Latest passenger problem: refusal to turn off the phone

Posted 11/09/2011

There are so many cases of errant passenger behavior that the latest almost sounds normal: a Southwest Airlines passenger was arrested after refusing to turn off his cellphone during a flight, according to the AP.

The plane was on its final approach to El Paso when the unidentified man “refused crew instructions to turn the phone off,” according to The Aviation Herald. He was trying to make a call.

The incident also set off an altercation onboard the flight, said KSAZ-TV Fox 10 news. Details were unclear. Charges are pending.

But with all the other incidents, it raises the question of what can get someone thrown off a flight?

FareCompare described some incidents:
 

--Dressing provocatively: "The airlines leave the judgment of what's lewd, obscene, offensive or inappropriate to their individual employees with no apparent specific guidelines as to what is, or is not permitted," Ned Levi writes at Consumer Traveler.
 

--Using profanity.
 

--Refusing to stop texting -- or using your phone -- when instructed to do so.
 

--Being intoxicated.
 

--Being too big for the seat.

By David Wilkening

Originally published 11 Sep 2011 at: http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/398/f/5923/s/182f695c/l/0L0Stravelmole0N0Cstories0C11493150Bphp0Dmpnlog0F1/story01.htm