JAL features the Japanese animation character Astro Boy on video on domestic and international flights to encourage pax to observe good/better manners during flights. This video shows examples of bad manners on airplanes, from getting drunk and rowdy, to smoking in the toilets or allowing one's feet to stick out into the aisle. The JAL-produced video, which runs about 4 & one half min on international & 2 & one half mins on domestic flights, includes a scene where Dr Ochanomizu, a character in the cartoon who serves as a guide, trips over another pax feet extended out in an aisle.

The film also features a scene where a pax hides in the toilet to smoke and causes a panic when his clothes catch fire. He is then saved by Astro Boy.

JAL notes the airline industry is increasingly witnessing ill-mannered behaviour by pax during flights. They said JAL had 15 reported cases in which ill-mannered pax created disturbances in '95, but this rose to 70 between 4-12 '99.

Doc,

Nice story! I've only flown JAL once in the last couple of years, but have always enjoyed their exemplary service. Having experienced Japanese "salaryman" manners on the trains, etc. for many a moon now, the fact that most JAL-related complaints center around the other passengers doesn't surprise me in the least.

Have a NRT-Bali flight coming up this summer. Exceedingly unhappy that discounted miles won't count at all toward AA, but whaddaya gonna do.

-KP