Last Hour of flight - rule was lifted (International up to pilots)

[Sandy321]

I understand the need to "reassure" the masses by heighten security - I understand the terrorist may have used a blanket to "hide" his "bomb"....

BUT the ridiculous stand out (for me) is YOU CAN STILL get matches and lighters ON THE PLANE - books on my lap the last hour is a risk, but not matches - can I say WTH?

 

[AppleSister1]

I flew domestically yesterday into Laguardia in NYC. Very short flight, only 55 minutes, and we were allowed to have books, coats, etc on our laps the whole time. I think it's going to be implemented randomly. (And my understanding is books will be okay...I think its more about blankets, coats and pillows - things that you could use to hide something. And electronics.)

 

[Green Tea]

No bathroom the last hour. that will be fun

 

[Tozzie]

As of now the rule is in place for INTERNATIONAL flights only.

 

[CPer'sMom]

No bathroom the last hour. that will be fun

For a long time that was the case on flights landing at DCA/Reagan National. No getting out of your seats for the last hour of the flight ~~ I never saw it to be a problem.

 

[crashbb]

For a long time that was the case on flights landing at DCA/Reagan National. No getting out of your seats for the last hour of the flight ~~ I never saw it to be a problem.

Nor did I.

I think the rule also applies to IAD (which makes sense).

 

[uva185]

As of now the rule is in place for INTERNATIONAL flights only.

Just to clarify, the rules only pertain to international flights ARRIVING to the US.

Some airlines (United, and others) are classifying Puerto Rico & the US Virgin Islands as international while other (US Airways, and others) are not.

Check with your airline before departing to see how they classify these destinations as it will also affect how many carry-ons you are allowed.

 

[camlace]

Should be interesting with kiddos who don't understand what it means to not be able to use the potty for an hour....not looking forward to that.

 

[loriandmatt]

Should be interesting with kiddos who don't understand what it means to not be able to use the potty for an hour....not looking forward to that.

my daughter gets quite nervous when she flies...the result of which is her having to use the bathroom quite a bit. (immodium helps some, but only so much) given the option of messing herself or having a flight attendant/security person watch with the door open while i assist her in using the on flight potty, i think she and i would both choose to give up that privacy as opposed to messing her pants. (and the seat) i can't see how they could ever get away with that "watch as you go" thing though...imagine the liability/perv factor.

i can't see this "you can't use the restroom" thing sticking for very long. imagine the mess (litterally). you know there is going to be someone (adult or kid) just pulling down their pants and going in the isle out of defiance. not saying that is justified, but you know it's gonna happen eventually.

 

[Shelby5514]

I have only seen maybe 4-5 people actually getting up to use the restroom in-flight. Is it that much of a problem to not use the bathroom for the last hour of a flight? Can't you just go before that last hour? Limit your intake of liquids in-flight?

I'd forfeit my 1/2 a can of Diet Coke for safety any day.

 

[dburg30]

I'd forfeit my 1/2 a can of Diet Coke for safety any day.

Well, that begs the question, how much more will you give up for 'safety'?? Where do you draw the line? NO electronics allowed? NO liquids allowed? NO carry ons allowed?? Any of that could be used for 'bad' stuff.

 

[TDC Nala]

For a long time that was the case on flights landing at DCA/Reagan National. No getting out of your seats for the last hour of the flight ~~ I never saw it to be a problem.

That was for the last half hour (on both takeoffs and landings at DCA - and no, it did not apply to IAD, which is located much further outside the city of Washington DC than DCA is), not the full hour.

 

[loriandmatt]

I have only seen maybe 4-5 people actually getting up to use the restroom in-flight. Is it that much of a problem to not use the bathroom for the last hour of a flight? Can't you just go before that last hour? Limit your intake of liquids in-flight?

I'd forfeit my 1/2 a can of Diet Coke for safety any day.

i dont fly tons, but on the 6-10 flights that i have taken over the last few years (all of which between Philly and Orlando - only a 2-3 hour flight max) there is just a contstant stream of people going back and forth using the restrooms for that entire flight time. as soon as they give you the all clear to get out of your seat they just jump up and make a bee line for the restrooms at the front and back of the cabin. they are always making announcements to not wait in line for an open restroom, to wait in your seat for the door to open to take your turn. do i ever use it personally, heck no....i get skeeved by such places. but my daughter...different story. upset stomach (reguardless of if i restrict her food or fluid intake pre/during flight) lands her in there (with either DH or myself to assist...she is only 5) more than once during that short flight. all sorts of conditions would make "holding it until the flight lands" impossible for many. (another "for instance" my father has no large intestine because of cancer...only small intestine which means when he gets the urge to go...he has to answer now. can't put it off for 10 min much less an hour. or what about the person with an enlarged prostate that has bladder frequency issues?)

i don't really see this restriction sticking for too long. consumers want to be safe, but they don't want to crap/wet their pants in order to do so. for those of us that are healty adults we can't fathom why this would be an issue. however there are SO MANY out there that are not capable of that kind of restraint. it is not their RIGHT to fly and they may not be able to if this stays in place. however it will be one more way stuggling airlines have to ride the fine line between safety and excluding some of thier consumers.

 

[TDC Nala]

I remember a flight out of DCA while the "stay in your seat for the first half hour" rule was still in place where as soon as the plane got into the air a guy got up and headed for the bathroom with his kid. The flight attendants had to ask him three times (over the intercom as they were still seated) to sit down while he insisted that his child needed to use the bathroom. Only when they informed him that the flight would be diverted and landed if he refused to be seated (and they were serious) did he give up and go sit down. So if it's a similar rule for the international flights this time around, they will probably be just as serious about it.

 

[Shelby5514]

i dont fly tons, but on the 6-10 flights that i have taken over the last few years (all of which between Philly and Orlando - only a 2-3 hour flight max) there is just a contstant stream of people going back and forth using the restrooms for that entire flight time. as soon as they give you the all clear to get out of your seat they just jump up and make a bee line for the restrooms at the front and back of the cabin. they are always making announcements to not wait in line for an open restroom, to wait in your seat for the door to open to take your turn. do i ever use it personally, heck no....i get skeeved by such places. but my daughter...different story. upset stomach (reguardless of if i restrict her food or fluid intake pre/during flight) lands her in there (with either DH or myself to assist...she is only 5) more than once during that short flight. all sorts of conditions would make "holding it until the flight lands" impossible for many. (another "for instance" my father has no large intestine because of cancer...only small intestine which means when he gets the urge to go...he has to answer now. can't put it off for 10 min much less an hour. or what about the person with an enlarged prostate that has bladder frequency issues?)

i don't really see this restriction sticking for too long. consumers want to be safe, but they don't want to crap/wet their pants in order to do so. for those of us that are healty adults we can't fathom why this would be an issue. however there are SO MANY out there that are not capable of that kind of restraint. it is not their RIGHT to fly and they may not be able to if this stays in place. however it will be one more way stuggling airlines have to ride the fine line between safety and excluding some of thier consumers.

Apparently you didn't see my edit at the bottom. I DO realize that some people can not wait to use the restroom, but I would guess that the majority of the flying public COULD. It's all about pre-planning. Mom and Dad always made us kids go to the bathroom before a long car ride, why is this any different? Go to the bathroom before getting on the plane and limit your liquid intake while in flight. I would think this would work for many, many people.
Guess we'll have to wait and see how it all plays out.

 

[Flossbolna]

I have only seen maybe 4-5 people actually getting up to use the restroom in-flight. Is it that much of a problem to not use the bathroom for the last hour of a flight? Can't you just go before that last hour? Limit your intake of liquids in-flight?

I'd forfeit my 1/2 a can of Diet Coke for safety any day.

I agree with you with regard to short flights. But the restrictions are in place for international flights. Most of those are intercontinental. For example my flight from Frankfurt, Germany to Orlando in January is a ten hour flight. And it really isn't very pleasant to be in an airplane for that amount of time in economy class seats. There have been a number of cases of embolisms which resulted in people dying due to people sitting still in those seats without moving and drinking too little. Therefore you are actually encouraged by the airlines to move around the airplane and to drink a lot of water. They actually have a steady supply of water cups ready. So in this situation planning not to go to the toilet for a full hour is no longer such a small inconvenience anymore. And it is these situations the restrictions apply for at the moment.

 

[uva185]

I have only seen maybe 4-5 people actually getting up to use the restroom in-flight. Is it that much of a problem to not use the bathroom for the last hour of a flight? Can't you just go before that last hour? Limit your intake of liquids in-flight?

I'd forfeit my 1/2 a can of Diet Coke for safety any day.

The problem is you are not any safer by these new rules.

-Stay seated the last hour -- a terrorist will simply act 90 minutes before landing.

-No blankets -- a terrorist can use a hoodie sweatshirt with a big pockets to hide what he is doing.

-No IFE/GPS or updates on location -- a terrorist can just look out the window or use his watch.

All our "enhanced security" only really provides the illusion of security. Security has not improved one bit since 9/11, only inconvenienced millions of Americans. This recent terrorist was on a terrorist watch list, had a valid US Visa, and his father even warned the US Embassy he may try to attack. Yet nothing was done, he was not given secondary screening in AMS, the APIS (Advance Passenger Information System) did not flag him as a threat, nor was his Visa was not revoked by the US Embassy. Simply Pathetic!

So go ahead and give up your coke if it makes you feel safer, I'd much rather have real safety.

 

[Flossbolna]

It appears that the one hour rule has come to an end:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/12/28/national/main6030609.shtml?tag=stack

 

[maxiesmom]

It appears that the one hour rule has come to an end:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/12/28/national/main6030609.shtml?tag=stack

Think they realized how pointless it was?

 

[uva185]

Think they realized how pointless it was?

Now if only we could get them to reverse the liquid ban and shoe removal rule...