Definitive Thread: Rules in FC with pre-flight water bottles
May 22, 2019, 12:04 pm
#46
Join Date: May 1999
Location: CVG
Programs: DL DM 4MM, Lifetime Marriott Plat Elite, HH Diamond
Posts: 1,429
Per FAA - water bottles cannot be in seat backs in FC
Ok, I've had this on maybe two or three flights this year (out of 50 or so legs), but today's flight DAY to ATL DL1521, the Flight Attendants were adamant about the bottles could not be stored in the seat back during takeoff and landing, nor on the armrests or seat. They had to be put "away". Multiple times they referenced that this was "Per FAA Policy". So, anyone know the regs they are quoting? Oh, and why isn't it enforced on all flights if it is an FAA policy?
May 22, 2019, 12:14 pm
#47
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Alaska MVP, Bonvoy (lol) Ambassador
Posts: 2,994
More importantly, what does "put away" mean if not in seatbacks? 
Rare but sometimes the flight attendants actually put them in the seatbacks rather than the arm-tables when boarding.
I'd almost rather get rid of the water. It's always a game of "where do I put it" and I rarely drink it.
Rare but sometimes the flight attendants actually put them in the seatbacks rather than the arm-tables when boarding.
I'd almost rather get rid of the water. It's always a game of "where do I put it" and I rarely drink it.
May 22, 2019, 12:19 pm
#48
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,059
Original FAA rules said only magazines and passenger information cards were allowed in seat pockets. Later was clarified to allow small, lightweight items such as "eyeglasses or a cellphone" so long as total weight of items in pocket does not exceed 3 pounds and does not block evacuation. Somewhat confusing as the old rules can still be found in many places. Maybe bring a scale with you next time?
http://fsims.faa.gov/wdocs/8900.1/v0...03_033_006.pdf
http://fsims.faa.gov/wdocs/8900.1/v0...03_033_006.pdf
May 22, 2019, 12:31 pm
#49
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
To be precise, it is DL's safety & security policy which is then filed with the FAA. Once filed, it becomes enforceable as an FAA rule. To the passenger, it's the same thing. No water bottle in seatback pocket means no water in seatback pocket. If it isn't enforced, that's on DL. It it is, it's on you.
My preference is that nothing goes in the seatback pocket which poses a significant harm if it flies into someone's face in turbulence or worse. Either you hold it or it gets stowed. The reason seems fairly clear.
My preference is that nothing goes in the seatback pocket which poses a significant harm if it flies into someone's face in turbulence or worse. Either you hold it or it gets stowed. The reason seems fairly clear.
May 22, 2019, 12:44 pm
#50
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: SEA
Programs: DL PM
Posts: 202
Ok, I've had this on maybe two or three flights this year (out of 50 or so legs), but today's flight DAY to ATL DL1521, the Flight Attendants were adamant about the bottles could not be stored in the seat back during takeoff and landing, nor on the armrests or seat. They had to be put "away". Multiple times they referenced that this was "Per FAA Policy". So, anyone know the regs they are quoting? Oh, and why isn't it enforced on all flights if it is an FAA policy?
May 22, 2019, 1:40 pm
#51
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,413
To be precise, it is DL's safety & security policy which is then filed with the FAA. Once filed, it becomes enforceable as an FAA rule. To the passenger, it's the same thing. No water bottle in seatback pocket means no water in seatback pocket. If it isn't enforced, that's on DL. It it is, it's on you.
My preference is that nothing goes in the seatback pocket which poses a significant harm if it flies into someone's face in turbulence or worse. Either you hold it or it gets stowed. The reason seems fairly clear.
My preference is that nothing goes in the seatback pocket which poses a significant harm if it flies into someone's face in turbulence or worse. Either you hold it or it gets stowed. The reason seems fairly clear.
Does DL mainline have such a rule? IIRC it was some DeltaConnection carriers that had this in their official rules filed with the FAA.
May 22, 2019, 1:47 pm
#52
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: IND
Programs: DL PM & 2MM™, Lifetime HHonors Diamond
Posts: 20,889
May 22, 2019, 1:56 pm
#53
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,413
Good point......and yet I was on a recent DL flight where my seatmate was explicitly allowed by two FAs (including the lead) to use a rather chunky laptop throughout the flight, including during taxi, takeoff, and landing. It was not a tablet and it was definitely a lot bigger and especially thicker than my MacBook, plus it had rather sharp looking corners (compared to my little baby computer).
May 22, 2019, 2:30 pm
#54
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SEA (the REAL Washington); occasionally in the other Washington (DCA area)
Programs: DL PM 1.57MM; AS MVPG 100K
Posts: 21,371
... I was on a recent DL flight where my seatmate was explicitly allowed by two FAs (including the lead) to use a rather chunky laptop throughout the flight, including during taxi, takeoff, and landing. It was not a tablet and it was definitely a lot bigger and especially thicker than my MacBook, plus it had rather sharp looking corners (compared to my little baby computer).
I trust you sent an appropriately-worded complaint to DL customer service! 
May 22, 2019, 2:36 pm
#55
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,413
Not yet, but I'm thinking about it. I know the brand of the laptop so I want to google how much that brick would have weighed.
The ironic thing is that (from loud cell phone calls that I was forced to overhear) the seatmate seemed to work in the health insurance industry.
Fortunately there was no aborted landing, go around, or sudden stop on the tarmac, so no humans or fake ESAs were harmed.
The ironic thing is that (from loud cell phone calls that I was forced to overhear) the seatmate seemed to work in the health insurance industry.
Fortunately there was no aborted landing, go around, or sudden stop on the tarmac, so no humans or fake ESAs were harmed.
May 22, 2019, 2:59 pm
#56
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: MSP
Programs: Delta PM, Hyatt Discoverist, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,303
Good point......and yet I was on a recent DL flight where my seatmate was explicitly allowed by two FAs (including the lead) to use a rather chunky laptop throughout the flight, including during taxi, takeoff, and landing. It was not a tablet and it was definitely a lot bigger and especially thicker than my MacBook, plus it had rather sharp looking corners (compared to my little baby computer).
May 22, 2019, 3:14 pm
#57
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 1,885
This is somewhat sporadically enforced on regional carriers, but rarely on mainline. That being said, my last mainline flight, this was strictly enforced. I do not care about enforcement on regional jets, because I have conceded that they are just going to make up the rules as they go along and I am going to be a lot less cranky if I just go along with what they say and don't think twice about it. I have taken for granted that mainline uses common sense, and so it does make me grumpy when they go and enforce a rule like this, yet on that mainline flight the people across the aisle from me had a laptop in the seatback pocket on takeoff and the other was using an iPad, both of which weigh more than the 8 oz of water you get.
May 22, 2019, 7:22 pm
#59
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 3,097
if the turbulence is bad enough that an item would fly out of the seatback pocket, it's WAY more than enough to cause someone to lose their grip on that item.
May 22, 2019, 8:26 pm
#60
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: RDU
Programs: DL DM+(segs)/MM, UA Ag, Hilton DM, Marriott Ti (life Pt), TSA Opt-out Platinum
Posts: 3,227
If a plane incurs enough force to knock something that small out of a closed seatback, you're already dead. Even if you weren't the flying smartphones, tablets, and bags from the overhead bins would get you first.
