Feb 22, 2019, 12:52 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
There may a formal rule on devices over 2 lbs but the most common observation is physical keyboards is what many FAs use to determine acceptability below 10,000 ft.
--- Keyboard - not allowed below 10,000 ft
--- No keyboard and does not appear to be too large, OK below 10,000 ft
FAA has a rule no more than 3 lbs in the seatback storage area.
--- Keyboard - not allowed below 10,000 ft
--- No keyboard and does not appear to be too large, OK below 10,000 ft
FAA has a rule no more than 3 lbs in the seatback storage area.
FA manual says "Use of small, lightweight PEDs (e.g. Apple iPad, Samsung Galaxy Tablet, Microsoft surface, etc) is permitted gate-to-gate on UA flights..." Anything under 2lbs may be placed in a pocket, a seatback pocket, or held -- it may not be left unsecured on an adjacent empty seat. Anything over 2lbs must be stowed in an approved carryon baggage location. ....
UA rules on electronic devices allowed below 10,000 ft, while landing or taking off??
Oct 12, 2017, 11:15 pm
#121
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Once the aircraft has actually touched down and there's a hard braking, sure. But I've been through several descents where prior to the actual landing the aircraft encountered I don't know - air pockets, turbulence (I'm sure the pilots on the board can use more precise terms) - that caused the whole plane to suddenly "dip" like a rollercoaster. That's when unsecured objects potentially go "flyng" around the cabin.
Oct 13, 2017, 12:31 am
#122
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Once the aircraft has actually touched down and there's a hard braking, sure. But I've been through several descents where prior to the actual landing the aircraft encountered I don't know - air pockets, turbulence (I'm sure the pilots on the board can use more precise terms) - that caused the whole plane to suddenly "dip" like a rollercoaster. That's when unsecured objects potentially go "flyng" around the cabin.
Oct 13, 2017, 12:48 am
#123
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Oct 14, 2017, 4:17 pm
#124
Join Date: Sep 2009
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I've taken to flying with a heavier convertible laptop in tablet mode instead of my lighter (<1kg) laptop because the FAs don't mind if I use it during takeoff/landing.
Last edited by supergabe; Oct 14, 2017 at 5:15 pm
Oct 14, 2017, 5:06 pm
#126
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The other day I was on a 772A in (8-across) J, and the man across the aisle from me was using his heavy laptop during the safety briefing. The FA nicely asked him to put it away, and he said, "I'm shutting it down now."
He continued to use it during taxi, take-off, and climb-out.
After the meal service, I approach the purser and asked what a fellow passenger should do in this case. She said,
So that's one purser's viewpoint; if any of our FA friends see this, I'd appreciate if you agree or if you have other advice.
If you were sitting right across from this passenger, what would you do?
He continued to use it during taxi, take-off, and climb-out.
After the meal service, I approach the purser and asked what a fellow passenger should do in this case. She said,
It's a matter of safety -- if there's an aborted take-off someone could be seriously hurt. You should have politely mentioned to him the rule and you felt you could be in danger. If he gave you any resistance or didn't put it away, you should have rung the call button. During taxi our policy is to make a PA asking if it's an emergency, and to ring again if so. I would view this as an emergency, and you should ring again so an FA can respond. We may ask the captain to stop taxiing at this point. But it's the right thing to do.
If you were sitting right across from this passenger, what would you do?
Oct 14, 2017, 8:50 pm
#127
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The other day I was on a 772A in (8-across) J, and the man across the aisle from me was using his heavy laptop during the safety briefing. The FA nicely asked him to put it away, and he said, "I'm shutting it down now."
He continued to use it during taxi, take-off, and climb-out.
After the meal service, I approach the purser and asked what a fellow passenger should do in this case. She said,
It's a matter of safety -- if there's an aborted take-off someone could be seriously hurt. You should have politely mentioned to him the rule and you felt you could be in danger. If he gave you any resistance or didn't put it away, you should have rung the call button. During taxi our policy is to make a PA asking if it's an emergency, and to ring again if so. I would view this as an emergency, and you should ring again so an FA can respond. We may ask the captain to stop taxiing at this point. But it's the right thing to do.So that's one purser's viewpoint; if any of our FA friends see this, I'd appreciate if you agree or if you have other advice.
If you were sitting right across from this passenger, what would you do?
He continued to use it during taxi, take-off, and climb-out.
After the meal service, I approach the purser and asked what a fellow passenger should do in this case. She said,
It's a matter of safety -- if there's an aborted take-off someone could be seriously hurt. You should have politely mentioned to him the rule and you felt you could be in danger. If he gave you any resistance or didn't put it away, you should have rung the call button. During taxi our policy is to make a PA asking if it's an emergency, and to ring again if so. I would view this as an emergency, and you should ring again so an FA can respond. We may ask the captain to stop taxiing at this point. But it's the right thing to do.
If you were sitting right across from this passenger, what would you do?
A few months ago, I was in the exit row of a flight. This guy by the window had his device plugged in during pre-takeoff safety check. I made the FA make him unplug it (despite the blue light by the seats, the FAs are really loose with this and the blue light does not work all the time). Then during landing, he did it again and the FA did not see it. I asked him to unplug, he refused and I threatened to ring the bell and cause a go-around. He unplugged.
There are plenty of instances we can ring the bell and cause the cabin to be not ready for takeoff/landing. I am sure if we did this too many times, we will be barred from UA instead of UA trying to fix the loose cabin safety check.
I am still the "do not mind my own business guy" when other people's stupid behavior might put me in danger but judging from people's attitude on even FT, you can see this is not an easy thing to do.
Oct 17, 2017, 7:53 am
#129
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Feb 22, 2019, 10:02 am
#130
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Hybrid laptop-tablet OK for entire flights?
I work a lot on my laptop, and I personally find it a nuisance that I have to put it away until cruising altitude as well as preparation for landing while tablets (even those larger than my laptop) can stay out! So as a result, I was considering purchasing a laptop-tablet hybrid to switch to tablet mode during the "no large electronics" timeframes. There's one I'm eyeballing that flips on a hinge (so still technically a laptop I guess), and there's another one that actually detaches the screen from the keyboard becoming a traditional tablet. Would both still be an issue based on FAR's? Or is it vague enough to be a matter of individual flight crew opinion?
Feb 22, 2019, 10:08 am
#131
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I would let your own judgment be a guide. I think beyond the minor inconvenience of putting it away and taking it out. Will that tablet/laptop become a projectile weapon in case of an emergency?
Feb 22, 2019, 10:23 am
#132
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It's all going to be up to whatever the FA's want and how they choose to interpret it. It's definitely one of those things you don't want to argue about though because you'll never win.
Feb 22, 2019, 10:39 am
#134
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The criteria I've had multiple FA's state is that if it's got a keyboard attached, then it needs to go away. No keyboard and you're good.
I have no idea if that's at all official or just a rule of thumb though...
I have no idea if that's at all official or just a rule of thumb though...
Feb 22, 2019, 10:39 am
#135
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From what I can tell, the determination hinges (
) upon whether or not the device folds in half. If you can use it in a state where no articulating joint is obvious to someone walking by, you probably won't be asked to put it away.
) upon whether or not the device folds in half. If you can use it in a state where no articulating joint is obvious to someone walking by, you probably won't be asked to put it away.