BOH

I think we are all used to the occasional pax glitch on a flight but today on the 2688 to GOA we had two.

1. A GA came on at the end of boarding and asked a family of pax to identify themselves with BP's and also all their hand-luggage too in the overheads. Then all surrounding pax too in the 2-3 rows ahead and behind, basically all to show our BP's then the CC pulled each bag out of the bins above all these 6 or so rows and ask, "whose is this?" and each had to be claimed by the owner. All was OK though in the end and we pushed back only about 15 mins late.

2. But....then after a very short taxi out we had to wait some 15-20 minutes at the runway before departure (not unusual for LGW during the Spring-Summer months). Then just as we finally moved onto the active runway to line-up a pax 2 rows behind me suddenly stood up, opened the overhead and started rummaging through his bag! The CC quickly and firmly announced on the PA to "please sit down" but was ignored.

Then as we came to a stop on the active runway, just before the engines spool up he was still up and rummaging and a CC shouted up from the back "Sit DOWN, we are about to take off" and he shouted back, "ok, ok, no need to shout"....but continued to stand up and rummage in his bag. The CC repeated even more loudly the "Sit Down NOW" command but astonishingly he shouted, "Only when you stop shouting at me". By this time a CC from the front rapidly came down the aisle and repeated the command in his local language directly at him but still he refused, saying he would only when the shouting at him stopped!! By this time the engines were spooling up so some surrounding pax were also shouting "SIT DOWN" at him and he reluctantly did so, grinning to himself. The "urgent" item he retrieved from his luggage was.....a ballpoint pen!

I wondered how close we were to returning to the terminal and him being offloaded - I half-wish he had been for that behaviour although of course that would have meant a further delay. He tried to banter a little with the crew and make humour of it when the trolley came down but they were having none of it. Great to see the usual BA CC professionalism ^

KARFA

There are a lot of stupid people in the world, sadly some of them also fly. Whilst we all have a lot of disagreements on FT about various issues, I think we all at least agree that standing up like that is stupid and dangerous.

LCY8737

dougzz

BOH

I think the real and high danger during take-off is most defintely if the roll is aborted and heavy braking results - really heavy braking. If someone is not belted in their seat they can get seriously injured because during the rapid deceleration they can become a projectile. Not to mention if the overhead bin is open too (as this potentially was) - a 10kg case(s) flying through the air would not be pleasant for the recipient, probably even fatal if the take-off is aborted from a reasonably high speed.

Having been on a plane whose take off was aborted from a high speed I can personally say those brakes are very, very effective when applied to abort a take-off from a high speed.

The guy today was an utter idiot, not just for the standing up and opening of the overhead as we lined up on the runway but more for the refusal to sit down when instructed multiple times coupled with, "I'll sit down only when you stop shouting at me to sit down"

KARFA

I would disagree. Even without issues like rejected takeoffs or wind/turbulence I don't think it would be trivial to remain upright. Whilst I wouldn't be bothered about the offending passenger injuring themselves, there is a lot of potential for them to fall and injure a nearby innocent passenger.

Agree

Jimmie76

I think this happened at BOS but anyway we landed a fair few minutes early. Flight deck mentioned that despite having stopped near the terminal we weren't at the gate. Therefore for you own safety the seat belt sign will stay on and please remain seated. Not thirty seconds later a few idiots in the club cabin (777) stood up. Crew told them to sit down which was ignored. Plane started up again with a jolt and said passengers almost ended up on the floor. A voice from another cabin yelled "Serves you right!"

flyer0123

It is not only about the passenger standing get injured, but their action could potentially injure other passengers. What if a bag from overhead bin falls down on another passenger? I could never understand why some people don't understand the potential outcome of their stunts in a plane

navylad

IAN-UK

I don't think you appreciate the hazards inherent in acceleration and braking even at quite low speeds.

Turbulence is another thing.

gcuk

Should have been arrested at the end of the flight. Disobeyed a lawful (and eminently sensible) instruction from cabin crew.

Dicksbits

I was sitting on the back row of the BA269 to LAX a few years ago (a 747) in world traveller plus and a guy stood up to go into the overhead bins during a steep climb. He was told in no uncertain terms to "SIT DOWN SIR, NOW!" from a voice behind me. He was in that solo WT+ seat at the front of the cabin and sat down rather casually, shoes off. I just remember thinking: What a PRAT.

TTmex

I was on an AA flight into CLT when a 70yo guy stood up to go to the toilet 15 seconds before the wheels touched the ground. Crew yelled at him but it was too late. We touched down and when the breaks were applied someone had to grab hold of him to stop him falling over. Guy just seemed confused. I think he just didn't understand what was happening as a whole. Crew were very good and realised it was just a case of an infrequent flyer who might have been a little overwhelmed with the whole experience.

LCY8737

cuspidor