Wanna smoke in the toilets? Come to Italy! It's cheap!

[akerosid]

Back in June, I travelled on one of VS's new 744s (ex AZ - but many internal signs in Italian). I went into one of the downstairs toilets (on the right, nearest the stairway) AND - believe it or not - there was what looked to me very much like an ashtray.

DON'T FLAME ME - someone from VS take a look and tell me I'm wrong.

(ps - 440+ pax on the flight and service was still so far ahead of anyone else it was unreal!)

[Ranger One]

akerosid, you're not wrong - I've flown in many aircraft with many carriers (inc. VS)which still have 'legacy' ashtrays in the lavs. I'm surprised this hasn't come up in defence submissions in lav-smoking prosecutions: 'but your honour, there was a servicable ashtray there, with a picture of a burning fag on it, so I thought I could smoke, I didn't notice the 'no smoking' sign...'. Seems as long as the things aren't plated over there's at least a chance of getting off on a technicality.

R1 (not a VS person BTW - I've only been SLF with them.)

[BenThere]

Maybe marketing departments could come up with a way to lure now precious customers back by providing smoker-friendly facilities on board. Make one of the aft lavs a smoking loge with jet pumps whisking away the smoke. We might even generate extra revenue by implementing a smoking access surcharge. We've made smokers endure long-haul deprivation long enough with no credible safety justification, and no effort to provide for their comfort. The anti-smoking juggernaut is an infringement on freedom.

[Semaphore Sam]

Hi, BenThere
I'm remembering being in the aft end of SP's on 12 hour smoking flights; 1 pack shut down to save fuel...the 'air' was blue; people gagging hour after hour. No wonder things swung too much the other way. A little 'give' back then might have induced 'give' now, but, then, that's not human nature. When you have the hammer, Blast Away!...When the worm turns, beg for compromise. And, when it doesn't happen, wonder why. Should've happened before, should happen now. But, it won't.

[sanjosebaz]

Many moons ago, when BA operated "some smoking and some not" flights across the Atlantic, I travelled on a supposed non-smoking flight - but the 747 had plainly just come back from service as a smoking flight. It stank, generating many complaints. Maybe this is part of the reason they discontinued this "alternate" approach?

Actually, what's worse IMHO, is the lack of smoking facilities in many US airports, forcing pax to go back outside. In these extra secure times, this policy needs revisiting.

[ 22 October 2001: Message edited by: sanjosebaz ]

[tarjet fixated]

Neapolitan joke:

A man jumps on a public bus, pulls out a pack of cigarettes and lights one up.
The bus driver turns back to the guy and says: "Excuse me sir, but this is a public bus and smoking is not allowed"
So the guy replies surprised: "Oh i'm sorry sir...but i just had my espresso."
The driver then says:"Oh in this case forgive me sir".

As far as CBavoidance's comment on italian Capt.s' let me disagree publicly.

[eagerbeaver]

I smoke but think its a great idea thats many flights are non-smoking, i remeber the smoking carriages on trains and the were awful. I am not surprised however that only a couple of accidents and a handful of incidents can be attributed to careless smoking, its seems when it comes to drugs and people aboard commercial aircraft its alcohol which causes the greatest problems not a smoker itching for a puff.
I smoke in moderation, i can manage 10 - 12 hours to LA without one.

tarjet - i bet that jokes funnier in italian?