Smoking on board
 

Smoking on domestic flights

I recently heard a US Airways executive interviewed on the syndicated Adam Corrola radio show. He had several questions/gripes for her. One was why do they have to specify Tamper. Disable and Destroy in the on-board safety presentation with regard to restroom smoke detectors, when Tamper should cover it. In her response she suggested that these were different things, although I tend to agree with Adam, that you can’t disable or destroy something without tampering with it in some way.

Anyway, in her response she seemed to imply that smoke detector tampering (or at least people trying to sneak an in-flight smoke in some way) actually happens on a fairly regular basis. I’m typically on a plane at least once a month and don’t think that I have ever caught so much as a whiff of tobacco smoke on a flight, and would be really surprised if I ever did. I fly almost exclusively domestic flights, where presumably even the heaviest smokers can probably manage to tough it out for 5 or 6 hours. Perhaps this happens more on longer international flights, or maybe on flights that have experienced long delays getting off the ground. Anyone here ever notice someone on board trying to sneak a smoke, either successfully or not?

The air from the lavs generally doesn't recirculate into the cabin (thank God!), so unless you go into the lavatory after a smoker, you probably won't smell it.

As I mentioned in the other thread, (1) some people might rationalize that some actions, like putting a plastic bag over the smoke detector, don't count as "tampering", as it doesn't affect the detector's internal works, and (2) redundancy serves to overcome the fact that most people are lousy listeners. If an instruction is repeated in three different ways, it's more likely to sink in.

As there's a world outside the U.S., not everybody understands English perfectly. Yet, foreigners do travel (some even to and within the U.S.), so my uneducated guess is that using three different words for the same thing will not only emphasize the subject for those not paying much attention, it will also increase the likelyhood that an "English-challenged" foreigner will get the idea.

The way that the "smart" smikers do it, is to coer the smoke detector with a condom and light/smoke the cigarrette right next to the drain, blowing all smoke into the drain. The drain is actually a vacuum and sucks it all out.

If the person was smart s/he would'be smoking in the first place!

As a very long time smoker, I have to agree with the above post.

!. Uh, yeah, we shouldn't be smoking in the first place--BUT, if you are gonna do air travel and are a smoker, then--

2. Damn, just get over it!

Speaking from personal experience, not being snarky. Go without the weeds, you CAN do 5-8 hours without smoking. I promise you, from personal experience, it will not kill you.

Addictions do funny things to people.

I'm a smoker but I can do without it if I have to on a 12-hours flight. I don't even take those Smokers-Chewing-gums. I smoke a last cigarette before boarding and enjoy it. Then I know it's just not allowed and I can live with it. Sometimes, I don't even feel like having a cigarette when I arrive.

I would never dare to smoke in the lav. As an ex-flight-attendant I know what can happen to a plane with a burning cigarette in the waste-bin of a toilet!!

I saw some people definitely not enjoy their last cig in HNL the other day - I was in the Aloha Lounge & walked outside. There's a large open air smoking area right out the door. Saw a man light up & light his wife's (?)... with a lighter. Saw a TSA agent who had been eyeing the crowd through the glass doors walk up to them & ask them to come with him. I have no idea what happened to them, but I'm sure it ruined the enjoyment of any last cigarettes!

Wait, is that INSIDE security, after you're not supposed to have any more lighters?

I saw a woman light up a smoke on a WN flight pre-9/11. The FA smelled it and adamantly told her to put it out, but that is all that happened. The woman said it was her first plane flight and acted like she didn't know any better.

Steve

As mentioned by a previous poster, the drain will suck the smoke out. I dont think one has to cover the smoke detector, as it leaves no odor.

So, hunching over the airplane bathroom drain is now considered "smart"? Where have I been all these years?

Way back in the days when smoking was still allowed, the "hold the drain open" method was well known to those who wanted to smoke something other than tobacco.

George Carlin even had a routine about the mark left on your hand from holding the drain open for a period of time.

As recommended to me by a FedEx Captain who likes to sneak in a "quick one" over the Pacific...

1. Lock the lav door.
2. Stretch a nonlubricated condom over the smoke detector.
3. Lean down over the drain and let the vacuum remove the smoke.
4. Don't open the door to the waste paper container (it has a smoke detector in it too.)
5. Flush the butt when you are done.
6. Spray some Febreze on your uniform and in the air around the lav before you exit.