for a minimal gain, in this case starting his personal movie early. There are risks one must assume on a daily basis to "Live and Let live" however getting your movie started early is not one of them. I would be happy to let this fool have his "private moment" if I didn't have to share the outcome of his risky bet.

For those who may be interested, here is an article from ABC News regarding this issue.

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/safe-c...ry?id=13791569

TPAYT - well put on the potential dangers of flying.

CarolA - "I see this all the time and my planes land and take off just fine.....I would not worry too much about it if I were you." It's not the concept of forgetting, it's the concept of it's all right not to turn things off and adhere to flying rules.

I'm with TPAYT, I don't want to share the outcome of a risky bet.

Nice quote, since it says ABC's own aviation expert doubted it.

As F/As are restricted to their seats at that time, and will have no option to respond to your call instantanously, you should addresss your seatmate yourself.
There is no reason why you should not be able to open your mouth and tell him in a reasonable tone of voice that he probably forgot that electronic devices must be switched off for take of and landing, and that it makes you feel uncomfortable.
If there is no compliance from his side (many people don't do wrong stuff not necessarily to p/o someone else), press the call button once the cabin crew got released from their seats and let them know.

Yes, you should take on the roll of "police" Of course since I travel weekly and see this in action I can tell you waht's going to happen in 90% of the cases. The passenger is going to tell you to "shut up" (and he/she may not be this nice)

Sorry, but realize that most passengers today have a strong sense of "entitlement" and are liable to ignore you at best. If you want to risk the fight go for it...

I was not asking you to pick a "fight". As if somebody would punch you in the face for asking him politely to switch off the iPad.

But flight attendants are neither air nannies nor air marshals. In the specific situation which OP described, F/As are forced to stay in their seats. They must not come to your "rescue".
If you don't have the "courage" to address the issue, you probably have to take the consequences and live with your fears. And rightly so, if I may add.

From a more general perspective, I find it more than amusing that the internet forums (just take a look at the lounge) are full of people not shy to scream out their opinions in a tone you would send your kids to their room for.
But then come running for "mommy" AKA the flight attendant when in the real world the guy next to them does something that upsets them.
NOT meaning the OP, btw.

In addition to the (possible) electronic interference, there are other safety reasons for computers to be off and stowed during takeoff and landing : those are the most critical times of a flight, when every passenger should be alert to announcements and instructions from crew (not engrossed in personal entertainment), and when bumps can cause heavy objects to become projectiles. I'd probably make a gentle suggestion to the offending seatmate, but not take it any further.

"Passenger etiquette" is severely lacking, IMHO.

Like kayd, I thought things had to be stowed during takeoff and landing because that's when those items are most likely to become projectiles.

Indeed, electronics are not allowed during take off and landing, not because they interfere with the airplane's radio, but because people need to be ready in case of an emergency.

I mind my own business on plane flights. I'd never get into it with a fellow passenger over something like that. Nobody put me in charge of the plane!! I have no idea if this is the "appropriate response" or not.