Dec '09 UA Security Procedures-operational changes on INTERNATIONAL flights? [Merged]
Dec 28, 2009, 7:52 am
#196
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USA TODAY Reports Airshow/Maps Allowed
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/fligh...&ak=12771.blog
12/28/2009 8:15:00 AM from USA TODAY
Many media outlets – including NBC's Today Show – reported that the Transportation Security Administration had required airlines to black out the seatback in-flight route maps. That, the Today Show said, had required some airlines to turn off their in-flight systems altogether since the map was part of the overall programming.
However, Micheline Maynard of The New York Times reports that "by Monday, airlines indicated that a few of the new security demands were being revised, and even dialed back. Cathay Pacific, the Hong Kong-based carrier with direct flights to New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles, said U.S. authorities had stopped requiring airlines to black out the route-tracking channel on their in-flight entertainment systems."
Photo: The in-flight seat map as seen on a Dec. 2009 Toronto-New York flight on LAN Airlines. By Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY.
12/28/2009 8:15:00 AM from USA TODAY
Many media outlets – including NBC's Today Show – reported that the Transportation Security Administration had required airlines to black out the seatback in-flight route maps. That, the Today Show said, had required some airlines to turn off their in-flight systems altogether since the map was part of the overall programming.
However, Micheline Maynard of The New York Times reports that "by Monday, airlines indicated that a few of the new security demands were being revised, and even dialed back. Cathay Pacific, the Hong Kong-based carrier with direct flights to New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles, said U.S. authorities had stopped requiring airlines to black out the route-tracking channel on their in-flight entertainment systems."
Photo: The in-flight seat map as seen on a Dec. 2009 Toronto-New York flight on LAN Airlines. By Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY.
Dec 28, 2009, 7:59 am
#197
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Correct - the EA has been rescinded without explanation. We'll see how long it takes for crews to be briefed and stop this nonsense.
Dec 28, 2009, 8:16 am
#198
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Just flew 869 (SFO to HKG) 12/27. IFE and Ch 9 operational entire flight (thank goodness) and only security precaution was everyone was advised to stay in seat 1-hr prior to landing. No mention made of not accessing hand carry etc.
At least sanity prevailed on this flight and maybe security is far more strict on inbound flights.
At least sanity prevailed on this flight and maybe security is far more strict on inbound flights.
Dec 28, 2009, 8:59 am
#199
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Dec 28, 2009, 9:02 am
#200
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I'm still trying to find documention for "rescinded". The only articles I've seen talk in terms of "revised" or "turned down", neither of which equals being "rescinded."
Dec 28, 2009, 10:14 am
#201
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Dec 28, 2009, 10:42 am
#202
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Just flew UA 982 IAD KWI (Kuwait) departing IAD on 12/27 and happy to report that the IFE was working. Flight Map and Channel 9 were both disabled. Two carry ons were allowed and there were no last 60 or 90 minute restrictions.
Dec 28, 2009, 10:47 am
#203
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to be honest, in the world of google maps, if i'm flying over a US city, it doesn't take me long to figure out which one it is.
i do transcons a lot and i know the difference between KC, STL, DEN, and SLC.
hopefully most of this gets fixed.
i do transcons a lot and i know the difference between KC, STL, DEN, and SLC.
hopefully most of this gets fixed.
Dec 28, 2009, 11:00 am
#204
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The new sony X series laptop has GPS built in, as do most cell phones.
Pointless
Pointless
Dec 28, 2009, 11:06 am
#205
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Not to mention that anybody with a watch can predict when the flight is about to start descending. Maybe UAL will start confiscating our timepieces next. Or keeping arrival times secret.
Dec 28, 2009, 11:06 am
#206
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But most reports are that for GPS to work on a plane you have to hold the unit right up against the window, making it pretty obvious what you're doing. The GPS on my phone and ITouch pretty much don't work inside at all.
Dec 28, 2009, 11:13 am
#207
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Milepig, we were "advised". The crew were one of the best UA crews I have seen in all my years of flying. People were still going to the bathroom and moving around after the "1-hr deadline" but there were no over the top remarks or draconian warnings from any of the crew.
Dec 28, 2009, 11:27 am
#208
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Let's hope the TSA never requires airlines to do this again. Blacking out the route map does nothing for security. And the route map and ch. 9 are pretty much the only thing I use on long haul flights. I usually never watch any of the IFE.
Dec 28, 2009, 11:30 am
#209
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Finally a widely read media publication has commented on all of this nonsense. Hopefully it will start to get the attention of policymakers and even those predictable gate lice who think "well, if it will keep me safe then why not" types...
http://blogs.wsj.com/middleseat/2009...er-defy-logic/
http://blogs.wsj.com/middleseat/2009...er-defy-logic/
Dec 28, 2009, 11:46 am
#210
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Flew today FRA-SFO on UA901, in F. New security measures with all pax made to stay in seat with all belongings out of reach (including pillows/blankets etc) for last hour and all cabin baggage in Ohead bins only. Purser was hoping this was a short term measure but was US law rather then UAL policy. Passengers very unhappy.
Pretty much the same story on UA 933 (FRA-IAD) that day (12/27).
After making the standard announcements about one carry-on plus one personal item such as a laptop bag or purse, the GAs then forced a gate-check of my wife's rollaboard claiming that her small laptop backpack (pretty much empty) + rollaboard was too much. She's 1P, was travelling in C. Meanwhile I was standing next to her, having already successfully passed that same gate agent with my identical rollaboard and my much bigger laptop backpack. And to add insult to injury, we then sat in our C seats and watched economy passengers pass through the C cabin with their two bags.
The second meal service started over two hours before arrival at IAD because of the one hour "stuck in your seat" period. Water glasses were taken away after that service and no beverage service during the ConAir phase. Blankets in C were confiscated, but the FAs didn't care about the newspaper I was reading (covering up my lap).
IFE (if you can call it that on the 777) was available, but no map channel and no channel 9.