Don't read books about airplanes while on an airplane.
#16
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Boston
Posts: 821
Can you imagine being a passenger on that flight and missing a connecting flight because of this nonsense? I would be furious. Why does it matter what he is reading? I could care less if he was reading the manual for the plane we were on. I don't see how he would be a threat. This is just ridiculous.
The flight arrived nearly an hour late because of this nonsense.
#17
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Catania, Sicily/South Jersey (PHL)/Houston, Texas/Red Stick/airborne in-between
Programs: United Global Svs, AA PlatPro, WN RR, AZ/ITA Freccia, Hilton Diam, Bonvoy Gold, Hertz Prez, IHG
Posts: 3,535
-The crew never asked the man what he was reading.
--The crew called LEOs, deplaned him, and had LEOs ask
- Gentleman in question answered at once, calmly, and with no malice.
- After being cleared from crew's overeaction, the plane took off over an hour late.
-Many people were Inconvenienced
The end
#18
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Boston
Posts: 821
So if the cops then demanded that his checked and carry-on bags be taken off and searched to see what other reading material the passenger had, and the flight ended up taking off three hours late, you'd be okay, because after all, the plane took off?
#19
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Southeast USA
Programs: various
Posts: 6,710
Can you imagine being a passenger on that flight and missing a connecting flight because of this nonsense? I would be furious. Why does it matter what he is reading? I could care less if he was reading the manual for the plane we were on. I don't see how he would be a threat. This is just ridiculous.
It is absolute nonsense. UA needs to do some crew disciplining and possibly some firings.
#20
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: IAD
Programs: *wood Gold
Posts: 1,781
This whole article has prompted me to think about having some fun today. Perhaps tonight I'll drive down to IAD, park, go in, and start taking pictures of the UA ticketing area just to see their reactions (and as a form of protest).
It should be fun.
It should be fun.
#21
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
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UA flight attendants are bunch of paranoid nutbags - my hope from the merger is new management will jettison most of them in favor of the CO staff and CO new hires.
That being said, I was aware of their paranoia and a couple months back I specifically took a complimentary copy of Flying magazine from the AC MLL at YYZ to read on my UA flight - making sure the cover and lots of pictures were visible to the FAs and flight deck crew as I read the magazine before departure.
I'm a pilot and read that magazine frequently, but I would have dared them to say something, as the Peel Police who work at YYZ would have likely arrested the crew for creating a disturbance had they called the police on me for my choice of reading material.
I will continue to drag around my copy of Flying on various UA flights in attempt to bait these loonies into saying something so I can humiliate them.
That being said, I was aware of their paranoia and a couple months back I specifically took a complimentary copy of Flying magazine from the AC MLL at YYZ to read on my UA flight - making sure the cover and lots of pictures were visible to the FAs and flight deck crew as I read the magazine before departure.
I'm a pilot and read that magazine frequently, but I would have dared them to say something, as the Peel Police who work at YYZ would have likely arrested the crew for creating a disturbance had they called the police on me for my choice of reading material.
I will continue to drag around my copy of Flying on various UA flights in attempt to bait these loonies into saying something so I can humiliate them.
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: An NPR mind living in a Fox News world
Posts: 14,153
Interesting -- I looked on the UA website and on the Dulles airport flight info websites and couldn't find his flight number. I suppose they could have changed the schedule between August 11 & now. I did find UA 3429. Given the four-digit number, I suspected it was a cropduster and, likely, a commuter airline. I was right, if this other flight # is correct. The flight was actually Trans States Airlines. That doesn't relieve UA of any responsibility and future liability, but, it does perhaps explain why the crew was so weird about this. Not being UA, they can't really claim 9/11 paranoia as a reason.
#23
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 30
What did they think was going on? That he was boning up on Terrorism 101 with "Blowing up Planes for Dummies?" I can't imagine the conversation that the crew would have had to have with one in other to arrive at the conclusion that they needed to get the LEOs involved.
#24
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Denton County, TX
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 737
Hey everyone next time you see Janet Napolitano give her a big ol "Thanks!".
This is what happens when you have a "see something, say something" campaign of paranoid Americans spying on each other.
What a great place our nation has become. Land of the free and home of the brave. Sure.
This is what happens when you have a "see something, say something" campaign of paranoid Americans spying on each other.
What a great place our nation has become. Land of the free and home of the brave. Sure.
#25
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,444
I once noticed a FA and a seatmate looking at me strangely because I was reading "The God Delusion". Luckily it did not warrant questioning, but maybe we do have to watch what we read, or maybe just switch to e-readers so no one else knows...
#26
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 9,740
Of course, they'll need to hire someone who can actually complete a crossword puzzle, but....
#27
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Denton County, TX
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 737
No. We do not have to watch what we read. And I will not.
#28
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: twitter:TSAABUSEWATCH
Posts: 100
The guy humored the idiots
The plane took off late
everyone was needlessly hassled for no valid reason.
The terrorist score another victory.
Not the end
#29
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: CMH
Programs: Delta Gold Medallion, United
Posts: 433
Perhaps if the flight crew was so worried, they could have asked him what he was reading and then the guy could have answered and the plane took off. On time. With no inconvenience to anyone!
I hope that is not the end. It was ridiculous and the flight crew and/or the person who decided he needed to be questioned by the police needs to be held accountable for their actions. Out of an abundance of caution, my arse!
#30
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,657