Caught smoking
 

On my flight back to YYZ from YVR today, someone apparantely caught smoking in the washroom. This is the first time that I have ever seen this in my whole travel career. The first time "she" set off the alarm in the washroom, the FA made an announcement "This is directed to whoever was smoking in the rear lavatory, please do not do it again as this is a very serious matter". Apparantely, she did it again, the FA took her up to the fron and talk to the Captain. When we arrive at the gate, two cops was waiting for her.

They should have nailed her after the first incident.

Seems this happens on one of my flights once each year, typically transpacific or transatlantic. Some of the FA's have incredible senses of smell when it comes to this! Also, each time I've seen this since initiation of the smoking ban (about 5yrs?), the violator first got a simple/stern warning.

I caught the flight attendants smoking in the galley on a CSA flight from Prague to EWR, decided not to have them arrested, I just wanted another drink.

It cracks me up that people are that dumb. Did they really think that they would not get caught smoking in a bathroom, or an open galley? What dolts. Not that I didn't appreciate hearing this, but I'm sure that it gets better than that http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif Anyone forced to land because of stuff like this?

Two months ago I was on a "red eye" from LAS to DTW in 3a. Half way through the flight the guy sitting next to me in 3b went up to go the bathroom. He came back ten minutes later smelling like smoke. Shortly later one of the pilots came out of the cockpit and along with one of the FAs asked to talk to 3b in the galley area. I noticed when I got off the plane there were two Wayne County deputies talking to 3b and the FA. There were no announcements on the PA system or any other warnings given that I know of.

Are there major safety risks involved?

There are some things that would just piss me off. I personally don't smoke, nor do I care if someone opts to, but they can respectfully wait until the plane lands to do it. It's not the biggest deal, but I would imagine that there is some safety risk involved, not to mention any inconvenience brought to the non smoking passengers .

Personally, I have not experienced this problem, but have had to deal with a heart attack on a flight. It's not fun. For all you MD's, Medics and RN's out there, if you think CPR is hard to do on the ground (ie: moving vehicle),try doing it in bad turbulance. Then, you've seen it all.

I experienced a smoker on a flight from IAH-BOS in November. Despite several announcements, they never managed to track down the offender. The first officer and all the flight attendants were walking up and down the aisle (it was only a 737) sniffing; the odor was noticeable to passengers as well even before the crew started looking.

I actually was accused of smoking on a plane (I don't smoke!) by a FA. I was returning from the bathroom and a FA came to my seat and loudly accused me infront of the whole plane of smoking. I was more than a little put off (and embarassed) and denied it. She then came back with a half smoked cigarette from the trash and waved it all over the cabin (and made the whole cabin smell) accusing me of smoking.

I would up offering to let me smell my fingers at which point she realized she went too far. I got her information and reported her to AA corporate (and got a substantial travel voucher).

The lav is probably the only place in the cabin that smoking is dangerous. The seat fabric is flame resistant, but the TP and facial tissue are not. I recall reading somewhere that cigarette butts in the trash in the lav are the most common cause of fire on board commercial aircraft.

For this reason, there are smoke alarms in the lav, and also in the trash bin area. The bin are also has a special fire supression system.

I have to respond to a couple of posts that address smoking as only dangerous at certain times, or in certain parts of the aircraft.

There is flamable material in every part of the cabin. I would not put a lot of faith in flame resistant seat material. When the whip comes down, the metal of the aircraft will burn.

I have logged 5000 hours on DC-10-30CF in the past 14 years (military crewmember). There is no time, or place, in an airborne, pressurized vessel that an open flame and the resultant smoke is anything less than dangerous.

Just because it was tolerated for a number of years does not mean it is anything other than foolhardy and inconsiderate. Throw the book at them; no warning.

About a month ago, flying EWR to LHR on a UA 777, the purser made an announcement about an hour into the flight that someone had been smoking in one of the coach lavs, and if they could figure out who it was, the offender would be arrested upon arrival.

About 10 years ago, a passenger/murderer smoked in the lav of an Air Canada DC-9. The plane caught fire and more than half the passengers died.

I always thought that they banned smoking out of a health concern. I can't believe smoking was allowed all those years when it was also an operational safety concern too.

As for the post regarding the smoking ban on military aircraft, for some reason, the military seams to be a step ahead with in-air safety. For instance, the military has already converted all of their wiring that has been determined to be dangerous; whereas, commercial aircraft are still flying with the dangerous caplon wiring; a documentary that I watched said that commercial aircraft are even more suseptable to wiring chaffing than military fighter jets.

No warning??? On every UA flight I was on last year, the no smoking policy was stated during the pre-flight safety deal. Then (whether it was video or FAs doing the safety deal), the purser announced "Smoking in the lavratory or tampering with or destroying lavratory smoke detectors is a violation of federal law."

Seems like a pretty stern warning to me...

I do have a lot of sympathy for nicotine addicts, but am still pleased by swift and harsh penalties for risking lives to feed that addiction... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif