The service on that flight was...SMOKING!

[njba]

Live From 34,000 Feet: Someone Keeps Smoking On My China Eastern Flight - One Mile at a Time

Apparently it's an open secret that Chinese cabin crews smoke in flight? :shock:

 

[juddles]

LOL! I agree with the article that if they thought it was cigs (not "an oven") they were probably correct. Amazing.

Having said that, they go on to harp on that they hope the butts are disposed of correctly because of the fire danger. To my knowledge, there has never ever been a credible event of where a cigarette has caused a crash etc. Smoking was banned, very justifiably, due to passenger/crew health. NOT because of a fire danger.

Further comment, I cannot understand why cabin air cannot be provided free of smells. I think we have all suffered "toilet smells" making life aboard unpleasant. WHY??

They invent wonderful lighting to soothe the cabin, the 787 has fancy windows that electronically control light transmission, air cabin pressures are raised, windows are larger and larger, but we still have to suffer air recycled from the toilets??

 

[medhead]

googling "cigarette fires on airplanes" found a few likely stories including:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varig_Flight_820
Varig Flight 820 was a scheduled international passenger flight from Galeão Airport, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil toOrly Airport, Paris, France. On 11 July 1973, the Boeing 707 made an emergency landing in a field in Saulx-les-Chartreux, a commune located about 5 km south of the destination airport, due to smoke in the cabin. The fire, smoke, and crash at the final part of the landing resulted in 123 deaths, with 11 survivors (10 crew, 1 passenger).

not definitively shown to be due to a ciggie, but that was the likely cause.

Further comment, I cannot understand why cabin air cannot be provided free of smells. I think we have all suffered "toilet smells" making life aboard unpleasant. WHY??

They invent wonderful lighting to soothe the cabin, the 787 has fancy windows that electronically control light transmission, air cabin pressures are raised, windows are larger and larger, but we still have to suffer air recycled from the toilets??

Because they only provide a limited air bleed such that only a small percentage of cabin air is replaced per hour. A high rate of air exchange is going to have a high associated cost. Probably also issues with maintaining cabin pressure and such like. I'm sure a pilot can provide details.

 

[njba]

I don't want to lead us down a scatological path, but I will say make sure to close the toilet seat before you flush (whether in a plane or back on terra firma).

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Live From 34,000 Feet: Someone Keeps Smoking On My China Eastern Flight - One Mile at a Time

Apparently it's an open secret that Chinese cabin crews smoke in flight? :shock:

I have lost count of the number of flts on Chinese carriers over last 18yrs - both Int and Dom - NEVER have I ever smelt a whiff of cigarette smoke on any flight - I would seriously doubt the validity of this.

 

[dajop]

I have lost count of the number of flts on Chinese carriers over last 18yrs - both Int and Dom - NEVER have I ever smelt a whiff of cigarette smoke on any flight - I would seriously doubt the validity of this.

I've had many too, and MOST flights I've never smelt any cigarette smoke in flight. There have been at least two that I remember (maybe three), where I have smelt that unmistakeable cigarette smell. Whether it is crew or passenger, I'm not sure, but I'd err on the side of passenger.

 

[juddles]

....not definitively shown to be due to a ciggie, but that was the likely cause.....

IIRC the cause was not established, but possible scenarios included an electrical fault, etc. There was no actual evidence that a cigarette had anything to do with it.

I have lost count of the number of flts on Chinese carriers over last 18yrs - both Int and Dom - NEVER have I ever smelt a whiff of cigarette smoke on any flight - I would seriously doubt the validity of this.

In the 5-700 flights I have done since smoking was banned I have NEVER smelt it either - and I am extremely sensitive to it.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I checked into Le Royal Meridien and entered a 'non-smoking' room to be instantly confronted with 'that smell' - it is unmistakable to me - but NEVER smelt it on a plane.

 

[dajop]

I checked into Le Royal Meridien and entered a 'non-smoking' room to be instantly confronted with 'that smell' - it is unmistakable to me - but NEVER smelt it on a plane.

Yep definitely unmistakable. And I've definitely smelt it on a plane, may have been lucky. But I've had maybe 60-80 domestic flights in China, and have only smelt it twice. It is far from common, but if someone says they have smelt it, I would believe them.

 

[SeatBackForward]

As a non smoker, and thoroughly enjoying how much of public spaces in Australia are now smoke free, it's amazing how sensitive I have become to cigarette odour. Across multi lane highways or the car in front! It's very distinct

 

[Princess Fiona]

As a non smoker, and thoroughly enjoying how much of public spaces in Australia are now smoke free, it's amazing how sensitive I have become to cigarette odour. Across multi lane highways or the car in front! It's very distinct

Very OT but THC is an even more distinct smell than cigarettes. Never smelled it on an aircraft though I imagine it has been done.

 

[Conrad_S]

Very OT but THC is an even more distinct smell than cigarettes. Never smelled it on an aircraft though I imagine it has been done.

I believe that is why coughpit doors were sealed

 

[medhead]

IIRC the cause was not established, but possible scenarios included an electrical fault, etc. There was no actual evidence that a cigarette had anything to do with it.

That's why I mentioned the lack of definitive cause. But that accident did prompt a ban on smoking in toilets and installation of ash trays and signs by the FAA. there was another Canadian flight that had a toilet fire that, apparently, was most likely due to electrical fault.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I dropped a msg into China FT WeChat group - seems smoking on Chinese carriers is not indeed a rare event.

Several responses - one Chinese member posted that he was told by a MU Pilot that indeed Pilots are permitted to smoke in coughpit but not at take-off or landing. Many instances cited where smoke has been detected on board - at least one instance where a half empty water bottle in seat back had half a doz butts floating in bottle - flt atts just shrugged as if matter of course. Other regular weekly commuters on dom flts stated they had smelt smoke on numerous occasions.

 

[lowan74]

When travelling domestically in China in 2009 I noticed the smell of cigarette smoke on several flights, while all pax were still seated not long after takeoff. Couldn't see anyone in cabin smoking however.

Over the past year (and ~60 domestic CN flights) I have only noticed it a couple of times, and normally NOT on CA or CZ. It seems much less frequent now, perhaps promoted by the confiscation of lighters and matches at security checkpoints. The most likely flights I've experienced it on are KN (China United Airlines) flights.

 

[sausagefingers]

2013 on a flight from Auckland to Brisbane a guy was caught smoking in the toilets, he was totally ****faced drunk when getting on the flight, and never should have been allowed on the flight in my opinion.

 

[Denali]

I recall a very stern pilot announcement last April when flying SQ SIN>SYD. Made both myself and hubby take notice as it was in a very aggressive tone and it was in the middle of a quite period of the flight.

Figured someone got busted.

 

[njba]

A (somewhat hysterical) update: We Tried To Call Out Our Flight Crew For Smoking... - One Mile at a Time

The comments are interesting. Apparently Chinese regulations permit pilots to smoke while at cruise. Says one comment:

"Pilots smoke all the time on Chinese flights. They usually ask the flight attendants to make a simple device for smoking: put a wet napkin on a paper cup with some water in it, and stick the cigarette into the napkin to contain the smoke. They are actually ALLOWED to smoke when in cruise according to the regulations of Civil Aviation Administration of China. That ... is too long so I wont translate it here."

I think smokers forget how gross the smell is. Being trapped in a confined space with a bad smell is not a good time.

 

[docjames]

I checked into Le Royal Meridien and entered a 'non-smoking' room to be instantly confronted with 'that smell' - it is unmistakable to me - but NEVER smelt it on a plane.

Try the Rydges near parliament house in CBR. Appalling as the "non-smoking" rooms are essentially "former-smoking" rooms. Disgusting.

 

[Mal]

Another 'Lucky' blog. Yawn, the update is just sad ... Over the top hysterics with a moral overtone of I'm better than them.