My wife and I experienced what is probably at most a minor incident on a WJ flight the other night from YVR to YYC. I am curious to get some opinions on this, however, as I thought what we witnessed was pretty odd. The incident involves a non-flying pilot (he was a passnger) so I wonder if there is any way to report what happened--or even if it is a consideration.
While in cruise, we noticed the guy in the row in front of us pull out his cell phone, power it up, and then proceed to enter a phone number and try to make a call. Of course, he got no signal. However, he did try repeatedly to place the call (you could see on the screen that it said "call to: XXX-XXX-XXXX) so I know he was not just fooling around with the phone. Anyhow, the behaviour seemed a bit suspicious so I went to the back and told an FA. She came up the aisle and just before she got there the guy snapped shut his phone (my wife told me this as she was still in her seat). Sure enough, as soon as the FA is gone, he tries to make his call again. Another FA came along, and as she came along he closed his phone again; I told her what was happening. She said, he's a pilot, he should know better. We were now just about on final, so that was that. As soon as we had touched down, he pulls the phone out, dials the number and then has a conversation all the way to the gate.
I figured that IF the guy was a WJ pilot that he was behaving pretty badly. I know that there is no real danger in making a call from the air, but it is a regulation, right? Anyhow, when the guy gets up to go, it turns out that he is wearing a Hawkair jacket so was probably not a WJ employee. We stayed on the plane for our next leg, so I spoke with one of the FA's and said to her that if this guy was nonreving at WJ's expense he really should be reported. It didn't seem like good form to me. She didn't seem to know what to do or say but agreed that it was quite bizarre behaviour. My wife said that she heard one of the FA's say that this guy was on WJ business of some kind, but I was in the head at the time so never heard that.
So, what I wonder is, if the guy was nonreving or in some other WJ-related capacity is it not worthwhile reporting this to someone at WJ? I would expect a pilot for any airline to behave professionally at all times, and to break a reg in front of passengers seems kind of over the top. Of course, I do not know if he was working for or flying on WJ's tab, so if he was just a regular passenger then there is nothing that can be done.
The main thing for us is that it was kind of alarming: who is this guy trying to call, and why? Who can't wait 60 minutes?
Thanks.
The crew were great on that flight, the last leg of their long day, though the pilot flying the last leg really put us down hard. I think he was pretty fried by then!
Strange beh on a WJ flight
Moderators: sky's the limit, sepia, Sulako, lilfssister, North Shore, I WAS Birddog
I am not WJ but I think it would apply for any airline, I don't think there is much that can be done apart from what you did, which was informing the F/A. And all they can do is to tell him to shut it off and keep it that way. If he was told and then refused there might be a case for "interference with a flight crew" or something like that, but I think it would have to be a pretty serious case before they would pursue that avenue.
If as you say he was a pilot, well he should have known better, and not think that he was above the regs because he was a pilot. Somebody should have said something to him and I am sure that would have been the end of it, even you could have said, "hey, you aren't allowed to use that while in flight", and I am sure he would have stowed it for the remainder of the flight.
Just because somebody is wearing a HawkAir jacket doesn't make him a pilot, could have been a CSA or a rampie as well.
If he was travelling to YYC for his WJ interview it would be very bad form. Or if travelling on a WJ pass the same applies. But we don't know that.
I would suggest that if you see the same thing again that you press the F/A call button, tell them what is going on and I am sure they will deal with it. If not, tell the guy that you are a concerned passenger, you know that it isn't allowed, so turn it off or you will report him.
If one of the F/A's thought that they should follow up on it I would agree that would be a good idea, especially if he was on some kind of WJ business or on a WJ pass, chances are he wouldn't be able to use a WJ pass again.
But like I said, I don't work there, so my thoughts are just that, mine.
If as you say he was a pilot, well he should have known better, and not think that he was above the regs because he was a pilot. Somebody should have said something to him and I am sure that would have been the end of it, even you could have said, "hey, you aren't allowed to use that while in flight", and I am sure he would have stowed it for the remainder of the flight.
Just because somebody is wearing a HawkAir jacket doesn't make him a pilot, could have been a CSA or a rampie as well.
If he was travelling to YYC for his WJ interview it would be very bad form. Or if travelling on a WJ pass the same applies. But we don't know that.
I would suggest that if you see the same thing again that you press the F/A call button, tell them what is going on and I am sure they will deal with it. If not, tell the guy that you are a concerned passenger, you know that it isn't allowed, so turn it off or you will report him.
If one of the F/A's thought that they should follow up on it I would agree that would be a good idea, especially if he was on some kind of WJ business or on a WJ pass, chances are he wouldn't be able to use a WJ pass again.
But like I said, I don't work there, so my thoughts are just that, mine.
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invertedattitude
- Rank 10
- Posts: 2353
- Joined: Tue Jul 06, 2004 1:12 pm
Like Pratt said, if you were concerned about it you can just tell him yourself.
People are ignorant travellers, and I've found people in the "Biz" can be even worse at times because they think they know better.
That being said theres some airlines in europe that are getting approval for the use of cellphones in flight, there's no reason why you wouldn't get a signal although I admit it would at most times be a challenge keeping one flying cross-country in our great nation.
All that being said, if they start approving the use of cell phones in flight, well then the cases of air rage are going to rise pretty sharply, imagine being stuck on a 5 hour leg to Vancouver listening to some guy whine to his girlfriend, or even worse some girl talking to her friend the whole time about going partying later and what makeup they're going to wear, talking loud enough to drown out the TV.
Well maybe it would be good for WJA, make people buy the premium headsets which fit so much better, those cheaper ones don't fit over my fat head very well...
People are ignorant travellers, and I've found people in the "Biz" can be even worse at times because they think they know better.
That being said theres some airlines in europe that are getting approval for the use of cellphones in flight, there's no reason why you wouldn't get a signal although I admit it would at most times be a challenge keeping one flying cross-country in our great nation.
All that being said, if they start approving the use of cell phones in flight, well then the cases of air rage are going to rise pretty sharply, imagine being stuck on a 5 hour leg to Vancouver listening to some guy whine to his girlfriend, or even worse some girl talking to her friend the whole time about going partying later and what makeup they're going to wear, talking loud enough to drown out the TV.
Well maybe it would be good for WJA, make people buy the premium headsets which fit so much better, those cheaper ones don't fit over my fat head very well...
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Ryan Coke2
- Rank 3
- Posts: 144
- Joined: Tue Jun 20, 2006 10:45 pm
My suggestion would be to go to WJ's website and find the feedback corner, and write up your experience there. Then you can provide details of the flight and seat number, and someone can track things down from there.
Although you seem to be aware that there was no real danger, it is terribly unprofessional and appears very poor. By you letting people know that you were aware of it, hopefully said person, wherever he works, will be talked to about this.
I hope you send in a note via the website.
Although you seem to be aware that there was no real danger, it is terribly unprofessional and appears very poor. By you letting people know that you were aware of it, hopefully said person, wherever he works, will be talked to about this.
I hope you send in a note via the website.
Thanks, folks, for the replies. Just a note: the reason I think he is a pilot is because that is what the FA said. I assumed it was for Hawkair because of the jacket.
And yes, I could have just spoken to him myself, but figured the FA would be good route too. After the fact, as you all point out, the only issue would be one of professionalism combined (at least for me) with the fact that if the guy was flying nonrev that it is very disrespectful to the airline to break the rules.
It was kind of creepy having the guy fiddle with his phone so much, to be honest. The heightened security awareness most people (like me) have makes one bit more paranoid than in the past. I have flown about 30 plus times this year so far and find that most people are trying to just blend in when they fly rather than draw attention to themselves.
And yes, I could have just spoken to him myself, but figured the FA would be good route too. After the fact, as you all point out, the only issue would be one of professionalism combined (at least for me) with the fact that if the guy was flying nonrev that it is very disrespectful to the airline to break the rules.
It was kind of creepy having the guy fiddle with his phone so much, to be honest. The heightened security awareness most people (like me) have makes one bit more paranoid than in the past. I have flown about 30 plus times this year so far and find that most people are trying to just blend in when they fly rather than draw attention to themselves.
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monkeyspankmasterflex
- Rank 7
- Posts: 517
- Joined: Tue Jul 19, 2005 1:12 pm
Cut the guy a break. It's not like he was trying to light his shoe on fire or snorting lines off his tray. Maybe he has a family member in the hospital, maybe his marriage is on the rocks or maybe he's just a prick. In any event, I wouldn't mess with a dude's livelihood over something so trivial.
