Recently, I boarded a well known low-cost airline to fly a 1 hour journey back to Stansted Airport in Essex. Once everybody was buckled up and ready to go, the Captain announced that there was now a half hour delay until take off, then explained that as a result we would end up circling around the airport for another half hour as Stansted closed at midnight for 30mins, so instead of circling, we would wait another half hour. So basically we were about to sit in the plane for 1 hour. So i decided to send a quick text message to my friend who was due to pick me up, and let her know not to leave yet, otherwise we would have a massive car park bill..
But the FA came along and told me to switch the phone off, so i explained that i intended to switch it off but due to the delay, needed to inform my friend quickly before she left home, otherwise the parking bill will be ridiculous, but she snapped 'you can text once we have landed at Stansted'. Im not one to argue and be difficult and i appreciate that she must get obnoxious people on their phones all the time, but i had to then answer that it would be far too late and pointless by then as she would already be at the airport, but she then replied 'tough, its the rule, all mobiles switched off, we are about to take off' and i said 'ok but we are about to sit here for another hour arnt we?' and she replied 'no we are about to take off so switch it off now or i will have to take action' so i apologised and switched it off.
The engines didnt start and we didnt take off until an hour later, as the Captain had told us, and on leaving the carpark the bill was £18...just what i predicted would happen due to not being able to let my friend know.
So i just wondered (as the FA obviously wasnt prepared to tell me) what harm would i have done in just sending that quick text message?
A passenger nearby shouted at the FA 'miserable jobsworth', which is not the attitude i have, i knew there must be a good reason.
Again, im not being thick or difficult - i know FA's are there for our safety and i wouldnt ever try and cause problems for them, I just havnt got a clue what problems my 1 text would have caused in that hour and if someone could tell me then it will put my mind at rest...
Thanks
-curious pax
