On not having water on a plane

[moodforaday]

Two weeks ago my plane had a 2 hour delay in Chicago. For two hours we were sitting in a metal can roasting on the runway, in full sunshine, with no air conditioning because a power unit on the plane was broken. It was pretty bad, but everyone had water. Of course the airline (American) was not about to distribute any drinks. Finally they let everyone out, but only because the plane had to refuel.

Then a few days later I read about the very same thing happening for the very same reason to a United flight, also in Chicago, except that was much worse, because it lasted much longer:
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_4122187

So what happens to people now if they are confined to sitting on a plane, in the sun, for several hours, with no air conditioning? If they have no water?

Is it another social experiment like Katrina, in reverse? Trial by water, now trial by heat?

[Violet_Crumble]

1. Talk about incompetence...

Situations like those should never be allowed to happen. I've heard bad things about domestic US airlines and this sort of stuff really compounds my impression...

[moodforaday]

2. no rules were apparently broken

Can't find a link right now, but the place where the Denver Post article was linked from also had a quote from an FAA (I think) official saying that no FAA regulations were broken in this case. So if someone has a heart attack from the excessive heat on a grounded plane, it's not the airline's responsibility.

But at least people had water on them then. Now they won't.

[no_hypocrisy]

3. Dehydration.

Dr. Alan Pressman on his medical radio show on Thursday spoke about planes making you dehydrated and you likely would not be able to be served (if you're lucky) enough water to keep you sufficiently hydrated. Without the ability to bring on your own water, this will be one more reason why flying is hazardous to your health.

www.drpressman.com

[Orrex]

10. I'm doubtful

If a plane can't serve enough to keep you hydrated, I doubt that you'd likely be carrying enough to do it, either. Maybe on a large-capacity passenger plane, on which a large number of passengers might be carrying water bottles, but in a baking-on-the-runway scenario they'd each be unlikely to give up their water, I should think.

So Dr. Pressman's warning may be sound, but it doesn't seem like a greater danger this week than it was last week. If anything, airlines may reconsider their "no beverages served" policy and start offering premium-priced water, now that there'll be no competition in-flight from drinks purchased prior to boarding.

[sofa king]

4. Water? I'm waiting for the breast milk fiasco.

Judging by previous, um, exposure of the issue, that one should be much more interesting.

[leveymg]

5. The Airlines need to give out water bottles at the departure gate

and more on the plane. Add $2 to the ticket price.

I think this problem is soluable - er, solvable.

[B2G]

6. What I don't understand is this

Confiscate it at the security gate. Don't allow it through. Fine. But if you're buying it at the kiosks, which are all inside the secured area, why can't you bring it on the plane? This makes no sense to me.

[leveymg]

7. True. If they don't trust the vendors, then why do they allow any?

This ban on liquids is a way to get everyone all riled up. It drives home the desired psychological messages: be afraid; be very afraid; we're protecting you; re-elect us.

[B2G]

8. The only thing that I can figure

is that it's an additional safeguard in case something would slip through security. Other than that, it seems like overkill.

[survivor999]

13. You can! At least, everybody did

on Thursday morning when I caught my plane.

[pitohui]

18. yes but it isn't thursday, is it -- THE RULE HAS CHANGED

it is generally better if you are wrong, not to keep spreading wrong information

[survivor999]

19. Link?

[pitohui]

23. every airline and news site there is has the link

why are you doing this? there are literally hundreds if not thousands of links to the facts

ever heard of a little site called cnn for example?

http://www.cnn.com/2006/TRAVEL/08/11/terror.passengers.ap/index.html

or how about any airline site?

you made a mistake, fine, we all do, but what is the point of making it over and over again?

people are going to go to the airport and find out you are wrong anyway

[survivor999]

24. Call your airport to make sure.

Only good advice.

[Beelzebud]

9. Terrorists require water to live. Why do you want water so bad?

Are you hiding something?

[Mika]

11. Exactly. Do you hate Murica so much that you need water?

Show your love for BushCrimeInc - go thirsty.

[survivor999]

12. It's not that you cannot take water on the plane!

Not sure where that came from. You just cannot take water in your carry-on as you go through security. But you can buy a bottle AFTER that and before you take off. So, what's the problem?

[pitohui]

16. survivor, you are wrong, you got out before the rule changed

you just got lucky, survivor, this was not rolled out at all airports on thursday, it is apparently supposed to be the rule at ALL airports as of today


a second search is done at the gate as you board and any water purchased in the shops is being seized

[survivor999]

21. I got searched a second time

at the gate and many people had water with them.

[pitohui]

25. yes on thursday morning, wasn't it?

as i said, the rule change was rolled out at only 10 airports and then it has expanded so that now all usa airports are in compliance

it is one thing to be wrong

it is quite another thing to persist in deliberately spreading an untruth after you have been repeatedly informed that you are the wrong

may you buy $20 in water on your next flight and have it all seized at the gate

[survivor999]

28. Call your airport to make sure.

Only sensible advice.

[pitohui]

14. sooner or later somebody is going to die

we do know what happens -- heat exhaustion/heat stroke can be fatal and often results in a permanent, lifelong susceptibility to other attacks of heat stroke when you do survive

some people have been on extended ground holds where they were served water or another liquid, unfortunately, my experience has been the same as yours -- no drink service except to first class

[survivor999]

15. Get a bottle of water after security

and before getting on the plane. That is allowed.

[pitohui]

17. no it isn't, you are not up to date

it was allowed on thursday at some airports

it is no longer allowed as of today

[survivor999]

20. Link?

[pitohui]

26. i posted a link above -- READING COMPREHENSION?

.

[survivor999]

30. What?

[Garbo 2004]

27. TSA web site:

"Beverages purchased in the boarding area (beyond the screening checkpoint) will not be allowed on board, and must be consumed before boarding." http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/new-procedures.shtm

[survivor999]

29. Whatever, I'm taking my water.

:)

[savemefromdumbya]

22. hey toothpaste bombs

it's in the stripes put up a red alert!