Rule Breakers - Where Does it Stop?
 

I was waiting behind this woman on the PHX T2 Elite TSA line. She was obviously a frequent flyer. She said she is Premier Exec on UA and Platinum on AA. She was bragging about how she would hide things on her to avoid the TSA's liquid/gel rules.

I happened to sit next to her on the flight. She used her Blackberry all the way to the runway. I hinted she should turn them off when we took off at PHX. She basically ignored me and said it did not matter. She did not turn it off. Less than 5 minutes after we took off, she started using it again (I believe transmitting messages). While we were approaching ORD, she started again and turned on another cell phone.

Whether cell phones cause problems in-flight is not the point here. (As it happened, we were in-flight during Superbowl and they patched through the radio broadcast on Channel 9 on UA).

This woman, Marsha something, seems like a big time stock broker type. I started wondering - TSA rule, FAA rule, would she be breaking SEC rules also? I know some of us frequent flyers do not like to put up with stupid rules. However, when do you deem a rule stupid and where do you draw the line?

************

When we got to the gate at ORD, the FAs requested that we let those with connecting flights off first. Amazingly, most of the passengers complied (this rarely happens in my experience). This Marsha did not and squeezed her way through to get off (we were in in row 6 on a Ted flight).

I am so unimpressed by the behavior of this woman.

I would have ratted her out to the FA's simply because she was acting like an a-hole, IMHO.

Forget whether or not operating electronics endangers the aircraft or not.

If some of us have to abide by the reg's, like 'em or not, then all of us do.

Misery likes company.

As this is not primarily about safety or security issues, please continue the discussion in TravelBuzz.

----------
essxjay
TS/S moderator

:confused:

Unfortunately you get ill-attitude personel in most aspects of life.

I had the same on my Monday flight to LGA. Woman across the aisle banging away on her laptop until we powered up on the runway for takeoff. I had to smile as she ran out of battery half way through the flight, swearing about her 10 meeting she had to get to. Another regular has his phone go of during taxi, take-off, etc., just about every week.

I have the same attitude as you my friend. Either we all comply or there will be problems. :td: :td: :td:

These types make my day :rolleyes:

With such a lowlife wench seated next to me, I would have pressed the FA button and informed the FA of this woman's blatant disregard for the rules the rest of us must follow. Why? Because she was overt and obnoxious about it. I won't stand for that. People like that need to be held accountable.

I might hit the FA button and ask if it was ok if I made a short call on my cell phone. My response when he/she inevitably said "of course not" would be "But, she's doing it". Then I'd spill a drink on her and ask to change seats. :D

I would tip the FA's off when I was away from my seat. I wouldn't want the woman to know who told.

Yes, I would wonder about what other rules she is breaking (SEC etc) and how she reared her children.

OK, hiding stuff from the TSA is a game many of us like to play, so she gets a pass there - but the blatant use of the BB and the obvious total disregard for the onboard rules that are there for everyone to follow, not to mention the holier-than-thou push-to-deplane routine, just begs to have this woman put in her place.

Bad behavior in an open terminal is one thing, but showing a total disregard for the rules and basic decorum when you're stuck in an aluminum tube suspended 7 miles above the ground with 150+ other people, is just plain wrong.

Some of these high-powered sales types just kill me. I wish I was her cardiologist.

I would have gone up to the galley, where most likely the FA's were and acted as if I thought the plane was going to crash because the lady next to me was using her personal devices and even though I asked her to turn it off she refused. I bet that would get attention.

I was thinking about doing something like some of you suggested but decided not too - the flight was already late and it was Superbowl Sunday.

I tried to glance on her AA Platinum tag to get her full name. I could not read it that clearly but I am going to try to find out. Then maybe we can all contact her and let her know how unacceptable her behavior was.

UA 1608 4 FEB Seat 6C

Unnamed, but shamed! With a story such of such poor behaviour, this person mustn't be a FlyerTalker. ;)