SEAT BELTS ARE FREE TO USE.

[boing]

Arriving at Washington National with turbulence reported in the descent so put the seat belt sign on early. Of course, the usual fat lady insisted she visit the blue-room with the seat belt sign on. Unfortunately, just as she was trying to leave the blue-room we hit one of the bigger forecast bumps and she fell down in the space between the seat and the door, which on the 727 was a bifold door that pushed inwards, so she was trapped on the floor unable to get up because she was so overweight and the door could not be opened since it pushed inwards to open.

Whole incident handled well by the flight attendants one of whom fortunately knew how to remove the blue-room door by pulling the hinge-pins.

Later on I get a call from ops. requesting a full incident report as the woman's son, who happened to be an attorney, was threatening to sue the company because of her humiliation. Knowing the company they probably gave her a bunch of free tickets.

.

[Capetonian]

Another, same old, same old :

Mid-air horror as 'severe' turbulence on an Emirates flight bound for Dubai sends passengers flying from their seats and leaves the cabin littered with debris

I sat next to a stupid woman on a flight once who wouldn't wear her seat belt because 'if the plane crashes I'll be trapped inside'. It's hard to argue against that level of ignorance and stupidity.

[G-CPTN]

Is it a legal requirement to wear a seatbelt on an airliner?
Apart from the captain refusing to take that passenger, what sanction can be applied?

[llondel]

Probably depends on the jurisidiction, but in a lot of countries I think you're required to obey instructions from the crew. I don't know how much legal backing that has though. I know on a 747 there used to be a procedure for opening a door at the front and a door at the back while in flight to disperse smoke in the cabin, that would be one solution to obstreperous passengers. I guess a sudden push on the stick followed by pulling back might bounce them off the ceiling too.

[Stoneboat]

....and from my somewhat 'old' experience too, that is correct. I certainly watched a slow increase in both high-level wind speeds and turbulence. It is logical. Warmer world, more moisture content/more instability.

And more traffic to experience it.

[ExSp33db1rd]

or ExSp33d.

Don't recall.

Sat by the pool at one of the Resort/Casino hotels in Las Vegas, temperature 108. Plenty of scenery that you would approve of !

[ExSp33db1rd]

As the proud possessor of colostomy big I have obtained a "TSA Aproved Blue Card". I wave this at the Jobsworth manning the security scanner as I approach and this usually means that I am taken aside and given a quick pat-down, and they are usually more embarrassed than me so I tend to win one. However, I have read that diamond smugglers have been known to use The Bag as a means of transporting their illicit contraband, so am expecting that one day I will be asked to remove the bag for inspection. The thought of some TSA agent having to sort through a bag of sxxt gives me some sort of perverse pleasure, so I am almost wishing that it might happen one day !

And ... the card also describes my condition for the benefit of the Cabin Crew, with a paragraph entitled "Gotta go NOW" and explains that I may have to visit the toilet at times when the seat belt sign is on, for the benefit of my wellbeing and public sanitation. ( work it out for yourself ! )

Never had to use it yet, but never say never.

Also, as ex-crew I know full well that the seat belt is sometimes switched on solely for the benefit of Cabin Crew rest ! So I wouldn't hesitate to use my card if I considered it necessary, at any time.

QED.

[llondel]

You need to dump a couple of hard lumps in the bag. That might require the senior TSA bod to get his junior to come do a more thorough check.

[ExSp33db1rd]

Such fun !

[Slasher]

Well I think you should eat a large heavily spiced Indian curry so you've got the sloppiest stinkiest crap in that bag mate. The TSA literally deserve the worst possible sh!t one can give 'em.

Having them wade through your smelly watery faeces would not only give pleasure to your good self but give the same to plenty of other members here too!

[barkingmad]

To return to the O P:

"The lawyers amongst us will clarify whether if such advice was given then do the headbangers in the manifest have any right to sue the airline for damages"?

I refer specifically to those seated but unbelted for no other reason than that they are plain stupid. No pun intended.