US government bans toilet queues

Just when you thought they'd got as silly as they could get............


http://www.theage.com.au/articles/20...268035697.html


US wants Qantas passengers to be toilet-trained.

Qantas passengers have been ordered not to queue outside toilets while
making the 14-hour flight to and from the United States.

The directive was issued late yesterday by the US Transport and Security
Administration, which is demanding that pilots make a pre-flight
announcement banning passengers from "congregating in groups around toilets
or anywhere else in the aircraft".

Flight attendants will be expected to police the toilets, including checking
every two hours for "suspicious packages".

Qantas last night confirmed the directive, which has also been issued to
flights travelling to and from Europe.

The chief executive of the Board of Airline Representatives of Australia,
Warren Bennett, said the decision bordered on American paranoia. He said it
would place "enormous stress" on flight crew.

"Passengers are caught between a rock and a hard place. On one hand they are
advised to move around an aircraft during flights for health reasons but now
they are being told not to congregate. It doesn't make sense," he said.

Despite the massive upgrade in airborne security, the flights between
Australia and the US will continue without sky marshals for the time being.



Qantas spokeswoman Jodie Taylor said discussions were continuing with the US
but no request for marshals on US-bound flights had yet been made.
Meanwhile, Qantas confirmed yesterday that it was providing information on
passengers to the US Department of Homeland Security.

Ms Taylor said it was supplying passenger lists "and other information" but
declined to reveal details. Passenger lists include names, departure points,
destination and most likely nationalities.

She said Qantas was supplying the information because it was its policy "to
comply with the regulation requirements of foreign governments where we
operate".

Australia's Privacy Commissioner, Malcolm Crompton, said last night: "It is
important to find the right balance in respecting privacy while ensuring
security."

He said Qantas's action conformed to the federal Privacy Act but collecting
private information for security purposes needed to be secure, with access
restricted and an accountability process in place.

Most US airlines that I've flown recently have implemented the same
procedure.


"Arthur Jackson" wrote in message
...
Just when you thought they'd got as silly as they could get............


http://www.theage.com.au/articles/20...268035697.html


US wants Qantas passengers to be toilet-trained.

Qantas passengers have been ordered not to queue outside toilets while
making the 14-hour flight to and from the United States.

The directive was issued late yesterday by the US Transport and Security
Administration, which is demanding that pilots make a pre-flight
announcement banning passengers from "congregating in groups around
toilets
or anywhere else in the aircraft".

Flight attendants will be expected to police the toilets, including
checking
every two hours for "suspicious packages".

Qantas last night confirmed the directive, which has also been issued to
flights travelling to and from Europe.

The chief executive of the Board of Airline Representatives of Australia,
Warren Bennett, said the decision bordered on American paranoia. He said
it
would place "enormous stress" on flight crew.

"Passengers are caught between a rock and a hard place. On one hand they
are
advised to move around an aircraft during flights for health reasons but
now
they are being told not to congregate. It doesn't make sense," he said.

Despite the massive upgrade in airborne security, the flights between
Australia and the US will continue without sky marshals for the time
being.



Qantas spokeswoman Jodie Taylor said discussions were continuing with the
US
but no request for marshals on US-bound flights had yet been made.
Meanwhile, Qantas confirmed yesterday that it was providing information on
passengers to the US Department of Homeland Security.

Ms Taylor said it was supplying passenger lists "and other information"
but
declined to reveal details. Passenger lists include names, departure
points,
destination and most likely nationalities.

She said Qantas was supplying the information because it was its policy
"to
comply with the regulation requirements of foreign governments where we
operate".

Australia's Privacy Commissioner, Malcolm Crompton, said last night: "It
is
important to find the right balance in respecting privacy while ensuring
security."

He said Qantas's action conformed to the federal Privacy Act but
collecting
private information for security purposes needed to be secure, with access
restricted and an accountability process in place.

"PTRAVEL" wrote in message
...
Most US airlines that I've flown recently have implemented the same
procedure.

I have not encountered that. What's the purpose?



"Arthur Jackson" wrote in message
...
Just when you thought they'd got as silly as they could get............


http://www.theage.com.au/articles/20...268035697.html


US wants Qantas passengers to be toilet-trained.

Qantas passengers have been ordered not to queue outside toilets while
making the 14-hour flight to and from the United States.

The directive was issued late yesterday by the US Transport and Security
Administration, which is demanding that pilots make a pre-flight
announcement banning passengers from "congregating in groups around
toilets
or anywhere else in the aircraft".

Flight attendants will be expected to police the toilets, including
checking
every two hours for "suspicious packages".

Qantas last night confirmed the directive, which has also been issued to
flights travelling to and from Europe.

The chief executive of the Board of Airline Representatives of
Australia,
Warren Bennett, said the decision bordered on American paranoia. He said
it
would place "enormous stress" on flight crew.

"Passengers are caught between a rock and a hard place. On one hand they
are
advised to move around an aircraft during flights for health reasons but
now
they are being told not to congregate. It doesn't make sense," he said.

Despite the massive upgrade in airborne security, the flights between
Australia and the US will continue without sky marshals for the time
being.



Qantas spokeswoman Jodie Taylor said discussions were continuing with
the
US
but no request for marshals on US-bound flights had yet been made.
Meanwhile, Qantas confirmed yesterday that it was providing information
on
passengers to the US Department of Homeland Security.

Ms Taylor said it was supplying passenger lists "and other information"
but
declined to reveal details. Passenger lists include names, departure
points,
destination and most likely nationalities.

She said Qantas was supplying the information because it was its policy
"to
comply with the regulation requirements of foreign governments where we
operate".

Australia's Privacy Commissioner, Malcolm Crompton, said last night: "It
is
important to find the right balance in respecting privacy while ensuring
security."

He said Qantas's action conformed to the federal Privacy Act but
collecting
private information for security purposes needed to be secure, with
access
restricted and an accountability process in place.

Peter L wrote:

"PTRAVEL" wrote in message
...

Most US airlines that I've flown recently have implemented the same
procedure.


I have not encountered that. What's the purpose?

I have only encountered it regarding the ones that are close to the
cockpit. This congregation around any lav rule is ridiculous.

"Passengers are caught between a rock and a hard place. On one
hand they are advised to move around an aircraft during flights for
health reasons but now they are being told not to congregate. It
doesn't make sense," he said.

If a passenger on Quantas gets a clot, I hope he/she sues the crap
out of Quantas. They will be 100% liable, as they told passengers
to stay in their seats. That might be the only way to get Quantas
to pay attention to common sense.


Casey

On Wed, 07 Jan 2004 00:39:43 GMT, "Casey" wrote:

"Passengers are caught between a rock and a hard place. On one
hand they are advised to move around an aircraft during flights for
health reasons but now they are being told not to congregate. It
doesn't make sense," he said.

If a passenger on Quantas gets a clot, I hope he/she sues the crap
out of Quantas. They will be 100% liable, as they told passengers
to stay in their seats. That might be the only way to get Quantas
to pay attention to common sense.

I agree, passengers on Quantas who develop clots SHOULD sue Quantas.
Passengers on Qantas however should sue the US government, since it
was the US government which issued the directive. Quantas are
hopeless, but Qantas are actually quite good about these things.

Dave

=====

NSW Rural Fire Service - become a volunteer today.

http://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/

Dave Proctor wrote:
On Wed, 07 Jan 2004 00:39:43 GMT, "Casey" wrote:


"Passengers are caught between a rock and a hard place. On one
hand they are advised to move around an aircraft during flights for
health reasons but now they are being told not to congregate. It
doesn't make sense," he said.

If a passenger on Quantas gets a clot, I hope he/she sues the crap
out of Quantas. They will be 100% liable, as they told passengers
to stay in their seats. That might be the only way to get Quantas
to pay attention to common sense.


I agree, passengers on Quantas who develop clots SHOULD sue Quantas.
Passengers on Qantas however should sue the US government, since it
was the US government which issued the directive. Quantas are
hopeless, but Qantas are actually quite good about these things.


The US directive was to not congregate near the lavs. It said nothing
about moving about the cabin.

"Peter L" wrote in message
...

"PTRAVEL" wrote in message
...
Most US airlines that I've flown recently have implemented the same
procedure.

I have not encountered that. What's the purpose?

I assume to prevent terrorists from massing in the aisles. It's happened on
board United and Continental flights that I've taken recently.




"Arthur Jackson" wrote in message
...
Just when you thought they'd got as silly as they could
get............


http://www.theage.com.au/articles/20...268035697.html


US wants Qantas passengers to be toilet-trained.

Qantas passengers have been ordered not to queue outside toilets while
making the 14-hour flight to and from the United States.

The directive was issued late yesterday by the US Transport and
Security
Administration, which is demanding that pilots make a pre-flight
announcement banning passengers from "congregating in groups around
toilets
or anywhere else in the aircraft".

Flight attendants will be expected to police the toilets, including
checking
every two hours for "suspicious packages".

Qantas last night confirmed the directive, which has also been issued
to
flights travelling to and from Europe.

The chief executive of the Board of Airline Representatives of
Australia,
Warren Bennett, said the decision bordered on American paranoia. He
said
it
would place "enormous stress" on flight crew.

"Passengers are caught between a rock and a hard place. On one hand
they
are
advised to move around an aircraft during flights for health reasons
but
now
they are being told not to congregate. It doesn't make sense," he
said.

Despite the massive upgrade in airborne security, the flights between
Australia and the US will continue without sky marshals for the time
being.



Qantas spokeswoman Jodie Taylor said discussions were continuing with
the
US
but no request for marshals on US-bound flights had yet been made.
Meanwhile, Qantas confirmed yesterday that it was providing
information
on
passengers to the US Department of Homeland Security.

Ms Taylor said it was supplying passenger lists "and other
information"
but
declined to reveal details. Passenger lists include names, departure
points,
destination and most likely nationalities.

She said Qantas was supplying the information because it was its
policy
"to
comply with the regulation requirements of foreign governments where
we
operate".

Australia's Privacy Commissioner, Malcolm Crompton, said last night:
"It
is
important to find the right balance in respecting privacy while
ensuring
security."

He said Qantas's action conformed to the federal Privacy Act but
collecting
private information for security purposes needed to be secure, with
access
restricted and an accountability process in place.

mrraveltay wrote in news:ZdJKb.7479
:



Dave Proctor wrote:
On Wed, 07 Jan 2004 00:39:43 GMT, "Casey" wrote:


"Passengers are caught between a rock and a hard place. On one
hand they are advised to move around an aircraft during flights for
health reasons but now they are being told not to congregate. It
doesn't make sense," he said.

If a passenger on Quantas gets a clot, I hope he/she sues the crap
out of Quantas. They will be 100% liable, as they told passengers
to stay in their seats. That might be the only way to get Quantas
to pay attention to common sense.


I agree, passengers on Quantas who develop clots SHOULD sue Quantas.
Passengers on Qantas however should sue the US government, since it
was the US government which issued the directive. Quantas are
hopeless, but Qantas are actually quite good about these things.


The US directive was to not congregate near the lavs. It said nothing
about moving about the cabin.



Furthermore the US government must generally give permission to be sued.
In a case of "national security" don't hold your breath, witness the
years of waiting for reparations for the Japanese American detainees
from WWII.

Arthur Jackson wrote:

Just when you thought they'd got as silly as they could get.......

Does this apply to all flights to/from/within the US, or just Quantas?

Does it apply to all lav's on a plane, or just the one(s) near the
cockpit?