I asked a passenger to put away his laptop
Feb 11, 2019, 8:25 pm
#16
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 94
Why not keep to yourself and let the FA handle the situation if they feel it is necessary
Feb 11, 2019, 8:39 pm
#17
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: USA
Posts: 1,685
It's never good to get into it with other pax.
Easy solution has been to ring the call button, describe the situation to the FA, and that you'd like to avoid law enforcement intervention or a costly diversion.
Easy solution has been to ring the call button, describe the situation to the FA, and that you'd like to avoid law enforcement intervention or a costly diversion.
Feb 11, 2019, 9:34 pm
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: RNO
Programs: AA/DL/UA
Posts: 10,766
Just got off of 2686 from PHL-DTW, 717, sitting in the exit row 17A. Person in 17B was already in seat when I boarded, I'm Silver. Taxied out, the whole time he was working on his laptop, opened up, on his lap.
As we turn onto the runway, he is still working away on his laptop. I said, "we are on the runway now, could you please put that away?" He said, "They didn't make an announcement to put it away." I said it's the rules and it's common sense. Then he closed it and left it on his lap. I asked him to put it away, he said he'll leave it on his lap. I said I don't want it go flying if anything happens. He left it on his lap and I gave up.
Did I go overboard on this? We ended up 45 minutes late, if he had a connection, I hope he missed it.
As we turn onto the runway, he is still working away on his laptop. I said, "we are on the runway now, could you please put that away?" He said, "They didn't make an announcement to put it away." I said it's the rules and it's common sense. Then he closed it and left it on his lap. I asked him to put it away, he said he'll leave it on his lap. I said I don't want it go flying if anything happens. He left it on his lap and I gave up.
Did I go overboard on this? We ended up 45 minutes late, if he had a connection, I hope he missed it.
Feb 11, 2019, 9:40 pm
#19
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Kanasas City
Programs: DL DM, 2 MM; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 358
And the silly part is, they have no problem with people using tablets. I have seen folks use iPad Pro type tablets with attached keyboard, that is sometimes bigger than a laptop. So that whole ‘put your laptops away’ never made sense to me if we were truly worried about projectiles. Just sayin...
Feb 11, 2019, 9:54 pm
#20
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Caracas
Programs: Former AA PLT/GLD, A3 *G, Priority Pass
Posts: 1,144
LOL,
Here is how I would tackle this. I might tell the person to please put the laptop away as we are in take-off. The person would most likely agree if asked politely.
I wouldn't expect from the passenger to get up off his seat and store the laptop away safely in his luggage because it's too much work and hassle to move things up in an overhead bin while the plane is close to take-off. The person would mostly keep the laptop close to him as it is a valuable and its a LAP-top..... It's perfectly fine this person keeps it on his lap. In fact, I find it natural that he conserve it on his lap.
Life is too short to mind about these tiny nuances.
Here is how I would tackle this. I might tell the person to please put the laptop away as we are in take-off. The person would most likely agree if asked politely.
I wouldn't expect from the passenger to get up off his seat and store the laptop away safely in his luggage because it's too much work and hassle to move things up in an overhead bin while the plane is close to take-off. The person would mostly keep the laptop close to him as it is a valuable and its a LAP-top..... It's perfectly fine this person keeps it on his lap. In fact, I find it natural that he conserve it on his lap.
Life is too short to mind about these tiny nuances.
Feb 11, 2019, 9:55 pm
#21
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC/ EWR/ PHL
Programs: UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 2,209
I wouldn't have said anything.
Feb 11, 2019, 9:58 pm
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: RNO
Programs: AA/DL/UA
Posts: 10,766
It's the FA job to police people, not your fellow passengers.
Feb 11, 2019, 9:58 pm
#23
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: Hilton, United, Gold DL
Posts: 993
MYOB.
Feb 11, 2019, 10:02 pm
#24
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: ASE
Programs: UA 1MM, AA1MM PLTPRO, Hertz PC, National EXC, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton/Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 3,357
You went overboard. 'nuff said.
Feb 11, 2019, 10:03 pm
#25
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 4,374
I have been on flights where others have used laptops while taxiing to the runway.
These "others" are usually young folks who want to show off how busy they are at their "prestigious" jobs which entail nothing more than Excel and PowerPoint monkeying.
I never say anything, but I do judge.
These "others" are usually young folks who want to show off how busy they are at their "prestigious" jobs which entail nothing more than Excel and PowerPoint monkeying.
I never say anything, but I do judge.
Feb 11, 2019, 10:11 pm
#26
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,879
And the silly part is, they have no problem with people using tablets. I have seen folks use iPad Pro type tablets with attached keyboard, that is sometimes bigger than a laptop. So that whole ‘put your laptops away’ never made sense to me if we were truly worried about projectiles. Just sayin...
Why do I have to stow a laptop and not a tablet?
If there's an emergency, larger and heavier items such as standard laptops could impede evacuation of the airplane. This is the same reason tray tables must be stowed and seat backs must be upright.
If there's an emergency, larger and heavier items such as standard laptops could impede evacuation of the airplane. This is the same reason tray tables must be stowed and seat backs must be upright.
What should I do if the crew says to turn off electronics and the person next to me doesn't do it?
You could politely remind the person of the crew's announcement, but above all, avoid a confrontation.
You could politely remind the person of the crew's announcement, but above all, avoid a confrontation.
Feb 11, 2019, 10:23 pm
#27
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,879
I seriously doubt many young folks are inventing busy work in order to impress their seat mate. I'm sure they'd much rather be napping or watching a movie.
Feb 11, 2019, 10:35 pm
#28
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 413
If you hit the call button after the pilot says "flight attendants, please be seated for departure", no FA is going to get out of their seat unless there's at least a pint of blood.
Feb 11, 2019, 10:39 pm
#29
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: none
Posts: 1,668
Sounds like the kind of people who get themselves elected/appointed to the PTA council or the Home Owners Association board so they can tell others what they can and can't do.
Feb 11, 2019, 10:39 pm
#30
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: PHX, ICN
Programs: OZ Diamond Plus, Marriott Gold
Posts: 502
Perfectly acceptable to mention something like that. Odds are extremely rare that it would cause a problem. But if it does, the problem could be extreme. I have a goal of not dying in any way that will cause my friends to laugh at my corpse. Hit by a stranger's laptop during a turbulent takeoff would fit the bill. 
I once asked my seatmate to stop texting during landing. He was babbling to someone for the entire approach from 10K down. I finally asked (politely) if he could just wait a couple of minutes until the plane was on the ground; my internal reasoning was that the odds of it being a problem were infinitesimal but the problem would be catastrophic. He waited and we both got off the plane with no hard feelings.
I once asked my seatmate to stop texting during landing. He was babbling to someone for the entire approach from 10K down. I finally asked (politely) if he could just wait a couple of minutes until the plane was on the ground; my internal reasoning was that the odds of it being a problem were infinitesimal but the problem would be catastrophic. He waited and we both got off the plane with no hard feelings.