Scolded for taking a picture of the MAP?!
 

Here is a new one. Today I flew UA888 from PEK to SFO in a 747-400 that is older than me, and naturally it does not have AVOD. In the middle of the flight, somewhere south of the Aleutians, I was walking through the cabin and happened to catch the map on the big screen between movies.

I love to document my flights, and as I fly over 100,000 miles a year have amassed a personal collection of thousands of map photos (and airline meals) over the years. When it showed the full route from Asia to North America, I pulled out my iphone and snapped a couple of pictures.

A flight attendant came up to me and said "Excuse me, sir, what are you doing?" And I told him that I like to document my adventures. He said, "I'm sorry, our policy does not allow photos like this. You may only take personal photos of yourself on aircraft. This policy is in the back of the United magazine. You need to delete those now."

Not really in a position to argue, I deleted one picture (because he was watching me) and just said, "Oh, I didn't know that."

I returned to my seat, and sure enough, United does indeed have a statement about this in the Hemispheres magazine:

(November 2013, p. 159)
Onboard Photo and Video Policy

United Airlines strives to provide customers with a safe and pleasant travel experience. The use of any device for photography or audio and/or video recording is permitted only for capturing personal events. Any photography or recording of other customers or airline personnel without their express consent is strictly prohibited. Any photography (still or video) or recording (audio or video) of airline procedures or aircraft equipment is strictly prohibited, except to the extent prior approval has been specifically granted by United Airlines. This policy is not a contract and does not create any legal rights or obligations.


After reading the policy, I feel that the flight attendant was wrong to stop me from photographing the map because:

1. The photos are of our aircraft location and are for my personal use.
2. The photos don't contain other customers (BTW, how about half of the pictures on airliners.net that show the cabins?)
3. The photos don't show United equipment or procedures (here come jokes about UA being worried about the screen itself even though the pictures are of the content)

Has anyone else run into this issue? Personally, I think I just got a jerk flight attendant. Pending your comments I will e-mail United for clarification on this policy. I can't believe United would have a problem with me photographing the inflight map.

Like most people on here, I think "getting there is half the fun" (and getting back is the other half) and if UA really does prohibit this I'll definitely keep it under consideration for future travel.

I can't comment specifically but I know MatthewLAX had a similar issue where he was kicked off a plane for taking pictures earlier this year and it caused a huge stir. The thread is here but I'm not informed enough to add any comments

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/check...ing-photo.html

I was just about to post the thread posted above.

OP, consider yourself lucky that you only got yelled at and that you weren't arrested or, worse, thrown off the flight in the middle of your journey.

The hostility of this airline towards its customers is absolutely unprecedented and experiences like yours and Matthew's continue to illuminate the degree to which they hold us in disdain for the act of taking a flight with them.

Technically speaking, you did photograph "equipment" and therefore violated the rule.

How you feel? Why they treat you this way? Why this matters? How it's relevant? That's not something they care about. It's all a power trip.

Here's another example that shows how easily, quickly, and viciously this airline can turn against you if you even so much as open your mouth:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...omplaints.html

If you've ever ridden in a pmUA 777, you would understand the prohibition against photography. It would confuse potential passengers looking to fly something modern.

...same reasoning for any (non-Boeing Sky Interior) 737 ;)

Personally, I've grown to appreciate the vintage quality of the sUA 747's. They're now old enough to evoke nostalgia for an era when flying was fun.

so,

map = off limits
selfie with map = good to go

#dumb

Oh, it's in Hemispheres? How is that enforceable? I know I agree to abide by the Contract of Carriage when I buy a ticket, but there's nothing in there about photography on the plane or about additional rules in regulations in the magazine. I never agreed to abide by Hemispheres.

I guess UA would be embarrassed of pictures of their video screens in Y on a 747!

I always take pictures of the map (personal video screens). My recent trip on a 787 from NRT-DEN I was sitting in a mostly empty rear BF cabin taking numerous pictures of the wing/engine at sunrise. The FA even took an interest in the pictures I was taking but said nothing about the prohibition against taking pictures and I would imagine the wing/engine would fall under their rules of things I can't take a picture of.

Moron FA.

Simply agree with the moron as you did, get this name, and complain so he gets retrained

How the world turns. 40 yrs ago you could have substituted SU for UA in the OP's posting. Now UA are copying the old USSR attitude to "no photography of sensitive places".

But realistically, the UA rule is to stop rogue photographing of passengers - which is understandable. Perhaps there is more to the story than "just photographing the map"?

And nowadays, SU is a world class airline, while UA is just well.. an airline.

coinboy66, the FA is wrong, but it will do no good to complain--UA will stand by their employee through a twisted interpretation of the onboard photography rules.

LOL, true. I recall my first 747 trip a few years ago (relatively late in my UA experience), and my aunt said, "Oh, I remember flying a UA 747 on my honeymoon to Hawaii." Mind you, I was her ring-bearer... 36 years ago.

Sorry to hear about your experience, coinboy66. I am sure that if you escalate this to UA Customer Relations they will fully stand behind their colleague's decision. I think that the decision was wrong and no one will ever tell you so.