Seat belt restrictions during flights
I was recently diagnosed with a medical condition that requires movement every 45 minutes. I travel a lot and find that frequently seat belt signs are on for well over 45 minutes. Had a flight from Nashville to ORD earlier this year that due to weather the sign never came off. Opinions from experienced flight crew as to the probability seat restrictions will occur for more than 45 minutes?
air-travel
asked Jun 6 '16 at 12:48
Chuck CChuck C
312
add a comment |
I was recently diagnosed with a medical condition that requires movement every 45 minutes. I travel a lot and find that frequently seat belt signs are on for well over 45 minutes. Had a flight from Nashville to ORD earlier this year that due to weather the sign never came off. Opinions from experienced flight crew as to the probability seat restrictions will occur for more than 45 minutes?
air-travel
asked Jun 6 '16 at 12:48
Chuck CChuck C
312
1
Have a doctor paper with you explaining your condition.
– Max
Jun 6 '16 at 13:18
1
@Max: I think that might backfire. I'd expect the airline to say something like: "Your doctor says you can't safely fly if you have to stay seated for more than 45 minutes. Our policies say that, in case of turbulence, safety may require you to stay seated for more than 45 minutes. Therefore, there is no way for you to fly safely. Get off the plane."
– Nate Eldredge
Jun 6 '16 at 13:44
1
@Berwyn's comment appears to assume that having the seat belt off is enough. OP, to me, "requires movement" means that you need to get up and walk, or at least stand up. Is that the case? Ask a physical therapist if there are any modified exercises/movements that you can do seated. Asking for a seat belt extender might widen what you can do and still remain belted in.
– mkennedy
Jun 6 '16 at 18:22
add a comment |
I was recently diagnosed with a medical condition that requires movement every 45 minutes. I travel a lot and find that frequently seat belt signs are on for well over 45 minutes. Had a flight from Nashville to ORD earlier this year that due to weather the sign never came off. Opinions from experienced flight crew as to the probability seat restrictions will occur for more than 45 minutes?
air-travel
asked Jun 6 '16 at 12:48
Chuck CChuck C
312
I was recently diagnosed with a medical condition that requires movement every 45 minutes. I travel a lot and find that frequently seat belt signs are on for well over 45 minutes. Had a flight from Nashville to ORD earlier this year that due to weather the sign never came off. Opinions from experienced flight crew as to the probability seat restrictions will occur for more than 45 minutes?
air-travel
air-travel
asked Jun 6 '16 at 12:48
Chuck CChuck C
312
asked Jun 6 '16 at 12:48
Chuck CChuck C
312
asked Jun 6 '16 at 12:48
Chuck CChuck C
312
asked Jun 6 '16 at 12:48
Chuck CChuck C
312
asked Jun 6 '16 at 12:48
Chuck CChuck C
312
312
1
Have a doctor paper with you explaining your condition.
– Max
Jun 6 '16 at 13:18
1
@Max: I think that might backfire. I'd expect the airline to say something like: "Your doctor says you can't safely fly if you have to stay seated for more than 45 minutes. Our policies say that, in case of turbulence, safety may require you to stay seated for more than 45 minutes. Therefore, there is no way for you to fly safely. Get off the plane."
– Nate Eldredge
Jun 6 '16 at 13:44
1
@Berwyn's comment appears to assume that having the seat belt off is enough. OP, to me, "requires movement" means that you need to get up and walk, or at least stand up. Is that the case? Ask a physical therapist if there are any modified exercises/movements that you can do seated. Asking for a seat belt extender might widen what you can do and still remain belted in.
– mkennedy
Jun 6 '16 at 18:22
add a comment |
1
Have a doctor paper with you explaining your condition.
– Max
Jun 6 '16 at 13:18
1
@Max: I think that might backfire. I'd expect the airline to say something like: "Your doctor says you can't safely fly if you have to stay seated for more than 45 minutes. Our policies say that, in case of turbulence, safety may require you to stay seated for more than 45 minutes. Therefore, there is no way for you to fly safely. Get off the plane."
– Nate Eldredge
Jun 6 '16 at 13:44
1
@Berwyn's comment appears to assume that having the seat belt off is enough. OP, to me, "requires movement" means that you need to get up and walk, or at least stand up. Is that the case? Ask a physical therapist if there are any modified exercises/movements that you can do seated. Asking for a seat belt extender might widen what you can do and still remain belted in.
– mkennedy
Jun 6 '16 at 18:22
1
1
Have a doctor paper with you explaining your condition.
– Max
Jun 6 '16 at 13:18
Have a doctor paper with you explaining your condition.
– Max
Jun 6 '16 at 13:18
1
1
@Max: I think that might backfire. I'd expect the airline to say something like: "Your doctor says you can't safely fly if you have to stay seated for more than 45 minutes. Our policies say that, in case of turbulence, safety may require you to stay seated for more than 45 minutes. Therefore, there is no way for you to fly safely. Get off the plane."
– Nate Eldredge
Jun 6 '16 at 13:44
@Max: I think that might backfire. I'd expect the airline to say something like: "Your doctor says you can't safely fly if you have to stay seated for more than 45 minutes. Our policies say that, in case of turbulence, safety may require you to stay seated for more than 45 minutes. Therefore, there is no way for you to fly safely. Get off the plane."
– Nate Eldredge
Jun 6 '16 at 13:44
1
1
@Berwyn's comment appears to assume that having the seat belt off is enough. OP, to me, "requires movement" means that you need to get up and walk, or at least stand up. Is that the case? Ask a physical therapist if there are any modified exercises/movements that you can do seated. Asking for a seat belt extender might widen what you can do and still remain belted in.
– mkennedy
Jun 6 '16 at 18:22
@Berwyn's comment appears to assume that having the seat belt off is enough. OP, to me, "requires movement" means that you need to get up and walk, or at least stand up. Is that the case? Ask a physical therapist if there are any modified exercises/movements that you can do seated. Asking for a seat belt extender might widen what you can do and still remain belted in.
– mkennedy
Jun 6 '16 at 18:22
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
If you're on any American airline, seatbelts seem to be on almost continuously and the result is that they are completely disregarded. On other airlines the seatbelt sign is turned on during takeoff, turbulence and landing and turned off otherwise, and is respected while it is on.
Typically on a US airline such as American, the aircraft takes off and the flight attendants are released from their seats at level flight. At this point, or earlier if anyone chooses to, and the aircraft is not showing signs of turbulence, passengers will remove seat belts, get up, retrieve items from their luggage, and use the bathrooms. The flight attendants will show no concern about this as it is completely normal.
The seatbelt sign will typically stay on. Sometimes this lasts for the whole flight even if it is 5 hours from New York to San Francisco, but sometimes it is turned off following an announcement from the pilot that the weather is particularly stable. During the flight, even if the seatbelt sign is on, if there is a particular turbulence, no matter how weak, an announcement will be made that you should return to your seat.
Only if the flight attendants have been ordered to remain seated themselves, will there be any objection shown to passengers getting out of their seats.
I'm not flight crew, but fly 100k+ miles per year and I'm sure you won't have any problem in the US. I've been sat next to people who don't even bother to put their seatbelt on at all, and flight crew haven't bothered them.
I would not take off my seatbelt on BA while the seatbelt sign is on, but on any American airline I do not hesitate and have never been challenged. I suspect corporate policies that are intended to prevent the airline being sued, are responsible for this. Personally, I think it's going to backfire at some point. All my own opinion.
answered Jun 6 '16 at 12:56
BerwynBerwyn
26.3k658133
I've asked the OP to clarify what "requires movement" means. If he has to stand up and/or walk, I don't think your answer is that useful.
– mkennedy
Jun 6 '16 at 18:23
If the OP wishes to stand up and walk while the seatbelt sign is on, on a typical US airline, he or she will have no problem. Unless there is noticable turbulence and the pilot asserts that the seatbelt sign is in "active mode", i.e. people really must sit down. It really sounds absurd, but that's what it's normally like in the US.
– Berwyn
Jun 6 '16 at 20:25
Would you mind explicitly saying that in the answer? Then I'll upvote.
– mkennedy
Jun 6 '16 at 20:56
@mkennedy have updated my answer
– Berwyn
Jun 6 '16 at 21:09
add a comment |
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If you're on any American airline, seatbelts seem to be on almost continuously and the result is that they are completely disregarded. On other airlines the seatbelt sign is turned on during takeoff, turbulence and landing and turned off otherwise, and is respected while it is on.
Typically on a US airline such as American, the aircraft takes off and the flight attendants are released from their seats at level flight. At this point, or earlier if anyone chooses to, and the aircraft is not showing signs of turbulence, passengers will remove seat belts, get up, retrieve items from their luggage, and use the bathrooms. The flight attendants will show no concern about this as it is completely normal.
The seatbelt sign will typically stay on. Sometimes this lasts for the whole flight even if it is 5 hours from New York to San Francisco, but sometimes it is turned off following an announcement from the pilot that the weather is particularly stable. During the flight, even if the seatbelt sign is on, if there is a particular turbulence, no matter how weak, an announcement will be made that you should return to your seat.
Only if the flight attendants have been ordered to remain seated themselves, will there be any objection shown to passengers getting out of their seats.
I'm not flight crew, but fly 100k+ miles per year and I'm sure you won't have any problem in the US. I've been sat next to people who don't even bother to put their seatbelt on at all, and flight crew haven't bothered them.
I would not take off my seatbelt on BA while the seatbelt sign is on, but on any American airline I do not hesitate and have never been challenged. I suspect corporate policies that are intended to prevent the airline being sued, are responsible for this. Personally, I think it's going to backfire at some point. All my own opinion.
answered Jun 6 '16 at 12:56
BerwynBerwyn
26.3k658133
I've asked the OP to clarify what "requires movement" means. If he has to stand up and/or walk, I don't think your answer is that useful.
– mkennedy
Jun 6 '16 at 18:23
If the OP wishes to stand up and walk while the seatbelt sign is on, on a typical US airline, he or she will have no problem. Unless there is noticable turbulence and the pilot asserts that the seatbelt sign is in "active mode", i.e. people really must sit down. It really sounds absurd, but that's what it's normally like in the US.
– Berwyn
Jun 6 '16 at 20:25
Would you mind explicitly saying that in the answer? Then I'll upvote.
– mkennedy
Jun 6 '16 at 20:56
@mkennedy have updated my answer
– Berwyn
Jun 6 '16 at 21:09
add a comment |
If you're on any American airline, seatbelts seem to be on almost continuously and the result is that they are completely disregarded. On other airlines the seatbelt sign is turned on during takeoff, turbulence and landing and turned off otherwise, and is respected while it is on.
Typically on a US airline such as American, the aircraft takes off and the flight attendants are released from their seats at level flight. At this point, or earlier if anyone chooses to, and the aircraft is not showing signs of turbulence, passengers will remove seat belts, get up, retrieve items from their luggage, and use the bathrooms. The flight attendants will show no concern about this as it is completely normal.
The seatbelt sign will typically stay on. Sometimes this lasts for the whole flight even if it is 5 hours from New York to San Francisco, but sometimes it is turned off following an announcement from the pilot that the weather is particularly stable. During the flight, even if the seatbelt sign is on, if there is a particular turbulence, no matter how weak, an announcement will be made that you should return to your seat.
Only if the flight attendants have been ordered to remain seated themselves, will there be any objection shown to passengers getting out of their seats.
I'm not flight crew, but fly 100k+ miles per year and I'm sure you won't have any problem in the US. I've been sat next to people who don't even bother to put their seatbelt on at all, and flight crew haven't bothered them.
I would not take off my seatbelt on BA while the seatbelt sign is on, but on any American airline I do not hesitate and have never been challenged. I suspect corporate policies that are intended to prevent the airline being sued, are responsible for this. Personally, I think it's going to backfire at some point. All my own opinion.
answered Jun 6 '16 at 12:56
BerwynBerwyn
26.3k658133
I've asked the OP to clarify what "requires movement" means. If he has to stand up and/or walk, I don't think your answer is that useful.
– mkennedy
Jun 6 '16 at 18:23
If the OP wishes to stand up and walk while the seatbelt sign is on, on a typical US airline, he or she will have no problem. Unless there is noticable turbulence and the pilot asserts that the seatbelt sign is in "active mode", i.e. people really must sit down. It really sounds absurd, but that's what it's normally like in the US.
– Berwyn
Jun 6 '16 at 20:25
Would you mind explicitly saying that in the answer? Then I'll upvote.
– mkennedy
Jun 6 '16 at 20:56
@mkennedy have updated my answer
– Berwyn
Jun 6 '16 at 21:09
add a comment |
If you're on any American airline, seatbelts seem to be on almost continuously and the result is that they are completely disregarded. On other airlines the seatbelt sign is turned on during takeoff, turbulence and landing and turned off otherwise, and is respected while it is on.
Typically on a US airline such as American, the aircraft takes off and the flight attendants are released from their seats at level flight. At this point, or earlier if anyone chooses to, and the aircraft is not showing signs of turbulence, passengers will remove seat belts, get up, retrieve items from their luggage, and use the bathrooms. The flight attendants will show no concern about this as it is completely normal.
The seatbelt sign will typically stay on. Sometimes this lasts for the whole flight even if it is 5 hours from New York to San Francisco, but sometimes it is turned off following an announcement from the pilot that the weather is particularly stable. During the flight, even if the seatbelt sign is on, if there is a particular turbulence, no matter how weak, an announcement will be made that you should return to your seat.
Only if the flight attendants have been ordered to remain seated themselves, will there be any objection shown to passengers getting out of their seats.
I'm not flight crew, but fly 100k+ miles per year and I'm sure you won't have any problem in the US. I've been sat next to people who don't even bother to put their seatbelt on at all, and flight crew haven't bothered them.
I would not take off my seatbelt on BA while the seatbelt sign is on, but on any American airline I do not hesitate and have never been challenged. I suspect corporate policies that are intended to prevent the airline being sued, are responsible for this. Personally, I think it's going to backfire at some point. All my own opinion.
answered Jun 6 '16 at 12:56
BerwynBerwyn
26.3k658133
If you're on any American airline, seatbelts seem to be on almost continuously and the result is that they are completely disregarded. On other airlines the seatbelt sign is turned on during takeoff, turbulence and landing and turned off otherwise, and is respected while it is on.
Typically on a US airline such as American, the aircraft takes off and the flight attendants are released from their seats at level flight. At this point, or earlier if anyone chooses to, and the aircraft is not showing signs of turbulence, passengers will remove seat belts, get up, retrieve items from their luggage, and use the bathrooms. The flight attendants will show no concern about this as it is completely normal.
The seatbelt sign will typically stay on. Sometimes this lasts for the whole flight even if it is 5 hours from New York to San Francisco, but sometimes it is turned off following an announcement from the pilot that the weather is particularly stable. During the flight, even if the seatbelt sign is on, if there is a particular turbulence, no matter how weak, an announcement will be made that you should return to your seat.
Only if the flight attendants have been ordered to remain seated themselves, will there be any objection shown to passengers getting out of their seats.
I'm not flight crew, but fly 100k+ miles per year and I'm sure you won't have any problem in the US. I've been sat next to people who don't even bother to put their seatbelt on at all, and flight crew haven't bothered them.
I would not take off my seatbelt on BA while the seatbelt sign is on, but on any American airline I do not hesitate and have never been challenged. I suspect corporate policies that are intended to prevent the airline being sued, are responsible for this. Personally, I think it's going to backfire at some point. All my own opinion.
answered Jun 6 '16 at 12:56
BerwynBerwyn
26.3k658133
edited Jun 6 '16 at 21:18
answered Jun 6 '16 at 12:56
BerwynBerwyn
26.3k658133
answered Jun 6 '16 at 12:56
BerwynBerwyn
26.3k658133
answered Jun 6 '16 at 12:56
BerwynBerwyn
26.3k658133
26.3k658133
I've asked the OP to clarify what "requires movement" means. If he has to stand up and/or walk, I don't think your answer is that useful.
– mkennedy
Jun 6 '16 at 18:23
If the OP wishes to stand up and walk while the seatbelt sign is on, on a typical US airline, he or she will have no problem. Unless there is noticable turbulence and the pilot asserts that the seatbelt sign is in "active mode", i.e. people really must sit down. It really sounds absurd, but that's what it's normally like in the US.
– Berwyn
Jun 6 '16 at 20:25
Would you mind explicitly saying that in the answer? Then I'll upvote.
– mkennedy
Jun 6 '16 at 20:56
@mkennedy have updated my answer
– Berwyn
Jun 6 '16 at 21:09
add a comment |
I've asked the OP to clarify what "requires movement" means. If he has to stand up and/or walk, I don't think your answer is that useful.
– mkennedy
Jun 6 '16 at 18:23
If the OP wishes to stand up and walk while the seatbelt sign is on, on a typical US airline, he or she will have no problem. Unless there is noticable turbulence and the pilot asserts that the seatbelt sign is in "active mode", i.e. people really must sit down. It really sounds absurd, but that's what it's normally like in the US.
– Berwyn
Jun 6 '16 at 20:25
Would you mind explicitly saying that in the answer? Then I'll upvote.
– mkennedy
Jun 6 '16 at 20:56
@mkennedy have updated my answer
– Berwyn
Jun 6 '16 at 21:09
I've asked the OP to clarify what "requires movement" means. If he has to stand up and/or walk, I don't think your answer is that useful.
– mkennedy
Jun 6 '16 at 18:23
I've asked the OP to clarify what "requires movement" means. If he has to stand up and/or walk, I don't think your answer is that useful.
– mkennedy
Jun 6 '16 at 18:23
If the OP wishes to stand up and walk while the seatbelt sign is on, on a typical US airline, he or she will have no problem. Unless there is noticable turbulence and the pilot asserts that the seatbelt sign is in "active mode", i.e. people really must sit down. It really sounds absurd, but that's what it's normally like in the US.
– Berwyn
Jun 6 '16 at 20:25
If the OP wishes to stand up and walk while the seatbelt sign is on, on a typical US airline, he or she will have no problem. Unless there is noticable turbulence and the pilot asserts that the seatbelt sign is in "active mode", i.e. people really must sit down. It really sounds absurd, but that's what it's normally like in the US.
– Berwyn
Jun 6 '16 at 20:25
Would you mind explicitly saying that in the answer? Then I'll upvote.
– mkennedy
Jun 6 '16 at 20:56
Would you mind explicitly saying that in the answer? Then I'll upvote.
– mkennedy
Jun 6 '16 at 20:56
@mkennedy have updated my answer
– Berwyn
Jun 6 '16 at 21:09
@mkennedy have updated my answer
– Berwyn
Jun 6 '16 at 21:09
add a comment |
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Have a doctor paper with you explaining your condition.
– Max
Jun 6 '16 at 13:18
1
@Max: I think that might backfire. I'd expect the airline to say something like: "Your doctor says you can't safely fly if you have to stay seated for more than 45 minutes. Our policies say that, in case of turbulence, safety may require you to stay seated for more than 45 minutes. Therefore, there is no way for you to fly safely. Get off the plane."
– Nate Eldredge
Jun 6 '16 at 13:44
1
@Berwyn's comment appears to assume that having the seat belt off is enough. OP, to me, "requires movement" means that you need to get up and walk, or at least stand up. Is that the case? Ask a physical therapist if there are any modified exercises/movements that you can do seated. Asking for a seat belt extender might widen what you can do and still remain belted in.
– mkennedy
Jun 6 '16 at 18:22