Phones "disappearing" into lie-flat seats: Experiences, Recoveries, ....
May 10, 2017, 10:19 am
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
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I think it's been at least 20 years that I've known that the coefficient of friction between almost everything and the shelf it's put on during take-off is just about zero. If one sits in the back of the cabin, you can see the heads moving down at the same time as everyone tries to catch their stuff with seatbelts inhibiting their success.
The interaction between an object's inertia relative to a plane's acceleration is not a Polaris problem. The disappearing act might be.
The interaction between an object's inertia relative to a plane's acceleration is not a Polaris problem. The disappearing act might be.
May 10, 2017, 10:35 am
#17
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Denver, Colorado
Programs: IHG Spire, Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Titanium, Mileage Plus Gold
Posts: 1,736
On TK 2 years ago, on our way back from IST, a gentleman placed his tablet on the footwell of the lie flat seat. First time, one of the male FA's were able to find it. The second time(He didn't learn the first time NOT to put the tablet on the same place.) it was gone somewhere deep inside the seat that 2 male FA's literally took the seat apart and still could not find it. They had to give up and took down the passengers information.
It seems that once tablets go inside the business class seats, they get transported to another reality.
It seems that once tablets go inside the business class seats, they get transported to another reality.
May 10, 2017, 10:40 am
#18
Join Date: May 2012
Programs: Delta Plat, UA Plat, Hilton Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 258
My first Polaris seat experience, I unwisely left my tablet on the shelf under the monitor. During the takeoff roll, the tablet flew out, slipped under my seat - and was never seen again.
After landing, a mechanic and two FAs took the seat apart - nothing. It's gone. I've filed a report with lost and found, but am not too hopeful.
Anyways, there's just enough room underneath the seat for a tablet to slide in, but not enough for even a small hand to fit, so be careful.
After landing, a mechanic and two FAs took the seat apart - nothing. It's gone. I've filed a report with lost and found, but am not too hopeful.
Anyways, there's just enough room underneath the seat for a tablet to slide in, but not enough for even a small hand to fit, so be careful.
May 10, 2017, 10:45 am
#19
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 397
It just a flat shelf. What did you expect?
My nephew lost his iPhone and they delivered it to his hotel after he lost it in one of the 'older' lie flats.
Did you have "Find my iPhone" activated?
Given many Polaris customer's predilection to stealing anything new or shiny, equipment hiding the iPad might not be the only problem.
My nephew lost his iPhone and they delivered it to his hotel after he lost it in one of the 'older' lie flats.
Did you have "Find my iPhone" activated?
Given many Polaris customer's predilection to stealing anything new or shiny, equipment hiding the iPad might not be the only problem.
May 10, 2017, 11:14 am
#21
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: 6km East of EPAYE
Programs: UA Silver, AA Platinum, AS & DL GM Marriott TE, Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,582
May 10, 2017, 11:20 am
#22
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 397
Yeah no excuses here, this was my own stupidity. I placed the tablet there briefly when I started settling in so that I could take some pictures of the seat in a "pristine" condition, and then forgot about it - until it came shooting towards me with impressive force.
May 10, 2017, 11:42 am
#24
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Economy, mostly :(
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 7,801
Emirates' new A380 safety video includes a part about not trying to retrieve one's electronics if they fall into the seat but to rather seek assistance from a cabin attendant. Guess this is becoming a common issue. Once had to dig around an EY F Apartment for my phone emthat I dropped! Into the seat. Mechanic arrived just as I managed to drag it out with the coat hanger from the wardrobe.
May 10, 2017, 1:00 pm
#26
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 397
Emirates' new A380 safety video includes a part about not trying to retrieve one's electronics if they fall into the seat but to rather seek assistance from a cabin attendant. Guess this is becoming a common issue. Once had to dig around an EY F Apartment for my phone emthat I dropped! Into the seat. Mechanic arrived just as I managed to drag it out with the coat hanger from the wardrobe.
May 10, 2017, 1:12 pm
#27
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Location: MSP
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I once woke up to find my phone fairly deep into the middle fold point of the sCO lie-flat seat.. no idea how it got there but I was a little panicky until I was able to fish it out. Also reminds me of one time on a 737 when a guy in row 1 dropped his tablet on the floor right when we started our roll. He was looking around for it when we reached 10,000' but eventually an FA came back with it from the last row of the aircraft!
May 10, 2017, 1:24 pm
#28
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA 1K & 2MM, Bonvoy Titanium & LTP, HH Gold, Accor Silver, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 2,350
Dropped my phone in the seat on an AI 787 from HKG-ICN last year. The first officer came out, took the seat apart rather nonchalantly, and retrieved it. I asked him, and he said he has to do this a couple of times a week. Given the number of announcements about it I've heard across airlines, it's clearly remarkably common.
I'm pretty paranoid since that experience - phone in hand or pocket until we're up, and then in a secure compartment.
I'm pretty paranoid since that experience - phone in hand or pocket until we're up, and then in a secure compartment.
May 10, 2017, 1:51 pm
#29
Join Date: May 2017
Location: ORD
Posts: 369
Emirates' new A380 safety video includes a part about not trying to retrieve one's electronics if they fall into the seat but to rather seek assistance from a cabin attendant. Guess this is becoming a common issue. Once had to dig around an EY F Apartment for my phone emthat I dropped! Into the seat. Mechanic arrived just as I managed to drag it out with the coat hanger from the wardrobe.
May 10, 2017, 2:26 pm
#30
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: New Jersey
Programs: UA MM 1K, AA MM Gold, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 3,235
Not sure about the 773's, but on the PMCO 772 lay flat seat there's a gap on the side of the seat. You really shouldn't have anything (keys, change, etc.) in your pockets that could fall out while in the lay flat position, as it can disappear through that gap and require the same taking apart of the seat.