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New U.S. airline rules keep passengers in seats one hour before landing

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49 Comments
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my little child would NOT stay in seat for ONE HOUR unless she's sleeping, eating or being entertained.. so, if she make a fuss and wants to leave the seat to walk around... would we be yelled at?? Geez...

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I would like to use Malaysia airlines, etc, whenever I fly to/from the U.S.A. from now on. I'd imagine that muslim-owned airlines are the last ones in Al Qaeda's "blow up, and take down" lists...

I like to have a freedom to use bathroom at the last minute, too.

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The terrorist (?) was in his seat. It was the guy who stopped him who got out of his seat. Bad passenger. Sit! Sit!

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But I will say this - - Janet Napolitano is doing a heck of a job.

This is a Joke... right...?

I was never a Clinton fan, still believe "George Dubya" belongs in a War Crimes Tribunal, and I voted for Obama because of his message of CHANGE... I know the economy isn't his doing, that was all George Dubya's!

But Obama has put so many people into cabinet positions, just like George Dubya, that do not know a fricken thing about their jobs, other than they helped get Obama elected... It's a Crying Shame!

There's probably only one or two good actual picks for appointments he's given out, that are actually up to the job, and both of those people are retired Generals.

This Bathroom thing is the last fricken straw...

So what do you do if you have Diabetes...? Just sit there an urinate in your pants...? I don't mind the extra screenings, I think they should've started doing that a long time ago, but these toilet rules have to change...

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The public needs to get the message that man-caused disasters, as our president so eloquently describes what some people used call "terrorism," are inevitable. People just get radicalized. We will never know what drove the young Nigerian man to such extremes. Maybe he was poor and this was some kind of blowback. But I will say this - - Janet Napolitano is doing a heck of a job.

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Well, on all flights under 90 minutes, this means there will be NO getting up to use the lavatory! So, I guess the next "unnecessary" item to be thrown off all commuter planes will be the toilets? http://www.uglywomansguide.com/index.php/2009/12/flying-by-the-seat-of-your-wet-pants/

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This whole thing with restricting passengers is just more of the "gotta do sumthin'" foolishness that is typical of any bureaucracy. I don't see how any of this is going to make anybody and safer and it's going to make more of a mess of flying. No surprise people try to avoid flying. It's becoming a royal pain.

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BTW - the danger in shooting in the cabin is not a bullet hole in a window or the cabin, which would NOT bring a plane down, but rather hitting a vital electrical or hydraulic component that would compromise the performance of the aircraft.

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Seriously, how much would it be to employ an armed guard to watch the plane? Certainly no more than paying an extra flight attendant? I'd rather pay an extra fifty bucks for my ticket knowing a trained security guard could shoot dead any idiot terrorist.

They already have armed air marshals, but not enough for every flight.

The reason for these new restrictions is to deny the opportunity to go to the lavatory to mix the ingredients for a bomb and to make it harder for someone to prepare it at their seat.

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Well, I WAS feeling bad about not going home for the holidays. This recent news just changed my mind. Flying sucks enough already, these new rules make it sound unbearable. At least now I have a good excuse to avoid flying home to see my family, there isn't enough Ambien in the world to make these regulations more tolerable. Don't the people who make these pathetic rules realize how easy it is to make a bomb? Any idiot with a college chemistry textbook and basic literacy skills can do it with common ingredients.

Happy New Year, everyone!

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Already, 1 day after the new rules, there is a case of a passenger being sick and the flight being met by police. What is going to happen when babies need to be changed and passengers are sick etc...

There will soon be many cases where planes are diverted because of overly trigger happy flight attendants and passengers. Watch this space!

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Keeping passengers in their seats for the last hour of any flight would not mean anything if you look at the December 25th Northwest/Delta flight from Amsterdam to Detroit. The Nigerian did not have to leave his seat to almost blow up the plane. The way to get safer transportation whether it be air, sea, land or rail is to put all watch lists together internationally and deploy military to oversee the security of all modes of public transporation

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If any of you are parents and taking a baby along, think about diaper issues. When a baby pees in the diaper, the inside reacts like a jelly as it absorbs the pee. I guess they are gooing to have to strip search infants, and force the parents to change the diaper. Perhaps little junior will be forced to be sent through the x-ray belt. I hate terrorists. They create trouble. That guy that leaped over the seat should have pulverized the Nigerian to death.

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A few sniffer dogs, or even better pigs, at check-in would do wonders. Those who object to dogs and pigs get real special attention.

That would work, but guess who would scream about discrimination.

So, in the name of PC, we accept deaths.

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It will come down to enforcement, and my guess is that flight attendants won't be pressuring this one too much.

I hope you're right.

Every time we cave in to fear like this, we make air travel a little less desirable and turn some folks off from flying all together. This leads me to wonder, are the airlines too big to fail or will our tax dollars have to save them too (again)?

Peace,

Taka

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kwatt, umm, if that were the case, i'd be aa really frequent flyer on Japanese domestic flights. especially since the issue does not carry so much "weight" here. in fact, a rule like that might just save JAL.

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The best rule for security is all passengers and all crews must be clearly naked on board and no carry-on baggage on board. I think we all feel secured on plane.

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Wonder if we can carry on a portable urinal in case we need to break out the whizzinator during that last hour???

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This new rule will affect everyone except those with a Muslim surname. Afterall, you can't profile them.

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So if this rule was around and enforced, the guy who jumped the bomber could be arrested for violating the rule? While the crew went about selling crap from the onboard store a PASSENGER jumped on the bomber, right? Well, if we're all strapped into our seats an hour before landing, I guess the bomber can adjust his bomb so that it would work better while the rest of us watch. Hmmm. Sounds like a plan to me.

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plasticmonkey at 11:20 AM - Agree with dolphingirl - nice one!

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Passengers are being treated more and more like hostages. Sure glad I don't fly all that often and when I do I avoid America altogether by taking direct flights.

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Well, this is dumb.

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The terrorists are 'winning' because you're inconvenienced?

*US Marine and US Army infantrymen should feel ashamed for your 'suffering'.

*As well as other Allied ground-gainin' troops.

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You all have very good points and I agree. The terrorists are winning and we are suffering. Now everyone is stuck in their seat up to one hour before landing. Initial decent starts only 20 minutes out and most people want to use the lavatories before decending. What? No pillows? That's insane. When I travel, I never check baggage and only have a carry on which is ALL I have so I would raise a stink if they forced me to check it...then only for them to lose the bag! Air travel is going to the dogs ... I'm staying home or flying only with the U.S. military which I do for free since I'm retired from our U.S. Armed Forces. The only way to go. Oh...and what if someone REALLY has to go to the restroom within 30 minutes of landing? Sorry...you'll have to "hold" it. Another lawsuite coming up!

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It will come down to enforcement, and my guess is that flight attendants won't be pressuring this one too much.

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Isn't flying so much fun these days? I know I just love paying through the nose for the luxury of being treated terribly and squished for hours on end.

Probably most of the ingredients can be bought after the security checks....I know I always buy water after security and bring it on the plane with no problem...i'm sure terrorists can get creative and buy what they need after the security checks, too. Probably they are going to stop allowing things ont the plane that are bought after security checks...which is gonna make flying even more fun than now.

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Not much of a change, is it.

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So far we take our shoes, belts, and coats off before going through the security checkpoints. What's next? Full checks of all body cavities? Who knows how this nut-job Nigerian got this material aboard the airplane.

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Ok now this ruling is pathetic. 1 hour isn't going to make a difference to some nutjob terrorists upon landing. The main focus should be to make sure they don't get in the air in the first place. Somewhere along the way the international screening process went lax and this Nigerian guy got on the plane with some combustable materials and enough time to build it on the plane I gathering..

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Why is that everytime a criminal commits a crime , the law has to change a little bit to restrict freedom of everyone else? A little bit maybe, but if its million people ,thats million bits; a billion people ,billion bits! Thats HUGE and totally unfair. Time for fundamental change of making law?

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plasticmonkey: Nice one!

More rules does not equal more safety. It just makes criminals and terrorists more innovative.

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Unless they address the issue of islamic terrorism selectively, they continue to waste ressources.

It is totally idiotic to pay the same attention to a Norwegian grandmother as to a Nigerian muslim studying in London, who has applied for a visa for a "religious ceremony". I bet my keyboard they didn´t even bother to ask him what kind of "religious ceremony".

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the problem with an armed guard on board is that...there is a high chance any shooting...brings the plane down

Well, Goldfinger, they've been usin' frangible bullets for years.

Let get ya pillow and blankie.

Not to worry.

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The best security would be to give all passengers a generally anesthetic before boarding, then strip everyone to their birthday suits, put them in diapers, and nestle them in a warm cocoon on the aircraft. All necessary medications and nutrients would be administered by drip. And then one armed air marshall at the back, laughing at the naked flabby passengers. Everyone would lose their rights, but it would take the misery and fear out of flying.

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This rule says "Quick, make a pointless new rule to make it look like we are doing something!" Reminds me of color alerts.

This sort of reactionarism means the terrorists won this round I am afraid.

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"The solution is simple. Stay away from the USA."

Not so simple. You see, millions of people want to travel to the USA every year, even if you don't.

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I wish this rule was applied to other airlines like some of the Chinese and Indian flights I've taken recently in addition of really enforcing one-carry on bag per only passenger!

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No big deal. Everyone is usually trapped in their seats for an hour or more before finally taking off and reaching cruising altitude where they turn off the seatbelt signs.

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bamboohat: the problem with an armed guard on board is that, let's say in the situation where a person struggles to detonate something on a plane before landing, there is a high chance any shooting or what have you by an armed guard could be what brings the plane down.

In any case this sucks. I agree with a poster above -- the era of no luggage (carry on, at any rate) is coming. But as I said in another post, I bet you they'll still sell any and all the ingredients necessary for bombs at Duty Free.

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Great. They've just made it illegal (or against the rules) for concerned citizens to stop an attempted terrorist attack on a plane.

Seriously, how much would it be to employ an armed guard to watch the plane? Certainly no more than paying an extra flight attendant? I'd rather pay an extra fifty bucks for my ticket knowing a trained security guard could shoot dead any idiot terrorist.

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The solution is simple- stay away from the USA.

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Fly naked. All bags must be in cargo hold.

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stay in their seats 1hr prior to landing...IMPOSSIBLE for the Japanese yet alone would they attack a terrorist... To me any Asian flight out of the 500 I have been on they have ants in their pants and they also like to spring up once the jumbo jet lands with seat belt sign on.... At least the US carrier a woman will make a fool out of you if you break the rules... A lot of Asians seem to jones tords the end of a flight due to their nic habit...

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Expect soon rows, fights, stressed passengers, all the drama close to your seat.

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I should point out that for any Canadian traveling overseas, their plane that stops over in the US will be bound by this rule. Even more reason to avoid the USA and preference for direct flights. No wonder Air Canada bought a lot of the new Dreamliners

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the era of zero luggage or separate planes for luggage may soon be upon us. Next probably a rule to sit on your hands.

I wish we'd improve the passenger rail service (between cities and regions) in Canada and see that in the USA as well. Then they'd be no need for countless delays then more rules to ruin a trip. Trains are great, as Japan exemplifies, I miss them soooooo much!!!

North America is forever taken hostage to rule changes more so with fewer choices but flying. In this case over the Atlantic it's unavoidable but on land now is the time to invest in rail, reduce carbon, electrify transit off of oil and diesel. Improve transport everywhere.

I hope it happens before more airlines go out of business. Japan shinkansen in Brazil or where ever is a good sign for growth. I hope we get them in Canada and US soon. That would rock and be easy to securitize.

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What happens if you need to use the toilet? After waking up many people need to do this after a long flight.

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What is staying in your seat for and hour before landing going to do? If he could get it on board period, he can explode it in his seat. < :-)

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