Nothing allowed in the seatback?
Nov 4, 2009, 12:28 pm
#32
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I have heard this cited a lot on many different airlines with increased emphasis in the past year. My understanding is that the materials allowed in the seatback pocket for takeoff and landing are all FAA approved, right down to the safety card and barf bag.
Call me crazy, but the second FA should be reported. The second FA telling a passenger to ignore what are legitimate instructions (as the second FA even admitted) from the first FA seems very problematic to me. 
Nov 4, 2009, 12:36 pm
#33
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OK That would make sense BUT,
they're making us put the laptops under a seat or hold it in our laps. On my last flight, the FA said I could hold on to it or put it under my seat. How is that safer than putting it in the seat back? My laptop fits pretty snugly inside the seatback.
they're making us put the laptops under a seat or hold it in our laps. On my last flight, the FA said I could hold on to it or put it under my seat. How is that safer than putting it in the seat back? My laptop fits pretty snugly inside the seatback.
I simply put it back in my bag. Safe (both the laptop and myself) and secure.
Nov 4, 2009, 2:04 pm
#34
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Nov 4, 2009, 3:29 pm
#35
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This is an FAR. The main reason is that the laptops stick out, and can impede an evacuation. The same reason that items stowed under the seat cannot stick out past the seat back. And just an FYI, the airline is now having FA's get strict about purses and laptops being held for takeoff and landing. The FAA issued a directive late last year to have this content covered in annual training. Purses are considered a bag and must be stowed. And reinforced that laptops must be stowed in the overhead bin or under the seat. They may not be held.
The main reason for inconsistency, is that this info is covered in annual training, and FA's are scattered throwout the year for this training. The training year at NWA is April 1 - March 31.
The main reason for inconsistency, is that this info is covered in annual training, and FA's are scattered throwout the year for this training. The training year at NWA is April 1 - March 31.
Last edited by jjvan; Nov 4, 2009 at 3:35 pm
Nov 4, 2009, 4:37 pm
#36
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Nov 9, 2009, 3:01 pm
#37
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Nothing allowed in the seatback?
Last week, I was on a CRJ-900 from CLE-ATL. Skywest was the Delta Connection carrier. I routinely stow my cellphone and a large folder with magazines in the seatback in front of me. On this flight, at both takeoff and landing, the FA demanded that I remove those items from the seatback for safety. I spend a lot of time flying Delta, and have never seen this. Anybody seen this?
Nov 9, 2009, 3:12 pm
#38
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Last week, I was on a CRJ-900 from CLE-ATL. Skywest was the Delta Connection carrier. I routinely stow my cellphone and a large folder with magazines in the seatback in front of me. On this flight, at both takeoff and landing, the FA demanded that I remove those items from the seatback for safety. I spend a lot of time flying Delta, and have never seen this. Anybody seen this?
Welcome to FT!
Nov 9, 2009, 3:12 pm
#39
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Yes it started about this summer when I notice FA checking seat backs on all flights; but they don't check every seatback.
I got away with a netbook in the pocket on the window seat but always get caught in aisle.
I got away with a netbook in the pocket on the window seat but always get caught in aisle.
Nov 9, 2009, 3:15 pm
#40
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Nov 9, 2009, 3:17 pm
#41
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The airlines have been saying for quite some time that laptops are not allowed in the seat backs. Actually, I think anyone who puts a laptop there is nuts anyway - I have had some pretty restless people in front of me and I would not want my laptop being banged around by such people.
But I have not heard that nothing can be stowed there. I would think my water bottle is safer there than in my hand or loose on the floor in front of me (I always bring a water bottle with me, Y or F class). If the seat pocket is so dangerous, I would probably take all their magazines, Skymall cr@p, etc. and put it on the floor where it is "safer."
But I have not heard that nothing can be stowed there. I would think my water bottle is safer there than in my hand or loose on the floor in front of me (I always bring a water bottle with me, Y or F class). If the seat pocket is so dangerous, I would probably take all their magazines, Skymall cr@p, etc. and put it on the floor where it is "safer."
Nov 9, 2009, 6:16 pm
#43
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No Food, Nothing in Seatback Pockets, and other rants...
Just flew in F from PHX-MSP. Flight is scheduled over 3 hours, departs at 3.55pm with an 8.05pm arrival in MSP.
NO MEAL IN FIRST!!! Apparently 4 of the 16 passengers 'knew' about this, the other 12 were all pretty pissed off. I booked via Delta which is notorious for not having the correct meal service denoted on NW operated flights, but just assumed (mistake number one) that a 3+ hour flight right over dinner time would have a meal. Is it too much to ask that the GA's in PHX make an announcement so that passengers can buy food or eat before boarding? Of course, the lounge in PHX has already been shuttered - apparently because it cost DL $6,000 a month in rent and it was a cost saving move - but at least I could have hit Wendy's!
I actually ended up paying for food from Economy, which the FA said she would "allow me to do under the circumstances" even though "passengers in First should not be purchasing food provisioned for Coach passengers". Wow, thanks!
In the race to the bottom, the 'Deltafication' strikes again - you know it's bad when you sit in F, and have to buy food from Y because there is none in F.
And what is with the recent 'nothing in seatback pockets' FA rant of late? I was told I had to stow the tiny little Dasani water bottle in the overhead bin because it was not allowed to be loose for landing. Are you serious? The same FA used this as rationale for not pre-setting the seats with water bottles on boarding (although they were offered during the beverage service).
It seems like Delta/Northwest has just gone completely nutso of late...
NO MEAL IN FIRST!!! Apparently 4 of the 16 passengers 'knew' about this, the other 12 were all pretty pissed off. I booked via Delta which is notorious for not having the correct meal service denoted on NW operated flights, but just assumed (mistake number one) that a 3+ hour flight right over dinner time would have a meal. Is it too much to ask that the GA's in PHX make an announcement so that passengers can buy food or eat before boarding? Of course, the lounge in PHX has already been shuttered - apparently because it cost DL $6,000 a month in rent and it was a cost saving move - but at least I could have hit Wendy's!
I actually ended up paying for food from Economy, which the FA said she would "allow me to do under the circumstances" even though "passengers in First should not be purchasing food provisioned for Coach passengers". Wow, thanks!
In the race to the bottom, the 'Deltafication' strikes again - you know it's bad when you sit in F, and have to buy food from Y because there is none in F.
And what is with the recent 'nothing in seatback pockets' FA rant of late? I was told I had to stow the tiny little Dasani water bottle in the overhead bin because it was not allowed to be loose for landing. Are you serious? The same FA used this as rationale for not pre-setting the seats with water bottles on boarding (although they were offered during the beverage service).
It seems like Delta/Northwest has just gone completely nutso of late...
Last edited by SamuelS; Nov 9, 2009 at 6:36 pm
Nov 9, 2009, 6:29 pm
#44
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Found a good story on this:
http://current.newsweek.com/budgettr...d_the_sea.html
""Another mystery solved! The seatback pocket rule explained
Posted by: Sean O'Neill, Thursday, Sep 3, 2009, 11:47 AM
Thanks to the 150 readers who wrote in about their experiences, we now know that many flight attendants are asking passengers to remove their personal belongings from their seat back pockets. But we also know that this policy is not consistent from flight to flight or from airline to airline.
Why is that? A flight attendant for a major commercial airline, Sara Keagle, who blogs at TheFlyingPinto.com, contacted the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aviation Safety Hotline, which is aimed at helping air crews do their job correctly. Here was the FAA agent Jim Knight's response to her question:
It is currently only FAA "guidance," not a regulation . The agency is recommending airline companies consider the guidance as a way of developing their own set of company policies.
In other words, the FAA mandates FARs (Federal Aviation Regulations) that every airline must comply with. These require by law that laptops and major personal belongings be properly stowed in the overhead bins or under the seat in front of you.
Each airline also issues "guidance." The guidance is that the FAA will support an airline that decides to ban even small personal items from the seatback pocket. Airlines can establish their own policies on this matter. The FAA will help each airline enforce its own individual company policy. The FAA is recommending airline companies consider the guidance of keeping seatback pockets empty of personal items as a way of developing their own set of company policies. But it is not a federal, consistent law.""""
So to summarize, it is not an FAA regulation. It is guidance - something that an individual airline does on it's own - but with FAA approval - but not FAA required.
I am sure this has something to do with less work for the cleaning crews or trying to get people to bring less carry-ons.
In other words, business as usual..... Do what you want and blame the FAA if you are questioned!
http://current.newsweek.com/budgettr...d_the_sea.html
""Another mystery solved! The seatback pocket rule explained
Posted by: Sean O'Neill, Thursday, Sep 3, 2009, 11:47 AM
Thanks to the 150 readers who wrote in about their experiences, we now know that many flight attendants are asking passengers to remove their personal belongings from their seat back pockets. But we also know that this policy is not consistent from flight to flight or from airline to airline.
Why is that? A flight attendant for a major commercial airline, Sara Keagle, who blogs at TheFlyingPinto.com, contacted the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aviation Safety Hotline, which is aimed at helping air crews do their job correctly. Here was the FAA agent Jim Knight's response to her question:
It is currently only FAA "guidance," not a regulation . The agency is recommending airline companies consider the guidance as a way of developing their own set of company policies.
In other words, the FAA mandates FARs (Federal Aviation Regulations) that every airline must comply with. These require by law that laptops and major personal belongings be properly stowed in the overhead bins or under the seat in front of you.
Each airline also issues "guidance." The guidance is that the FAA will support an airline that decides to ban even small personal items from the seatback pocket. Airlines can establish their own policies on this matter. The FAA will help each airline enforce its own individual company policy. The FAA is recommending airline companies consider the guidance of keeping seatback pockets empty of personal items as a way of developing their own set of company policies. But it is not a federal, consistent law.""""
So to summarize, it is not an FAA regulation. It is guidance - something that an individual airline does on it's own - but with FAA approval - but not FAA required.
I am sure this has something to do with less work for the cleaning crews or trying to get people to bring less carry-ons.
In other words, business as usual..... Do what you want and blame the FAA if you are questioned!