An American Airlines passenger was caught vaping at his seat in economy. The passenger behind him who filmed was appalled – and complained that cabin crew “won’t do anything” about it. I suspect that this passenger didn’t say anything to flight attendants, and was just being passive aggressive – crew would likely have told the man to stop. He may have just faded into the sea of coach customers and gone about unnoticed?
Passenger in front of me is vaping mid flight and your attendants won’t do anything. Is it policy to allow smoking in the cabins? Respond swiftly. @AmericanAir pic.twitter.com/aIQ20hIPdp
— Deem (@DeemBanton) June 29, 2024
A year ago an American Airlines passenger was filmed appearing to snort coke at his seat. Much bigger deal!
But it seems like more and more people are vaping on planes. I flew long haul last year where a passenger was openly vaping, the door to his suite was even open.
Just a week and a half ago a Delta Air Lines passenger decided to vape on the jet bridge prior to boarding.
Hit the vape right before the plane✅
byu/Great_Significance_8 indelta
Another Delta Air Lines passenger was kicked off a flight prior to departure for vaping back in March. She too was doing it right out in the open, in full view of passengers and crew.
@tipsytalk How to get booted off a plane
@tipsytalk Replying to @jpg mafia ♬ original sound – TipsyTalk
You can’t smoke on a plane. You can’t vape, either. The FAA has interpreted the prohibition on cigarette smoking to including vaping products, even though they’re quite different. According to the rulemaking,
The NPRM stated our position that the reasons supporting the statutory and regulatory ban on smoking also apply to a ban on e-cigarettes
That’s the case even though the FAA rule explicitly allows a passenger to emit vapor if it is from a “medically beneficial substance.” So it’s not about banning vapor. The regulation simply extends the ban on cigarettes to include e-cigarettes, which weren’t contemplated when the law against on board smoking was passed. While stare decisis was explicitly noted in the Supreme Court’s decision last week, if made now without the benefit of Chevron deference would the FAA be able to ban vaping without statutory authority?
Separately, the concern isn’t batteries, as some people mistakenly believe. Laptops, cell phones, tablets, and noise cancelling headphones are permitted. And airlines have procedures – and burn bags – for dealing with outlier issues inflight. But there’s a stigma against vaping, and other passengers might think vapers are smoking a cigarette even though they aren’t.
The first airline to create a nonsmoking section was United back in 1971. No U.S. airline fully banned smoking worldwide until Delta in 1994. U.S. airlines were still allowed to offer on board smoking up until 2000. Yet planes still have ashtrays! You’ll usually find them in or near the lavatory, because customers may smoke even though it’s illegal to do so – and they need a place to put out their cigarettes. Without ashtrays they’d be most likely to put out their cigarettes in the lavatory trash.. and light the paper tossed away inside on fire.
Yes, in overturning Chevron the rule can be squashed via a lawsuit.
I had a passenger a few rows back vaping hash oil on a MDW to LAS flight last month. When I let Southwest Customer service know the FAs didn’t notice/care they didn’t even respond but gave me $50 in LUV bucks. I don’t mind flying high but would prefer to use my own:)
Maybe it should be allowed as it would reduce airplane passenger conflicts.
I guess the safety wardens missed this one.
Why have rules if they will be ignored and not enforced? Anyone else tired of the “me” generation doing/saying anything they want without regards to the results of their actions?
Vaping is as bad as smoking, as is secondhand vapor inhalation.
They are both health risks.
I got maybe halfway through the article and then realized:
I don’t care.
If people can vape, then I won’t feel bad at all about lighting up a fine cigar mid flight!
FA’s are chastised for enforcing the rules, and chastised even if they don’t. The traveling public just loves to be outraged at anything.. I’m at the point where I do not care anymore. Rip each other apart for all I care, really, most of these people are complete dirtbags. I’ll play the role and smile and give great service, but I am so beyond caring about the traveling public. Complete animals.
Tempest in a teapot. I guess it’s good in some ways that it’s a slow news day since that means less bad things happening.
the FA’s ran out of duct tape?? Honestly, it’s like supervising kindergartners.
At some point the battle just isn’t worth the risk. Personally, I’d stomp him out, but that’s me.
There is no quality standards with respect to vaping batteries. They are more dangerous than batteries in phones, computers, etc.
I’m impressed Gary recognizes the difference between vaping and smoking unlike half the idiots in the comments or broader society. I’m continuously shocked at people who can’t see the difference or do comparative analysis in other areas of their lives for that matter.
The daily outrage posting on View is now very tiring. Time to look elsewhere for news about airlines, flying, points, etc. Gotta say I won’t miss the drivel of T Dunn (or the back and forth comments)
@James second hand vape is still dangerous. I agree there is a difference. But it’s not good for the health of those around it. Source: any medical study you can look up in google.