Interesting In-flight Announcement

[Ikara]

I flew Adelaide - Brisbane yesterday on QF664 and was surprised with an in-flight announcement by the Captain. Half way through the movie (yes, they showed a movie!) the Captain came on to ask everyone who had a water bottle in the overhead locker to remove it and place it under the seat in front.
What tha....??
I had to ask, so spoke to the Cabin Manager and apparently water bottles expand due to the air pressure and leak and in fact about 6 passengers had been "rained" on during the flight. Apparently it's not all that good for any electrics that are running around the overhead lockers either!!
In all of my years of flying (25+) I've never encountered this before. Anyone else had a similar experience?

JB

 

[d15.in.oz]

In all of my years of flying (25+) I've never encountered this before. Anyone else had a similar experience?

One flight last year, where water was unexpectedly dripping from overhead... (Not on me, but a person near by, so I overheard all the paranoid fuss.) The FAs couldn't figure it out, but I think it was put down to condensation from the air con in the end.
But, this would explain it!

 

[SeaWolf]

I pretty much avoid any liquid in my baggage because I find they almost always leak in the worst possible way. I've never heard of being asked to move bottles around during flight though.

As a neat trick you can try to demonstrate why it might be a problem though, next time you hop on a flight, buy a plastic bottle of water before you get on. Drink the water during the flight and then seal the cap on the bottle TIGHT before you start descent. During descent you'll get to watch the bottle get crushed by the increasing air pressure around it. Once you hop off the flight you'll be left with a plastic water bottle that has been totally compacted by the change in pressure.

 

[serfty]

OT:

Taking on QF2 from SYD-MEL some years ago, SWMBO and I were surprised to be drenched by water cascading from the roof. :shock:

As it happens, we were on the lower deck with the rear of the bubble almost directly above us. It had been an extremly humid morning in SYD and it was explained that the water was condensation from refrigeration equipment over our heads and the takeoff acceleration had caused this to spill out of the water collector.

 

[NM]

It had been an extremly humid morning in SYD and it was explained that the water was condensation from refrigeration equipment over our heads and the takeoff acceleration had caused this to spill out of the water collector.

Didn't they point out that directly in front of the refrigeration equipment are the upper deck lavs?

 

[milehighclub]

I've never heard this annoucement but have had water come down many times. What ever you do - DON'T STAND UP - I was on QF12 from LAX to SYD and this happened - about 2 seconds after take off the affected passengers started to stand and move - I've never had to yell so loud to tell them to sit down.

For those who don't know if you get injured while standing and the seatbelt sign is on - don't expect a cent from the Qantas.

 

[poppet]

About 3 years ago on a flight, a Flight Attendant made me put my 1 litre bottle of duty free Bailey's Irish Cream in the overhead locker. The neck of the bottle broke during the flight, and when the plane commenced decent, the man next to me got drenched by the Baileys not to mention his suit jacket & laptop case in the overhead locker. I felt so bad and was so embarrassed and after that experience have never bought duty free liquor to take on the plane with me.

 

[aus_flyer]

Won't be much of an issue on international flights once the new carry-on restrictions come into effect!

 

[Gazza]

My personal favorite was when my sister in law was traveling with her 12 months old son and her “expressed breast milk” bottle leaked in the overhead compartment.

Fortunately I was not on the flight.

:shock:

 

[NM]

Won't be much of an issue on international flights once the new carry-on restrictions come into effect!

Why? You will still be able to carry water and duty-free booze on board. The only limitation is that you cannot carry them through the security check-point. So if you purchased the drinks or collected a bottle of water from the Qantas Club after the security checkpoint, then no limitations with carrying them onboard the aircraft.

not much point in carrying duty-free booze if you have an onward connecting flight. But if you a terminating at the next stop then no reason not to purchased after security check and carry on board.

 

[Soundguy]

.... and apparently water bottles expand due to the air pressure and leak

Well, noticed I also expand during flights (and after!), but I havn't unexpectedly started leaking mid flight yet thankfully!

But it is an odd anouncement, gotta agree.

 

[Keith009]

On QF9 MEL-LHR some years back, there was water dripping from the overhead lockers on to some pax in front of me shortly after take off from SIN. Not sure whether it's a similar situation or a fault with the airconditioning. The affected pax were led away by an FA and never came back... If only I had been allocated a row ahead!

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

On QF9 MEL-LHR some years back, there was water dripping from the overhead lockers on to some pax in front of me shortly after take off from SIN. Not sure whether it's a similar situation or a fault with the airconditioning. The affected pax were led away by an FA and never came back... If only I had been allocated a row ahead!

Nah. Since on the ground still nothing to expand. Bound to be condensation from the humidity and cool air being circulated in the cabin.

I've had similar experiences of being dripped on pre-takeoff. Unfortunately no change of seat, just here are some paper towels to try and mop up with.

 

[adrian]

Why? You will still be able to carry water and duty-free booze on board. The only limitation is that you cannot carry them through the security check-point. So if you purchased the drinks or collected a bottle of water from the Qantas Club after the security checkpoint, then no limitations with carrying them onboard the aircraft.

not much point in carrying duty-free booze if you have an onward connecting flight. But if you a terminating at the next stop then no reason not to purchased after security check and carry on board.

Boarding a flight from SYD to the USA last week, they removed all water bottles from passangers, as their additional security checkpoint is in front of the gate - goodbye sparkling water from the QP :-(
However, I am guessing that this additional checkpoint will go after 1 April??

 

[NYCguy]

My favorite explanation of all time for water dripping from the ceiling of an aircraft was "The engineers have probably been flushing the hydraulics". The FA who made that statement looked a little offended when I laughed out loud, and told her that that was one of the most unlikely explanations I had ever heard in my life!

 

[StevePER]

I've had similar experiences of being dripped on pre-takeoff. Unfortunately no change of seat, just here are some paper towels to try and mop up with.

Seems to happen quite regularly on DJ row 15 for both takeoff and landing. I just try to dodge the drips now - you get used to it after a while.

 

[NM]

Boarding a flight from SYD to the USA last week, they removed all water bottles from passangers, as their additional security checkpoint is in front of the gate - goodbye sparkling water from the QP :-(
However, I am guessing that this additional checkpoint will go after 1 April??

That is because until April, Australian airports are not screening for liquids at the security point after immigration. Once they do it at that point, I am assuming we will be able to collect/purchase liquids after the security screening and carry them on board the aircraft. So in that sense, the "liquid ban" may actually be less restrictive than it is for some destinations presently.

 

[d15.in.oz]

the "liquid ban" may actually be less restrictive than it is for some destinations presently

I hope so...but, I thought the additional search + pat down, was also because we are flying from a foreign country to the US, and this "automatically qualifies" all passengers for quad S secondaries and random gate procedures!

 

[QF WP]

My personal favorite was when my sister in law was traveling with her 12 months old son and her “expressed breast milk” bottle leaked in the overhead compartment.

Thanks for the laughs, gazza. We may have that same issue when my wife and I fly to MEL in late May with mini-LW. That'll keep me on my toes.

 

[Fifa]

On a QF flight from Hong Kong to Sydney last November there was some fuss being made about the overhead locker above us (during the night). I enquired whether there was a problem and the FA said water was dripping on the passenger behind me and was probably condensation. My bag was wet (but did not contain a water bottle) so they took it away to air it until we were nearly in Sydney. (The FSD gave me a $50 in-flight voucher as an apology and thanked me for not making an issue out of it).
When I returned I spoke to my sister who is an FSD and she said water bottles often leak in the lockers (as mentioned by a previous poster).