United flight diverted over seat recline issue
Aug 25, 2014, 3:43 pm
#1
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United flight diverted over seat recline issue
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/cops-c...205741388.html
. . .
The fight started when the male passenger, seated in a middle seat of row 12, used the Knee Defender to stop the woman in front of him from reclining while he was on his laptop, according to a law enforcement official with knowledge of the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak.
A flight attendant asked him to remove the device and he refused. The woman then stood up, turned around and threw a cup of water at him, the official says. That's when United decided to land in Chicago. The two passengers were not allowed to continue to Denver.
Both passengers were sitting in United's Economy Plus section, the part of the plane that has four more inches of legroom than the rest of coach
. . .
Badly behaved and over entitled Elite flyers?
Seems a bit much to refuse to remove the knee defender thing even after asked to remove the gadget. Then the cup of water from the other flyer, also not exactly in the book of etiquette.
. . .
The fight started when the male passenger, seated in a middle seat of row 12, used the Knee Defender to stop the woman in front of him from reclining while he was on his laptop, according to a law enforcement official with knowledge of the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak.
A flight attendant asked him to remove the device and he refused. The woman then stood up, turned around and threw a cup of water at him, the official says. That's when United decided to land in Chicago. The two passengers were not allowed to continue to Denver.
Both passengers were sitting in United's Economy Plus section, the part of the plane that has four more inches of legroom than the rest of coach
. . .
Badly behaved and over entitled Elite flyers?
Seems a bit much to refuse to remove the knee defender thing even after asked to remove the gadget. Then the cup of water from the other flyer, also not exactly in the book of etiquette.
Aug 25, 2014, 3:49 pm
#2
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http://finance.yahoo.com/news/cops-c...205741388.html
. . .
The fight started when the male passenger, seated in a middle seat of row 12, used the Knee Defender to stop the woman in front of him from reclining while he was on his laptop, according to a law enforcement official with knowledge of the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak.
A flight attendant asked him to remove the device and he refused. The woman then stood up, turned around and threw a cup of water at him, the official says. That's when United decided to land in Chicago. The two passengers were not allowed to continue to Denver.
Both passengers were sitting in United's Economy Plus section, the part of the plane that has four more inches of legroom than the rest of coach
. . .
Badly behaved and over entitled Elite flyers?
Seems a bit much to refuse to remove the knee defender thing even after asked to remove the gadget. Then the cup of water from the other flyer, also not exactly in the book of etiquette.
. . .
The fight started when the male passenger, seated in a middle seat of row 12, used the Knee Defender to stop the woman in front of him from reclining while he was on his laptop, according to a law enforcement official with knowledge of the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak.
A flight attendant asked him to remove the device and he refused. The woman then stood up, turned around and threw a cup of water at him, the official says. That's when United decided to land in Chicago. The two passengers were not allowed to continue to Denver.
Both passengers were sitting in United's Economy Plus section, the part of the plane that has four more inches of legroom than the rest of coach
. . .
Badly behaved and over entitled Elite flyers?
Seems a bit much to refuse to remove the knee defender thing even after asked to remove the gadget. Then the cup of water from the other flyer, also not exactly in the book of etiquette.
Aug 25, 2014, 3:50 pm
#3
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Heading to the kitchen to make a bucket of popcorn...
Aug 25, 2014, 3:53 pm
#4
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Both pax are at fault.
Aug 25, 2014, 3:53 pm
#5
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Uhh, no. It's not. From the article:
"The Federal Aviation Administration leaves it up to individual airlines to set rules about the device. United Airlines said it prohibits use of the device, like all major U.S. airlines."
It's against United rules to use it, but that doesn't make it a crime. United doesn't decide what is and isn't a crime.
"The Federal Aviation Administration leaves it up to individual airlines to set rules about the device. United Airlines said it prohibits use of the device, like all major U.S. airlines."
It's against United rules to use it, but that doesn't make it a crime. United doesn't decide what is and isn't a crime.
Aug 25, 2014, 3:54 pm
#6
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Seems to me that both should have been arrested. Neither tossing water nor refusing to comply with a lawful order of flight crew is proper - nor lawful - behavior.
That said, I'd be quite happy if airlines were to only offer non-reclining seats and were to also prohibit the use of laptops and other gadgets. Flying is no place to do work. Enjoy flying itself. Enjoy time away from electronic gadgets. Read a book, write a poem enjoy the clouds.
That said, I'd be quite happy if airlines were to only offer non-reclining seats and were to also prohibit the use of laptops and other gadgets. Flying is no place to do work. Enjoy flying itself. Enjoy time away from electronic gadgets. Read a book, write a poem enjoy the clouds.
Aug 25, 2014, 3:55 pm
#7
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.....but it is a crime to refuse to follow the orders of a crew member (when those orders are appropriate).
Aug 25, 2014, 3:57 pm
#8
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It would have been more apropos / ironic to throw the SkyMall catalog. 
Aug 25, 2014, 3:59 pm
#9
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Uhh, no. It's not. From the article:
"The Federal Aviation Administration leaves it up to individual airlines to set rules about the device. United Airlines said it prohibits use of the device, like all major U.S. airlines."
It's against United rules to use it, but that doesn't make it a crime. United doesn't decide what is and isn't a crime.
"The Federal Aviation Administration leaves it up to individual airlines to set rules about the device. United Airlines said it prohibits use of the device, like all major U.S. airlines."
It's against United rules to use it, but that doesn't make it a crime. United doesn't decide what is and isn't a crime.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...a-flights.html
Aug 25, 2014, 4:03 pm
#10
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Would the FA's order to remove the device have been considered important to safety of flight? If anything, a non-reclined seat would help in an emergency or evacuation. How does removing the Knee Defender help safety (which is the FA's main duty)?
Aug 25, 2014, 4:16 pm
#11
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Well, if it's preventing the recline, it's also forcing the tray table to be down.
Aug 25, 2014, 4:22 pm
#12
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The knee defender guy should be arrested for disobeying crew orders. He could also press charges against the woman.
I actually think the reclining seats are a little dangerous because no one ever looks behind them before reclining. I've leaned forward to get something from my laptop bag under the seat and had the seat back slammed into my head. It only startled me, but I let out a scream and curse so the idiot in front of me at least (hopefully) felt bad.
I wish UA would compromise...recline all the seats back half way and lock them.
I actually think the reclining seats are a little dangerous because no one ever looks behind them before reclining. I've leaned forward to get something from my laptop bag under the seat and had the seat back slammed into my head. It only startled me, but I let out a scream and curse so the idiot in front of me at least (hopefully) felt bad.
I wish UA would compromise...recline all the seats back half way and lock them.
Aug 25, 2014, 4:34 pm
#13
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They are both at fault - one for disobeying crew member instructions, the other for being a buffoon.
Always nice when an episode of Jersey Shore breaks out on flights out of EWR.
Not everyone likes flying. Some people are not on mileage runs and have to do real work. Outside of FlyerTalk, the world of flying is very different. No excuse for what this fellow did, however.
Always nice when an episode of Jersey Shore breaks out on flights out of EWR.
That said, I'd be quite happy if airlines were to only offer non-reclining seats and were to also prohibit the use of laptops and other gadgets. Flying is no place to do work. Enjoy flying itself. Enjoy time away from electronic gadgets. Read a book, write a poem enjoy the clouds.
Aug 25, 2014, 4:38 pm
#14
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Aug 25, 2014, 4:40 pm
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Uhh, no. It's not. From the article:
"The Federal Aviation Administration leaves it up to individual airlines to set rules about the device. United Airlines said it prohibits use of the device, like all major U.S. airlines."
It's against United rules to use it, but that doesn't make it a crime. United doesn't decide what is and isn't a crime.
"The Federal Aviation Administration leaves it up to individual airlines to set rules about the device. United Airlines said it prohibits use of the device, like all major U.S. airlines."
It's against United rules to use it, but that doesn't make it a crime. United doesn't decide what is and isn't a crime.
The FAA has zippo to do with this.
Federal criminal law requires passengers to obey the lawful orders of the crew. UA prohibits the device. The FA was authorized to issue the order and Mr. Middle committed a crime. Whether the FBI pursues an investigation and the U.S. Attorney chooses to prosecute, is a different question.
Ms. Water committed an assault aboard an aircraft. She too committed a crime. Same thing respecting the prosecution.
Hopefully UA will ban both from flying UA and pursue Mr. Middle for damages associated with the cost of diverting the flight. If you do this just once in a while, you can actually modify bad behavior.