Wondering about other people's experience with this.

A couple of weeks ago, I was using my laptop on an ACA (UAX) CRJ prior to takeoff, and the FA (grumpy guy on all fronts) told me to turn it off. He wasn't going to be argued with, so I complied.

Next flight on UA, checked with the FA (this was a 757, I think), no problem.

Last week again, IAD->BUF, ACA CRJ, same thing again. The woman said "didn't you listen to the announcements" (which must have been played before I boarded). I replied that it didn't seem to make a lot of sense while the door was still open. She called me up to the front once we were airborne, and showed me the manual, which indeed said that electronics should not be used while on the ground until 10 minutes after takeoff. A bit ambiguous, depending on when the announcement would be played, of course.

So this week, had several flights on AC. I asked on an A320 and I asked on a 146. Both times, no problem until the door was closed. I pointed out what had happened on ACA, and the crew last night laughed that it must be a UA thing.

Thoughts? Has anyone run into this?

Simon