Here’s a new one for me. I was on a recent Delta shuttle flight last week onboard an Embraer 170, which had power ports at the seat (both full power and USB charging ports). The first thing I do these days when I board is plug in my phone for charging. Prior to pushback, the flight attendant announced all electronic devices needed to be unplugged from the charging ports on the plane until we were in the air for safety reasons.
Next, she came down the aisle asking every passenger to unplug their iPhone or other devices from the power ports until we took off.
This is something that struck me as I’ve never heard this before. Was this a one-off over zealous flight attendant making up her own rules, or is this a new policy in place?
I’m interested to hear your thoughts below if you’ve encountered anything similar not being allowed to charge your phone during taxi?
About Points, Miles & Martinis
Here at Points, Miles and Martinis, we love all things travel. We focus on topics relating to travel including destinations, airline, hotel, car rental and credit card reward programs. Our goal is to help people travel better. - See more at our About Us page.
Sign up for Email || Twitter || Facebook |
Hotel Offers || Airline Offers || Bank Offers || Cash Back Offers
Almost every international airline does this for safety reasons, but I don’t recall AA or UA ever asking people to unplug during the final walkthrough. The rationale is if an evacuation needed to happen during taxi/takeoff/landing, they don’t want the wires from charging ports to impede. Canadian airlines even ask you to take out headphones as well for safety – a bit of an overreach in my mind.
Interesting segment! The problem is when an accident do occur it is those over reaching stuff is usually what causes the situation. It’s a catch 22.
It’s a safety issue cords could inhibit egress in the event of an emergency. No drama, no making up your own rules. Move on
Regularly hear it in pre-flight announcements; rarely see it enforced.
Shane, I see it on all Alaska Airlines flights
On a recent Iberia flight from Madrid, they have signs of this all under the screen/USB port, it was the first time I noticed it and I thought it was odd!
United is tight on enforcing this.
Delta hasn’t asked me to unplug anything on the full service jets, neither the under the seat nor USB plugs at the bottom of the screen in the seat back.
Airfrance just unplugged my phone from the usb charger before taxi. The flight attended stated that it is because the phone could explode and they have to stay in their seat without being able to help. Ridiculous.
United Airlines has the same rules as well as KLM. With Delta you can chargre during take off and landing.