Earlier, I covered how Delta issued a memo to flight attendants, related to service changes before flights take off. Specifically, flight attendants will have to collect all service items, including pre-departure drinks, before the aircraft pushes back, rather than just before takeoff.
Curious, because those tiny plastic water bottles that Endeavor/Republic/whatever sometimes leaves out for their 'First' Class customers on their 'luxurious' CRJs operating as 'Delta Connection' don't seem to need to be collected... huh. Maybe the PDB just need lids? Sippy-cups?
Does this apply to all airlines operating a flight in the US or just US carriers? I.e. Will we see Emirates et al continuing as normal but US airlines barking at pax to drink up and confiscating plastic cups?
Pretty sure it only applies to US-registered airlines. Foreign airlines are governed by their home country's version of FARs.
FAA 14 CFR Part 129, it applies primarily to foreign air carriers operating to, from, or within the United States—not only to U.S.-registered aircraft.
Did you know that FAA rules don't actually allow you to hold your Starbucks during takeff?
Passenger food and drink containers are “considered carry-on baggage and must be properly stowed.” You’re not actually supposed to hold an open cup because no airline “may allow an airplane to take off or land unless each article of baggage is stowed.”
My last few flights on Republic Airways, the flight attendant mentioned "food and beverages must be stowed" when saying "tray tables up and seat belts fastened" before takeoff. (not enforced though.)
We can still hold hard metal objects in our hands like phones and ipads though, right? Or, you know, humans in the form of lap infants?
Sigh.
Do you think this will more or less mark the end of pre-departure drinks in the US? It was already getting very hit or miss on domestic flights with it left up to the flight crew to decide. It isn’t uncommon that the flight attendants waits until the flight has finished boarding before drinks are offered. Now, if cups need to be collected before push back, I can imagine many flight crews opting to skip the whole thing entirely
Meanwhile more serious safety hazards, like luggage in exit rows or closed window blinds during take-off/landing, are fine in the US… Neither one is allowed for safety reasons in Europe.
What if I bring my own empty paper cup and transfer the drink to my personal cup? Now it’s my cup and the flight attendant cannot take it away
FAA actually considers your BYO container a carry on item.
Contrary to what Ben and Gary have said.
Your Starbucks hot beverage cup should be stowed in the overhead bins or under the seat in front of you. Genius!!!!!
I'm curious as to whether any GAs have insisted on folks "consolidating" a cup into their other bag(s). I know that e.g. fanny packs get brought up here (and occasionally there's the question of shopping bags from in-terminal shopping), but I don't think I've ever seen even a power-tripping GA try to hit something that.
I have to give it to the FAA (and really the DOT as a whole, with the dashcam rule)...
They're making an uncomfortably good case for another DOGE clean-out. Clearly Elon missed a spot.
Who the hell at the FAA has started dating an AA flight attendant??
This is beyond ridiculous…
People still don't get it. Even the FAA dinosaurs don't get it.
“does not take priority over safety considerations,” ?!?
The biggest safety hazard in today's commercial aviation is humans. Human pilots, human ATC. Human error is the leading cause of aviation accidents.
“litter from food service of any kind (including coffee and rolls) can be hazardous due to poor footing.”
I'm willing to bet odds that your poor footing will be more dangerous (in an already cramped space that you can't even properly fall) than other passengers evacuating with their carry ons.
Yet another "human is more hazard" factor.
And proof that these rules are written by dinosaurs.
Coffee and rolls? When's the last time you see that on a plane for pre departure or ever?
If they think people will trip on coffee and rolls, wait till they learn how "fake" service animals are in the aisle.
Or all those slippery glass material iPhones. People do like to record everything. Odds of one of them drops and someone steps on it.
While FAA is busy bullying other countries with IASA penalties and giving Boeing a free pass on the MAX. All they can think of is people tripping on rolls?
Instead of saving hypothetical lives in comical situations. Try doing something that really save lives like upgrading obsolete 60s tech or actually certify planes themselves.
Congrats FAA. You have your priorities straight. No need to worry about ATC, but get those plastic cup stowed.
What the FAA seem to be saying is that if FAs are fussing over beverages and cups while taxiing, they are not focused on safety which is their first priority. This is unfortunate for comfort but not unreasonable.
“in an emergency evacuation, litter from food service of any kind (including coffee and rolls) can be hazardous due to poor footing.”
Surely it’s not as hazardous as the ever-shrinking seat pitch? That, combined with the ever-expanding size of many Americans, could lead to slowed evacuation or even injuries in an emergency situation.
But there won’t ever be a regulation on that, because such a regulation would eat into revenue. No, we have to find something that reduces cost instead…
(Long time reader, first time commenter here. Love the blog, Ben - keep up the good work)
Delta will be less premium if the FAs have to collect or just stop PDBs! Oh, the horror!
.... and another absurd rule from that FAA Country 😮
Safety Hazard!?!? i wonder, what the REAL reason is for such a ideotic rule? (i would understand if the FAA is involved in any Epstein files to distract like it's being well done by other officials too)
.... Safety . . . while there is 6+ in. knifes and forks used at every passenger in Business / First and totally ignored as a safety hazard, but a soft plastic cup as used these days, is worth a change of rules from the FAA, this must ge a joke, right?
Passengers can expect the PDBs will be served in glass wear now….right?
LOL
I think that this is probably more important than at first glance. I like the idea that the FA's will be focusing on the cabin safety not cleaning up during ground movement.
For the current administration, it is important to remind everyone who is boss. Something like this is an easy win, reminds any airlines that might be getting uppity that the government can cause them all sorts of pain if they so wish.
The fact that the rule is dumb is a bonus when this is the intent
Just ignore it. The morons running this country don’t deserve our time or attention.