Unauthorized Oxygen Bottle In Cabin - Who Messed Up?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Central NJ
Programs: Continental Plat/MM, Marriott Gold
Posts: 346
Unauthorized Oxygen Bottle In Cabin - Who Messed Up?
Just throwing this out there to see what actually happened and who dropped the ball...
I was on an AUS-IAH flight last week and we were late already due to a late inbound aircraft. We back off the gate and sat for while. Turned out a passenger somehow got an oxygen bottle in the cabin that wasn't supposed to be there. It was quite large and on wheels but according to a flight attendant it was empty. Apparently the Captain had to call it in and it took at over a 1/2 hr to figure out what to do with it on an already delayed flight. Total delay was well over an hour. They ultimately put it in the baggage compartment. I would have missed my connecting flight had it not been delayed but I know others were very upset as they missed their connecting flights. The pda site came in handy for me...
Just curious who should have flagged the bottle and kept it out of the cabin? TSA, gate agents, flight attendants? Flight attendants said the passenger must have been hiding it.
Thanks,
I was on an AUS-IAH flight last week and we were late already due to a late inbound aircraft. We back off the gate and sat for while. Turned out a passenger somehow got an oxygen bottle in the cabin that wasn't supposed to be there. It was quite large and on wheels but according to a flight attendant it was empty. Apparently the Captain had to call it in and it took at over a 1/2 hr to figure out what to do with it on an already delayed flight. Total delay was well over an hour. They ultimately put it in the baggage compartment. I would have missed my connecting flight had it not been delayed but I know others were very upset as they missed their connecting flights. The pda site came in handy for me...
Just curious who should have flagged the bottle and kept it out of the cabin? TSA, gate agents, flight attendants? Flight attendants said the passenger must have been hiding it.
Thanks,
#2
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: NYC
Posts: 927
I'm quite surprised by this, but a quick reading of the tsa's site lends the impression that pressurized oxygen cylinders are permitted through the checkpoint.
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtrav...al_1374.shtm#2
So it would appear that he got the canister through the checkpoint 'legally'. If he then hid the canister from airline personnel, then it was he who dropped the ball. Short of having ground agents inspect carry ons, I'm not sure how this could have been prevented.
Supplemental personal medical oxygen and other respiratory-related equipment and devices (e.g. nebulizer, respirator) are permitted through the screening checkpoint once they have undergone screening.
So it would appear that he got the canister through the checkpoint 'legally'. If he then hid the canister from airline personnel, then it was he who dropped the ball. Short of having ground agents inspect carry ons, I'm not sure how this could have been prevented.
#3
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: retired from SFO Terminal 3
Posts: 7,437
Customers are allowed to have their own personal oxygen bottles at the gate. CO doesn't provide oxygen for waiting room use or during transfers between flights. It is up to the customer to make arrangements for this, with an outside company.
Boarding agents are to stop anyone from bring on their own personal oxygen on board the aircraft. If we don't see it we can not stop it.
CO does allow for certain brands of personal oxygen generating machines. CO also provides (for a fee) oxygen for use in flight. This is to be set up with our Oxygen Desk via reservations.
Boarding agents are to stop anyone from bring on their own personal oxygen on board the aircraft. If we don't see it we can not stop it.
CO does allow for certain brands of personal oxygen generating machines. CO also provides (for a fee) oxygen for use in flight. This is to be set up with our Oxygen Desk via reservations.
#5
Join Date: Jun 2007
Programs: CO-plat, SPG-plat
Posts: 1,655
I know CO will join the cashless cabin crowd soon, but I'd hate to be at the back of Y waiting for the FA to swipe my CC to start the flow of oxygen (although the bag may not inflate)
#6
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: retired from SFO Terminal 3
Posts: 7,437
If the customer fails to do this and just leaves their bottle in the boarding area we have to get rid of it.