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Galley Gossip: Can Passengers View Pornography on the Airplane?
From time to time I get questions from readers who want to know what the rules are regarding viewing pornography in flight now that Wi-Fi is available on board most airplanes. Thankfully, it hasn't been much of an issue (knock on wood). But planes are crowded, personal space barely exits, and when passengers do things they shouldn't, well, they usually get caught.Last week on a flight from New York to Fort Lauderdale, a coworker had to ask a 10-year-old boy to turn off the erotica and to fasten his seatbelt. On either side of him sat his younger brother and sister. Across the aisle were his parents who had no idea what was going on until we informed them why he may have been holding the computer screen so close to his face. On a different flight another passenger was caught reading a Playboy Magazine. Next to him sat his young son. What gave this man away was the opened centerfold he was eyeing up and down. When a flight attendant politely asked him to put it away, he yelled at her for embarrassing him.
How common is it to see someone watching something rather risqué on a laptop, iPad, tablet or even the in-flight entertainment system in the air? I can only think of a few instances I've seen something that might raise a few eyebrows. When this happens, I'll gently inform the passenger that there are children on board and remind them that other passengers seated nearby might find what they're viewing distasteful. Nine times out of ten they'll either fast forward through the scene or turn it off – end of story.
Do passengers ever complain about the content of something that a different passenger is watching? I've never had anyone rat someone out for watching pornography in flight. But I do get a lot of complaints about kids watching movies or playing video games that are too loud. Most parents forget to bring headphones for their little ones. I always hate having to tell a nice family to turn it down, but rules are rules and they apply to everyone, even those under 2 feet tall.
Is there a firm policy on how to handle passengers who are watching adult content openly? Pornography is not allowed on the airplane. If a flight attendant does come across it, we'll discreetly ask the passenger to put it away. If that doesn't work, we might issue a written warning. The warning informs the passenger what will happen if they choose not to comply. Refusing to obey crew instruction is a federal offense.
[Photo courtesy: Bekathwia]
Is there a firm policy on how to handle passengers who are watching adult content openly? Pornography is not allowed on the airplane. If a flight attendant does come across it, we'll discreetly ask the passenger to put it away. If that doesn't work, we might issue a written warning. The warning informs the passenger what will happen if they choose not to comply. Refusing to obey crew instruction is a federal offense.
[Photo courtesy: Bekathwia]
Filed under: Airlines, Transportation, Airports, Internet Tools, Galley Gossip
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Daryl Jan 11th 2013 3:50PM
I kind of hate the line: "Refusing to obey crew instruction is a federal offense."
I'm pretty sure that line was originally put in place due to passenger safety, such as buckling up when the plane is taking off or landing, or simply obeying instruction during an emergency. The threat feels like it's overstretching the boundaries of said law.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating for use of pornography or other materials that some people would find distasteful. The threat of "Do what I say or else" just rubs me the wrong way.
thypipallo Jan 11th 2013 5:30PM
IMO, an airplane is not a democratic environment. There are rules you agree to follow when boarding a flight, and if you don't like them don't fly.
Obviously I'm not saying we should be allowed to go on power trips & be dictators - we only give you instructions if it's for the safety and comfort of ALL passengers.
Tom Jan 20th 2013 10:09AM
Daryl,
Due to increased incidents on aircraft, congress actually gave flight and ground crews more "power" so to speak. This is the reason there are now plastic handcuffs on aircraft and those "forms" on aircraft. Airline personnell are attacked more than ever, even if it was not provoked. Granted, a piece of paper is not going to make an angry passenger calm down but it may deter them from becoming physical.
Air transportation is regulated, and as such, the crew does have the final say. Airlines do have procedures they must follow but they don't have them for all issues that may arise...and that is crew discretion.
porn trruth Jan 12th 2013 2:00PM
Ever wonder why there is so much sexual misconduct in our society? Just like Big Tobacco, the pornography industry doesn't want the public to know the dangers and effects of their product. You have been told that watching porn is normal, harmless and that everybody does it. You have been lied to. Find out the TRUTH. Then make your choice. http://porntruth.wordpress.com
kaisatsu Jan 12th 2013 2:36PM
Last year I was on a flight with my boyfriend, and we had an episode of Game of Thrones that we wanted to watch on his laptop. I didn't think about the graphic content until we reached one of the nude scenes. I was a little embarrassed that passengers around us might think we were watching porn, but it never crossed my mind that it would be disallowed to the extent that we could have received a written warning if we hadn't put it away.
Is there a ratings limit on what's allowed to be watched privately? Is R-rated sex/nudity allowed? What about PG-13? How is this addressed on international flights, where local viewer discretion ratings are different? If you had a European magazine with you on the plane that showed nudity disallowed in the US, would you be required to keep it hidden? On the flip side, if you're flying to Saudi, must you keep your copy of Vogue closed so that there will be no lingerie or bare midriffs exposed?
On the other hand... Jan 14th 2013 8:38AM
On Delta flights, they include episodes of "The Borgias" on the inflight entertainment. These include very risque scenes, as well as nudity and plenty of violence. This is provided by the airline, so using that as a yardstick, Game of Thrones should be acceptable. That being said - I had the same sense of embarassment when watching episodes on the plane on my tablet. I felt the need to cover the screen with both hands so my neighbor couldn't see it.
Unexpected Traveller Jan 19th 2013 6:50AM
"Knock on wood" just might not be the right choice of phrase ...