Audio/Video, Cell Phones, iPhone
ATA Tries to Arrest Passenger for Using iPhone in "Airplane Mode"
Every day, new horror stories are released about some rude TSA or flight attendant in our nation's airports and skyways. Check out this latest one, in which a guy on an ATA flight is watching a movie on his iPhone while it is in its offline "airplane" mode, which means the cell phone and Wi-Fi radio is turned off, so it's nothing more than a standard-issue MP3/movie player.
Turns out a mad-with-power flight attendant decides to tell the guy he's breaking FAA rules, even though Airplane mode was specifically created to follow those rules. The flight attendant even went so far as to call the police and not only waste the passenger's time post-flight, but also humiliate him in front of the entire plane since this exchange with the authorities took place at the front of the plane after it landed.
Of course, after some explanations from the passenger and some story-changing-and-inventing on the part of the flight attendant, the police laughed off the entire event, because clearly the ATA flight attendant was not only completely ignorant of both the FAA law and iPhones, but also a complete, off-his-rocker psycho who should be barred from flight for inciting stress!
This is just another example of the rude, intimidating, incompetent, and hostile behavior on the part of everyone from TSA officials at the security gates to flight attendants ever since 9/11. Sorry, but terrorist threats and increased security are no excuses for rude behavior and bad service! We have traveled in many places around the globe and are treated with respect by airline officials, most recently in Japan, who politely point out that we have to take our laptops out of our bags (or whatever) and at least know the rules about in-flight electronics. (The one exception is London's Heathrow airport, which is a nightmare of intimidating, inflexible security measures and officials -- be warned.)
The guy should sue ATA Airlines for distress, and customers across the country should start flooding ATA's Web site with complaints! That company is a poor excuse for a budget airline, anyway, particularly when compared with tech-savvy Virgin America.
From Newser and Consumerist
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Travis said 1:25PM on 2-19-2009
http://www.switched.com/2009/02/19/faa-tells-pilots-to-turn-off-their-cell-phones/
get owned ATA, see if I ever bother to turn on the airplane mode on my phone from now on. This guy should definately sue for distress, and the flight attendant deserves to lose her job.
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Robert Kruemmel said 12:58PM on 10-12-2007
Whatever happened to just following the flight attendants instructions. I'm sure he/she asked to have the device turned off. For the 10 minutes prior to landing and the time it takes to taxi for takeoff, I think its not too much to ask. It has been reported that some electronic devices can cause interference with the aircraft systems like the GPS or radios. In case your wondering, I am a current airline pilot and have been one for just under 30 years!
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andyg8180 said 11:27AM on 6-23-2008
i understand what you are saying, but if an item is in "Airplane mode" it is an approved device of your airline. You cant tell someone no after you already said yes... Its the same thing as going to a McDonalds and being told the cheeseburger is $2 when its clearly marked $1...
If a consumer has more knowledge of a product and the employee does not, the consumer should NOT just comply because the employee said so... Gets into the whole Good Cop Crooked Cop thing...
But i do respect a pilot... Pilots have final say in whatever goes down because they are the ones flying the plane...
bob said 3:37PM on 2-19-2009
You would think an airline pilot of 30 years would know how to read. The FA ask the passenger to turn off the phone during cruise, while the other passengers were allowed to us their electronic devices. The passenger try to explain that his phone was off and his I-phone was operating as a video player only. This was over the FA head just as it is over yours. This is why you guys are hurting. You do not have any respect for your customers. They are always wrong and are stupid in your eyes. One by one airlines passengers are getting fed up with the bad service provided by airline crews. Blame de-regulation all you want, but the airline jobs suck now because their employees suck.
Mickelowdeons said 4:17PM on 10-12-2007
I think that the airlines and tsa have been over stepping as of late. I have been on flights and been asked to turn off my cd player yes that's right a personal cd player, being told that it would interfer with the airplanes equipment, when in fact it doesn't but the attendent felt it was necessary to talk loudly and bring attention to where i was sitting etc. It's sad that we pay a fee to use the airlines services and we are still treated as if they are doing us a favor by allowing us to fly with them. Something needs to be done to keep all tsa/airline workers in check. If we as consumers don't speak up for our rights who will? and at what cost?
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rob said 2:38PM on 10-12-2007
This article is just another example of a rude intimidating incompetent hostile passenger type who thinks his stink doesnt stink and god forbid he go more than 10 seconds without using some electrical gadget to amuse himself.
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linda said 8:45PM on 10-12-2007
As a flight attendant, I know that the employee in question was 'technically correct' in asking that the passenger shut the device off. The Airplane Mode does not include usage except when above 10,000 feet of altitude. All such devices ARE mandated by the FAA to be completely off and stowed prior to take-off and landing. Of course, I do think it was silly to have the police involved - I don't concern myself with such extremes. However, in honesty, why couldn't the man just shut up and complied. People act like they can't live without this technical garbage for even a few minutes.
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Karen said 9:24PM on 10-12-2007
This is not a case of some 'power hungry' flight attendant. It is a cas of one more rude passenger who refused to comply with FAA mandated rules. Neither the airlines or the flight attendant 'makes them up', however they are compelled to try to enforce them or face fines and possible termination. Folks, it is the Government who makes the rules that you all so hate to follow. Airplane mode or not, all items are regulated to be turned off prior to landing. I'm sure that the flight attendant doesn't give a personal hoot, but was just trying to follow the rules.
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John said 6:43PM on 10-13-2007
Whatever happened to the impartiality of the news? Author Tom Samiljan should be censured for his "rude, intimidating, incompetent, and hostile" reporting. How does he know that the flight attendant was in fact "mad-with-power"? As far as I'm concerned, Mr. Samiljan is a "complete, off-his-rocker psycho" and poor example of a journalist.
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anonymous said 7:30PM on 10-13-2007
It doesn't matter if it's a cell phone, gameboy or a laptop during take off and landing or it must be by the request of the flight crew it must be turned off. It's a matter of radio waves from any device interfering with flyby wire control systems or navigation equipment aboard the aircraft. Food for thought if the flight crew doesn't want it on shouldn't you stop and think why. There have been instances when improperly shielded electronics have caused un commanded aircraft control surface deflections in flight. Short and simple the aircraft began to dutch roll. Sounds scary it is. The rolling motion would only stop when the a passenger laptop was turned off. Stop and think if the flight crew is wary of passengers having electronic equipment on so should you.
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C said 1:17AM on 10-14-2007
You would think that a several hundred thousand dollar airplane would be well protected from the radio waves from a small gameboy or electronic device. Actually, they are very well shielded from these types of interferences.
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H said 1:47AM on 10-14-2007
If you have such a problem with TSA, just fly a different airline! I really don't see any problem with the flight attendant's...At least you know he was trying to do his job (even if it was wrong in this case). I highly doubt it would have killed the guy to shut off his iPhone for a few minutes.
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Kant Reed said 3:00AM on 10-14-2007
All you people saying this guy should have turned it off while the plane was landing and/or below 10000 feet need to learn how to read. You really shouldn't let your stupidity get in the way of your self righteousness.
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Kant Reed said 3:07AM on 10-14-2007
Here is the full story. As you can see your comments are out of line, as the ibrick in question was not being used under 10k feet, during takeoff or landing. The flight attendant was way out of line, period. I know its tough to be perky all day when each flier has paid more for a seat than you make in a month, fact > opinion.
http://consumerist.com/consumer/travel/ata-tries-to-have-you-arrested-for-using-your-iphone-in-airplane-mode-309421.php
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ago said 4:57AM on 10-14-2007
this is a very one-sided description. Certainly the FA would have his view garnished with enough emotional arguments to turn opinion. All in all, ridiculous..
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justin said 4:35AM on 10-19-2007
Yeah Great Idea...Thanks Tom. The Consumer should sue ATA.. Well guys.. Everybody wonders why its so expensive for everything we do and buy?? Suing for a mistake like this... Maybe she was out of line, maybe he was distressed.. He is probably going to get a million dollar plus settlement for it.. We all pay for it. That settlement cost is passed on to you the consumer..Tom - you should consider working with the ACLU...
Justin
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Jodi yap said 10:52AM on 11-02-2007
"on a flight to Hawaii", not during landing or take off. If the plane was airborne why the flight attendant attempted to have a passenger arrested for refusing to turn off an iPhone ? Because they could! "You have to do anything I say. I am going to have you arrested," the ATA flight attendant threatened.
If some cop did this to me I would have had a supervisor call on the spot. They forget that we pay them and we are still Americans, with some rights.
To bad the flight attendent became the fool on this one. Looks like someone needs to go back to class for training!
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Randall Ezell said 9:04PM on 11-02-2007
You also need to remember one of the reasons you need to have your CD players, Ipods etc. off during takeoff and landing is in the event of an emergency you will hear the instructions from the flight attendants and not waste valuable time in the event of an evacuation.
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Katie said 12:22AM on 11-03-2007
airplane mode is NOT an approved mode for cell phones. there IS no approved mode. i cant believe this jerk WASNT arrested!! airplane mode can still cause interference with navigation systems, radios, gps, etc in the flight deck. the lack of respect towards flight attendants these days is ridiculous. when things like this happen, and then the press behind it, takes away all authority from flight crews. its such a hassle to travel these days- not because of 'rude' and 'power-tripping' flight attendants and airline employees, its because of stupid people wanting everything for less and less money. that man deserved to be humiliated in front of the other passengers, he deserved to be taken off in handcuffs, and charged. what happened to "zero tolerance"?!?!
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Katie said 1:40AM on 11-03-2007
airplane mode is NOT an approved mode for cell phones. there IS noapproved mode. i cant believe this jerk WASNT arrested!! airplanemode can still cause interference with navigation systems, radios,gps, etc in the flight deck. the lack of respect towards flightattendants these days is ridiculous. when things like this happen,and then the press behind it, takes away all authority from flightcrews. its such a hassle to travel these days- not because of 'rude'and 'power-tripping' flight attendants and airline employees, itsbecause of stupid people wanting everything for less and less money. that man deserved to be humiliated in front of the other passengers,he deserved to be taken off in handcuffs, and charged. what happenedto "zero tolerance"?!?!
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