FlyMeToTheLooneyBin

Yeah. I agree with this. I'm not a Texan, but the ones I've met have been very friendly, and very chatty.

bbmatt

or he could have just pointed to AA's own in flight entertainment... don't they play 30 rock! hahaha

PolandExpat

I can't believe that no one gets this. I wonder how much zynga.com paid Baldwin to make sure he said he was playing Words with Friends? Come on.

Juanefny

I'm not ready to judge without all the facts. As I explained before there are also fas who are <redacted> on the plane. In my case, I needed 10 secs to say bye to my boss. They were literally just asking to turn off phones when she came with an attitude.
I understand people must turn off devices but there's a curteous way of asking and a bitter way... Most fas are curteous, but not all.

MiamiAirport Formerly NY George

Setting aside whether cells phones are or are not dangerous to instrumentation, most of us fly enough to know when the seat belt sign comes on and the chime with it the flight is about ten minutes from departure. I am the only one that can knows its time to wrap up my text (or call although I hate calling) or Internet activity and power down the device.

If you are such an important person that you simply must remain on that call then its time for you to fly private where you will not be holding anyone up.

Niomi

That's the first thing I thought too. Wonder if we could find any proof that this was the case?

Cityhawk

You do realize they were making fun of the academy, not mentally disabled people, right?

LAXJetter

Apparently Oscar De La Hoya was on the flight and claims Baldwin was angry

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lano...hoya-says.html

JDiver

I think one thing about the electronic rules issue is that an expensive and extensive permitting process would have to occur and that is not likely to happen unless the airlines will be assured they will make a lot of money and the process will pay for itself and generate profit.

Also, the aviation regulating industry (FAA, etc.) are quite conservative - not that many years ago, and iirc Swissair claimed they had proof of signals interference, all sorts of CD players were banned from being turned on in flight. It may be the players of that day were "leaky" with significant IF generated that interfered with the old navaids, but the issue eventually went away.

In the end, AFAIK FAs are held accountable for enforcing the FARS and regulations applicable to electronics - and if an FAA inspector is aboard and they fail to enforce, they will be written up (see previous posts). skyladycan correct me if I am wrong, of course.

ThePointsCollector

+1 for Alec.
I have never seen any ruder staff than AA's. Having flown on many different airlines, AA is a Greyhound of airline biz. Love the gym teacher reference. ^

Clipper110A

NY Times article seems to indicate that interference is actually possible. I'll take expert citations from Boeing engineers over two avionics geeks with time to kill on a parked learjet cited on previous pages...

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/18/bu...ices.html?_r=1


Also, there is NO FAA rule that requires ANYTHING with cellphones. There is a rule that requires carriers to allow certain devices like hearing aids, pacemakers (obviously), etc..., and then to determine what else to allow. Then the FAA expects pax to comply with crew and company rules.

§ 121.306 Portable electronic devices.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, no person may operate, nor may any operator or pilot in command of an aircraft allow the operation of, any portable electronic device on any U.S.-registered civil aircraft operating under this part.

(b) Paragraph (a) of this section does not apply to—

(1) Portable voice recorders;

(2) Hearing aids;

(3) Heart pacemakers;

(4) Electric shavers; or

(5) Any other portable electronic device that the part 119 certificate holder has determined will not cause interference with the navigation or communication system of the aircraft on which it is to be used.

(c) The determination required by paragraph (b)(5) of this section shall be made by that part 119 certificate holder operating the particular device to be used.

[Doc. No. FAA–1998–4954, 64 FR 1080, Jan. 7, 1999]

+1 I'll give the f/a a $50 also in addition to the APPLAUSE cert. Sick and tired of rude, self-important a**holes on airplanes. There are too many people who think the world revolves around them and the rest of us are just a backdrop for their pathetic lives. If you are THAT important and the "rules" that everyone else is asked to follow do not apply to you, go on a private jet, or walk.





+1 While there are some real horror shows walking the cabin in AA fa uniforms, this is not a foregone conclusion that Baldwin was treated badly by the crew.

Your rhetorical question is very appropriate, the FA should NEVER look the other way, because they are supposed to be professionals, also because there are safety issues associated.

Mr. Baldwin got some free publicity....As an AA EXP, I hope he goes to United and stays there....

Pucnit

Here's what we all should take away from this....

#1) Don't sit in a seat that FA can directly see you from the jump seat/galley. (That means never sit in row 1 in first class on most domestic flights. Even for first meal choice.)
#2) When instructed by the FA to put your device away. Say, yes ma'am and put your device in standby mode and hide it.
#3) Wait for AA FAs to go away, sit or hide in galley (they most often do). Bring out device.

LAXgt

There are very few times when a person gets kick off a plane and of course the media is all of it because it involves a celebrity.

abk

I kind of like the irony in that AA just built a special entrance at lax for Alec and his friends while at the same time not expecting that those types may not play exactly by the rules. On one hand AA is providing separate check in, screening and boarding and on the other yelling at him for not turning his game off fast enough by what is more likely than not an FA on a power trip.
My guess is Alec got a nice apology and whatever free stuff they give a guy like that.

farrish11

This: