What do these people do during a long flight? I assume they can't drink or sleep. Can they watch a movie? I'm guessing no, because they are supposed to be watching the cabin, not sitcom reruns.

They just sit and stare (and maybe read) for a long overnight flight across the Atlantic?

I have yet to ID one, but everytime I see someone reading a book, drinking no alcohol, siting aisle seat I suspect he/she is one.

My alohol consumption is part of the cover; otherwise you've got me pegged!

I sat next to one once, it was a short flight, only a little over an hour. He acted typically enough, rested his feet on the bulkhead and rested his eyes for a few minutes, read, went to the lav, talked to the FA, talked to me, stuffed a wad of tobacco in his mouth. He was sitting in row 1, so he certainly wasn't watching over the cabin like a prison guard. I didn't notice how closely he watched during boarding.

Saw one board another flight, but as he wasn't sitting near me, I don't know how he occupied himself.

are you serious?

Near the end of the flight, maybe more like a "pinch" than a "plug", but he was getting his smokeless fix.

That stuff is great for helping you stay awake and alert.

I guess you weren't on Delta. Smokeless tobacco is not permitted.

It's also just as dangerous and addictive as cigarettes.

I wasn't going to lecture the guy on his personal habits, he had a gun!

It was USAir, I'm not sure if they have any rules about it, tho I don't recall it being part of the standard spiel.

"Federal law prohibits the consumption of tobacco products including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and smokeless tobacco products while on board."

Will they add this to the so-called Safety Briefing any minute now...?

Meanwhile, to return to the thread topic, I don't think air marshalls should use smokeless tobak while on board. I just wouldn't feel safe

Is chewing tobacco and spitting it out "consumption?" Is gum next?

DJK7: How did you know the pax next to you was a marshal - typically, they don't announce it. And the one you saw boarding a flight, same question - holster bulge, air marshal badge? I'd be interested to know...

DJK7: How did you know the pax next to you was a marshal - typically, they don't announce it. And the one you saw boarding a flight, same question - holster bulge, air marshal badge? I'd be interested to know...[/QUOTE]
The first one ( not the one I sat next to), I'm not positive about, but pretty sure. He was at the FC ticket counter while I was in line, he opened his wallet to show the agent and I could see a badge. There was also an airport cop standing there chatting with him. He and the cop headed towards security, I was about 2 minutes behind and I didn't see the guy there, I think the cop bypassed him around security. When I got to the gate, about 50-60 min before flight time, the gate agent was letting him on the plane. I couldn't tell where his gun was, but he was wearing loose "commando" pants with about 10 pockets scattered all over. I didn't see him after that.

On the next occasion, it was an originating flight, I was the first passenger to board, no one had gotten on the plane for at least 20 minutes prior to this. When I got on, there were two guys standing in the aisle talking, when they saw boarding had started, one took a seat in coach, the other one took the seat next to me in first. He was dressed pretty casually, but with a blue sportcoat that looked out of place. Big bulge on the hip under the coat, both times he got up during the flight, he caught the gun on the corner of the bulkhead. Once when he was returning to his seat, I got a clear look at it. I didn't see the other guy again, about all I remember of him was that he wasn't wearing a coat or jacket.