Is this a new announcement onboard?
Aug 11, 2016, 4:14 am
#16
Join Date: Jul 2014
Programs: Mucci de l'Arbitrage
Posts: 927
Heard that one and was wondering the rationale. Presumably the airline doesn't give a rat's arse if my iPhone is squashed by the seat mechanics so they must either be worried about their seat getting bust, or the phone exploding/burning?
Aug 11, 2016, 4:25 am
#18
Join Date: Jul 2014
Programs: Mucci de l'Arbitrage
Posts: 927
Aug 11, 2016, 4:40 am
#19
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: UK
Programs: BA GGL (but soon to lose the GL :-(), IHG Spire Amb, Hilton Dmnd (and pleb/pleb-plus in 1001 others)
Posts: 771
Qatar make the same announcement. Before they started doing so I once lost my iPad - I thought someone had stolen it while I was asleep. The CC asked me what I was looking for and said something along the lines of "its a good job you haven't tried moving your seat to find it yet as that can lead to it getting pushed into an inaccessible place", and then proceeded to retrieve it from my seat. (Obviously the CW seat is not the same as the QR J seat, but I imagine it could be a similar reason).
Aug 11, 2016, 8:45 am
#21
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: London/Glasgow
Programs: BAEC Silver (lapsed HNL Gold), Avis Preferred, IHG Diamond Amb, Hilton Plat, Marriot Plat
Posts: 351
They've long said that in the opposite direction (landing at LCY), I presumed it was because the walkway crosses a road so it's sensible to remove distractions. Did your walking route cross any airside roads?
Aug 11, 2016, 8:55 am
#22
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 1,464
That's definitely the reason, though on Qantas they do mention both that it may damage your device, and a compromised battery may be a firehazard.
Aug 12, 2016, 7:46 am
#23
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 1
Aug 12, 2016, 8:05 am
#25
Join Date: Jan 2005
Programs: BA silver.
Posts: 213
It was dark and I wasn't paying much attention tbh, but I don't think so - we were extremely close to the terminal. I think we came in through gate 6, if that helps.
Aug 12, 2016, 8:35 am
#26
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Canterbury, UK
Programs: BA Gold, IHG Diamond + Ambassador, Accor Gold, Avis President's Club, Heathrow Rewards
Posts: 2,471
The reason airlines are concerned about devices with Li batteries getting lost and crushed in between seats is that damage incurred in this way often leads to internal short circuits which lead to thermal runaway, causing fire or even an explosion.
Aug 12, 2016, 9:55 am
#28
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Houston Tx & 39000 ft
Programs: UA 1M, OW, Avis, every known hotel
Posts: 3
Aug 12, 2016, 9:58 am
#29
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 143
Speaking about walking from planes to terminals in general, in rant mode, I sometimes think, I've got myself to the airport using cars/buses/whatever, flown in a metal tube through the sky, but, now, I need assistance to cross a road, something I've been doing for a long time
Aug 12, 2016, 12:10 pm
#30
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AA EXP, IHG Diamond, IC Amb
Posts: 5,510
Even for FT I'd still say that qualifies me as flying "A LOT."
I don't put my headphones on until after take-off, either.