emanon256

If it’s for my safety and the safety of those around me than I would be okay with it.

I have been on 2 particularly turbulent flights where the captain said all personal items and electronic devices must be stowed due to extreme turbulence.

clublounger

BUT, the FA didn't say the above.......

nachosdelux

If an FA or the Captain directs you to turn off an iPod, for example, above 10,000 feet, and you refuse, see what happens. You may not like it, but it is the law (not policy, but the law).

I understand it is frustrating/annoying/aggravating when a policy is not being complied with. However, the caveat is that the policy is super-ceded by crew member instructions, for which knowingly disobeying is a criminal offense.

The CSR (and the airline, for that matter) are not going to touch this with a ten foot pole. The Captain was within his/her authority to direct you to turn the GPS off. You may not like it, but I would recommend that you let it go.

N9MD

From my January 2011 post:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/conti...-items-co.html

Regarding carrying devices on board: "I travel back and forth from EWR to FLL or PBI monthly ... and have never had a problem with Garmin GPS or SkyCaddy (golf distance device) or VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) adapters or any other electronic devices. I always ... always ... put these devices in my carry on, given that ... IMHO ... EWR is the #1 airport for employee theft from checked luggage."

Regarding use of GPS while in flight: "Incidentally, although it varies from airline to airline ... and, in fact. from flight to flight ... just for fun, I sometimes turn on the Garmin GPS at altitude on cross country flights, setting it on "moving map" and zooming out (wide view). I have to hold the device against the window ... but it is fascinating to watch the towns and cities go by so quickly. The Garmin has a feature that shows the fastest speed achieved (which can be reset to zero from time to time). I have not reset the device for the last year ... because I can amaze friends and families by showing them my fastest speed was 645 mph (LAX to EWR with a tailwind). They all want to know what kind of automobile I'm driving!"

Regarding the OP's presentation and follow-up: I never argue with an FA ... because at and above 10,000 feet oxygen deprivation can turn an pleasant FA into a raving lunatic. I've seen my share of misbehaving FAs ... but that said, the majority of FAs are well-meaning, helpful, nice folks.

Meanwhile, here is a reference to GPS usage listing most of the world's major carriers ... with the provisio at the top of the list stating: "This actually means pilot discretion in all cases."

http://www.gpsinformation.net/airgps/airgps.htm

JATR4

There was no turbulence; one of the smoothest flights I've ever flown on. People were using computers, headphones, games, etc. They all are under the same category with respect to use on United flights. None of them were required to turn their devices off.

docbert

The Hemispheres details here are conflicting, as they list that GPS devices are allowed, but "Radio receivers and/or transmitters" are not allowed at any time.

GPS devices are, of course, a radio receiver, and unlike computers/etc (which are also radio receivers for Wifi/etc) generally do not allow for the radio functionality to be disabled.

But as others have said, get over it. At the end of the day what the FA's and Captain say overrides anything that Hemispheres says - and they both said "No". End of story.

n198ua

Yes, it would be okay. The captain is in charge of the flight, not me or you or any other passenger.

bmvaughn

So if the FA tells me to eat my broccoli, I have to comply?

Doug 1029

I'm with you on this one. The FA just didn't know, made up a rule and then was supported by the Capitan. The CS rep then added insult to injury.

nachosdelux

Any you know this, how???

alandrafts

Dear God, I hope porn isn't next.

Frankly, the most troubling aspect of the CSR response was the grammar.

Come on: CSR = Correctly Spelled Responses.

nachosdelux

broccoli - yes.


cauliflower - no.

emanon256

I believe the FAA directive states that the pilot has final authority for all matters concerning operation or safety of the flight.

I don't see how eating Broccoli has anything to do with safety of the flight in general, so thats a tough one to swallow (pun intended)

However if there is any concern that a device I am using could interfere with the safety of another passenger or passengers, or the operation of the flight in general, then they have every authority to stop me. Even if the devise is allowed and I disagree with their concern.

Now, perhaps the captain thinks I need to eat more broccoli for my own safety? I would argue that my own health does not effect the safety of that flight, and broccoli consumption while on-board will not result in an immediate benefit to my health, or the overall safety of the plane, so I would still argue no.

PTahCha

Did the FA or captain tell others to tun off their devices? No.

Only in conjunction with a requirement to do 20 push-ups.

Jorgen

There's legal precedent on this question: the pilot cannot exercise his authority in an "arbitrary and capricious manner". What counts as arbitrary and capricious? Well, that's for a court to decide. The court would almost certainly deem forcing the consumption of vegetables to be arbitrary and capricious, but the prohibition of certain classes of electronic device (regardless of what it may say in a magazine) to be legit.

I think the OP was right to be at least mildly annoyed with the crew, and I was with him up to the point where he wrote a complaint to the airline. But the subsequent flying off the handle at the "inadequate" response (what were you really expecting? Nobody cares about using a GPS on a flight except you) is where the OP loses my sympathy. Get over it, dude.