Nails in Flight

Common courtesy happens to be exactly what people lack nowadays. Nothing like this will stop until and unless there's a class-action lawsuit. I'm delighted that my life doesn't require me to use public transport much anymore.

If she was using nail polish remover, often primarily acetone, one of the more highly flammable liquids, and easily ignited by a spark, she was certainly in violation of one or more TSA rules.

Remind me again why we're permitted matches and cigarette lighters on board?

Acetone is absolutely on the prohibited list. As a footnote, acetone caused one of the post-9/11 flight diversions. A passenger of UK and Pakistan heritage stored his carry-on in the overhead. His wife had spilled a bottle of polish remover (acetone) on the bag before he left (alone) for the airport, and an eagle-eyed (or perhaps eagle-nosed) FA detected the chemical smell during cruise. The flight (IIRC it was AA Antigua-BOS) was diverted to Norfolk. He was questioned and released, and the flight resumed to Boston.

One of the reasons that I think women feel it's OK to do their nails in flight is a Cosmopolitan magazine article about 12 years ago that recommended manicures as a good use of the "down time" on an airplane. I commented on that article here around 2000 or so, not sure if I can find that older thread.

I flew from FLL yesterday. Coulda been me. Actually not... I'm a guy but most likely still smelled of alcohol.

There is an acetone smell associated with nail polish as well as nail remover. It is such a dreadful poison that most people allow their 6 year old daughters to paint their nails. Some paint the nails of their babies and their pets.

Honestly, guys, I've encountered this hysteria about acetone before, and it really makes me wonder. You do realize that your baby daughter or sister paints her nails and didn't die, right, even with a 6 year old's relatively fragile immune system.

It's legal (and not child or pet abuse) because it's harmless. People who go bat-stuff crazy over any type of odor associated with a female or a child, I do worry about those people...

You are not allowed to stay in the lav for the amount of time required to brush your teeth, much less do a proper manicure.

FAs don't allow you to hog the lav on a flight. If your nails get chipped, on a plane, you don't have the normal option of excusing yourself. Disappearing into the lav for 15 minutes causes much issues and pounding on the door. You must do the repair work where you sit. So I vote get over it. If a plane was diverted in 911 hysteria over a spilled bottle of nail polish, who cares? You don't live your life trying to cater to every possible bit of stupidity that ever happened in the entire history of the world. It just isn't practical.

Actually, I quit doing my nails a long time ago but I am retired. Most women don't have that option. The woman on the plane probably had to hit the ground running and be at her best. Women are judged first, last, and always on their looks. She has to take care of herself. When you pay her bills, you can tell her to stop doing her nails. She needed to look good for whoever she was meeting. It ain't about you.

Tell that to the migraine I get when forced to breathe that junk in an enclosed space. This (and many other problems in life) have a simple solution- Common Courtesy!

Your parents didn't raise you with pigs, so don't act like one.
It's a public space. When your actions start infringing on MY body, then YOU need to stop. Period.

No kidding. I don't even believe I read that.

There's a second type of nail polish remover available that isn't acetone based.

How incredibly short sighted. I'm sure some six-year-old children also eat peanut butter. Therefore, by your logic, all children should be forced to endure someone grinding peanuts on a plane. That's legal too.

Obviously.

Please clarify this statement. Sounds like anyone who is offended or literally sickened by inhaling chemicals only feels this way because they hate women and children. Is this what you mean?

Wow.

Double wow.

Life is so unfair, that I'm going to do whatever I want. Never mind that I'm acting exactly like the people I'm complaining about. Screw anyone around me.

Maybe the FA was the one I encountered on a BMI flight a few years back? Business class from LAS to MAN I wanted a drink & went to the galley to find the FA busy painting her nails.

Since this is legal, you must have some sort of problem with women.

Well, one mustn't allow the discomfort of others to interfere with finishing one's "toilette".

I'd be inclined to contact the airline since the flight attendant was asked to intervene and it sounds as if it was not handled well –.even if the decision was not to intervene.

That is ridiculous. I can assure you, as a woman who travels extensively and also takes great care with her hair, nails, makeup, and clothing, I have NEVER let myself get into a situation where I had to attend to my personal grooming on a plane. Deal with it on the ground.

Nail polish and nail polish remover may not be hazardous, but they stink. And in an enclosed space people have no option to avoid that stink. What that woman did was inconsiderate and obnoxious. The flight attendant should have put a stop to it.

That isn't true (there are strong "physical" reasons for migrainous reactions in some cases) �.and even if it were true, I'm not sure why it's relevant.