The higher the status, the less direction some [think they] need to follow from CC?

[Melb FF]

I just wanted to make an observation and put it out there for feedback.

Every week I fly between Sydney and Melbourne, usually returning on the same day, over the past few weeks at least on one of those flights the passenger seated next to me will not turn off their ipad and phone.

yesterday it happened in both directions, both times they had an iPhone and iPad, crew asked for devices to be switched to flight mode, then off. I don't want to get into a debate about safety or whether the radio waves can interfere with navigation equipment, my point is so often now I see non compliance with this request.

like yesterday, when asked, both gentlemen just put their phones in their pocket whilst still on, and the guy last night once the seatbelt sign came on, opened up the cover and continued watching breaking bad whilst we landed as he knew the crew had to remain seated for landing.

maybe this is a touchy topic (if you do this yourself), but to Qantas i ask, what is the protocol here, should I tell them to turn it off properly, call cabin crew and draw there attention, or just say nothing because Qantas really don't care and don't want to deal with upsetting high value customers?

To really stir the topic up, how about an email where you identify your seat and then nominate a passenger from your last flight that didn't comply, then Qantas checks their device next time they are on board...

Keen to hear thoughts/experiences of what you have done, as well as how often you see this behaviour.

 

[strance]

i've done 6 flights in the last 3 weeks and without fail, i have observed people with their phone or ixx_ on during takeoff / landing. was sitting next to a granny in J on VA last week and she discretely fired up her phone on final approach to text someone!! i think more and more people are ignoring the rules as the behaviour has no real apparent consequence, so it reinforces the offenders attitude that it's OK. i must admit i'm not as diligent as i once was and quite often forget to power off one of my devices.

 

[anat0l]

I don't see a lot of connection between your story and the chosen topic title... however I have a very simple answer to the topic question.

No.

 

[Mal]

Prats are Prats. "Status" means nothing. They would be exactly the same idiots in different situations. It is almost bred into them...

 

[Skyring]

The flight attendants are placed in a difficult position. They are ultimately responsible for safety, and if everyone followed their directions diligently, we'd all be better off.

But I've taken more flights than I can count, and never been involved in anything remotely scary beyond the odd bit of turbulence. Just how much personal benefit does any experienced traveller see in complying with inconvenient safety directions that will probably never come into play? It becomes a game of outwitting the crew.

As we saw recently at SFO, the margin between safety and disaster can be very slender. A few metres. A distraction in the coughpit. We passengers don't know what's going on in the coughpit or whatever anomaly in the weather, the flight dynamics, the ATC might be interrupting normal procedures.

I think I'd like to see a little bit more support for enforcement of safety regs. Maybe phones and tablets have no direct impact on flight equipment, but when passengers openly flout some safety regulations, it sets a poor example, and we'll see others ignored. That's not good.

 

[boomy]

I fly on this route every week as well and I see the same thing the OP described. I don't think there is anything Qantas can do about it. The crew on board can't check that each and every passenger's mobile is turned off properly. This is just not practical.
And the suggestion to send Qantas emails that report these pax is ridiculous and it's a waist of time.
There are more important things to worry about IMHO.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

IMHO the more you fly the less directions you need to receive = you know the drill and reqs and most pax adhere to same.

I do agree way too many jerk-offs abusing the 'Please turn of all electronic devices' requests - but it is up to cabin staff to enforce this - if you witness transgressions - alert cabin staff.

Until airlines start allowing electronic device usage at times where usage is not currently permitted it is the obligation of ALL pax to ensure all safety precautions and requirements are followed - dob the jerks in - again IMHO but YMMV.

 

[burrco]

The more apple products you own, the less direction you need to follow from cabin crew?

 

[medhead]

The more apple products you own, the less direction you need to follow from cabin crew?

I find the problem is the android phones.

 

[SeatBackForward]

The more apple products you own, the less direction you need to follow from cabin crew?

Well they are all about i,i,i.

 

[lovestotravel]

I don't see a lot of connection between your story and the chosen topic title... however I have a very simple answer to the topic question.

No.

There is no connection between the very cool story and the topic title

Sounds like another tall poppy scenario to me

 

[Ausbt]

I dobbed a woman in a while back, she was seated 3C on VA. She was on the phone mid-taxi and then continued to text while we were ascending. I felt a bit guilty about it but she just irritated the carp out of me. With the beeps and chirps you often hear upon descent at elevations of less than 100 metres it's clear people just aren't turning off their devices.

 

[vertisol]

CBR - SYD last week and the FA asked guy over the aisle to turn off his phone then stood and watched. I couldn't see it all as the FA was blocking my view but it went something like

"Can you please turn your phone off"
"No, properly off please"
"No, don't just press the button, power it off"
"I can show you how if you don't know"
"Thankyou"

 

[marki]

I am really so surprised at the amount of people using their phone in flight. In future there will be letters from the service providers asking to explain the reason your phone was traveling over 800 KPH at 40'000feet. sic!

 

[spentan]

I feel like I'm going to get flamed like hell for this, but being an open forum, I thought I'd add my 2c.

As much as I recommend and personally will always place my phone into flight mode, having to turn it off completely is stupid.

If the argument is for technical reasons, a device in flight mode is not going to prove a safety issue.

If the argument is for attention/distraction reasons, Someone using their eBook reader, or iPad (in flight mode, mind you), provides no more distraction than someone reading the newspaper or a magazine.

I only put my phone away and don't use my ipad out of respect for the cabin crew. But then again, I also watch the safety briefings, even though I've seen them 1000s of times before, out of respect for the FAs.

 

[marki]

Great link about:
What do I do if I think a passenger near me is not complying with the cabin crew’s instructions?


Civil Aviation Safety Authority - Mobile phones

 

[coles525]

http://www.casa.gov.au/scripts/nc.dll?WCMS:STANDARD::pc=PC_101302

More exact info which answers your question, AUTHORIZED and issued by CASA.

 

[Timsboot]

I do agree way too many jerk-offs abusing the 'Please turn of all electronic devices' requests - but it is up to cabin staff to enforce this - if you witness transgressions - alert cabin staff.

Why get involved at all? What is wrong with someone listening to an ipod or texting on a phone? At any given moment on any plane we can assume that at least half of the phones/devices are turned on. Be they in people's hands, jacket pockets or in cabin bags. On big aircraft there could be hundreds of devices active. In none of the aircraft incident reports from any air safety authority has radio waves from devices been blamed for any incident.

If these devices were so dangerous as to risk the aircraft's viability then they should be screened at security and put in the hold.

Why is it any of the business of any passenger to help the airline enforce a stupid rule?

 

[marki]

Why get involved at all? What is wrong with someone listening to an ipod or texting on a phone? At any given moment on any plane we can assume that at least half of the phones/devices are turned on. Be they in people's hands, jacket pockets or in cabin bags. On big aircraft there could be hundreds of devices active. In none of the aircraft incident reports from any air safety authority has radio waves from devices been blamed for any incident.

If these devices were so dangerous as to risk the aircraft's viability then they should be screened at security and put in the hold.

Why is it any of the business of any passenger to help the airline enforce a stupid rule?

I hope an aircraft LAME(avionics) can reply as to the validity of such statements?

 

[Skyring]

Well they are all about i,i,i.

i for talent, as the old phonetic alphabet goes.