Holy Smoke!

[munitalP]

Well not quite... A question, why don't airlines make smoking pods in aircraft? A negative pressure pod like a toilet or crew room which gives a safe smoking area for those who wish to partake?

 

[Fantic125]

Both Ansett and Qantas used to have smoking and non-smoking sections on their flights in the 70's & 80's.

You could nominate which section you wanted to sit in. The difference between the smoking and non-smoking sections was an invisible line in the cabin, through which (cough) no smoke (cough, cough) was allowed to (cough) pass.

Can't remember exactly when they banned smoking, but it has made flying (for me) more enjoyable.

On long haul flights I can understand the need for a smoking pod for those inclined to tobacco. My personal preference though would be for a treadmill or a couple of spin bikes down the back end of the plane.

YMMV.

 

[awilcockson]

It's bad enough having to put up with BO, snoring and farting (and that's in J!)

A smoking room might get rid of the smoke, but it wouldn't get rid of the smell of the smoke from the breath or clothes of the person.

 

[straitman]

Well not quite... A question, why don't airlines make smoking pods in aircraft? A negative pressure pod like a toilet or crew room which gives a safe smoking area for those who wish to partake?

The question in reverse. Why should/would airlines make smoking pods in aircraft?

 

[Sprucegoose]

The question in reverse. Why should/would airlines make smoking pods in aircraft?

Agree, it would-be a retrograde step!!

 

[JohnK]

The question in reverse. Why should/would airlines make smoking pods in aircraft?

So smokers don't have to suffer for too long.

It may also discourage some people from smoking in the toilets as that is a fire hazard.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Well not quite... A question, why don't airlines make smoking pods in aircraft? A negative pressure pod like a toilet or crew room which gives a safe smoking area for those who wish to partake?

Do you mean only tobacco or could it be like an Austin Powers movie where anything goes ;p
I'm thinking Warnie and Liz would luv it !

 

[tuapekastar]

Both Ansett and Qantas used to have smoking and non-smoking sections on their flights in the 70's & 80's.

You could nominate which section you wanted to sit in. The difference between the smoking and non-smoking sections was an invisible line in the cabin, through which (cough) no smoke (cough, cough) was allowed to (cough) pass.

Can't remember exactly when they banned smoking, but it has made flying (for me) more enjoyable.

On long haul flights I can understand the need for a smoking pod for those inclined to tobacco. My personal preference though would be for a treadmill or a couple of spin bikes down the back end of the plane.

YMMV.

And it was not uncommon on longhaul flights for smokers to choose a non-smoking seat ("too much smoke in the smoking section!") and simply wander back (IIRC the smoking sections were usually at the back of each cabin) and have a smoke in the aisle or exit row area of the smoking section - basically anywhere they could stand without being in the way.

 

[Happy Trails]

You know that you're on a really old aircraft when it still has ashtrays in the armrests.

 

[samh004]

I think the cost for development of such a pod would be pretty expensive, for what it’s worth, I mean, how are they going to get a return on it?

Wouldn’t it be simpler to sell nicotine patches onboard

 

[munitalP]

So smokers don't have to suffer for too long.

It may also discourage some people from smoking in the toilets as that is a fire hazard.

yes nice point JK, which is the point to my devils advocate question. Im not a smoker so couldnt care less regarding the need for a smoke, but, there is a safety side that could be argued.

 

[simongr]

How is smoking in a pod less of a safety hazard than smoking in a toilet?

 

[serfty]

How is smoking in a pod less of a safety hazard than smoking in a toilet?

Extra fire extinguishers!

FWIW, Oz Law dictates that smoking is not permitted in aircraft travelling on flight segments to/from/within Oz.

I believe there are some airlines that actually do have smoking 'pods'.

I heard an anecdote from my sister from many years ago that she flew Emirates in Business class to the UK - she was sharing the cabin with one John Elliot who "smoked like a chimney" for most of the flight. He used EK as it was not permitted on QF*.



*(ISTR that back then the legislation was not as strong - I'm thinking smoking was not permitted on Oz registered aircraft.)

 

[sr81]

Have you ever seen those glass smoking pods in HKG, DXB, etc..... They are always packed and you can stare in at people gasping away in a fog of second hand smoke.

It is a pretty foul enviroment and not one you would really want replicated on an aircraft. Plus there is the OH&S concern. How cleans up inside the pod on a long haul flight? It would be a pretty gutsy employer that sent an employee into a situation like that. Especially under Australian Worksafe law.

 

[simongr]

I actually hate walking past those pods at HKG - the stench is repugnant. Almost as bad as walking down Sydney streets past all of the smoking office works...

 

[medhead]

How is smoking in a pod less of a safety hazard than smoking in a toilet?

At a guess there probably wouldn't be a confined space full of paper in a smoking pod. Also the people using it wouldn't be trying to hide their butts by throwing them in the bin full of paper

 

[awilcockson]

Interesting anecdote. I'm reading a book called 100 missions north, about an f-105 thud pilot during the vietnam war. On the ferry flight from the US to Thailand where the thuds were based, he talks about lighting up a smoke between aerial refuelings to break the boredom!

 

[JohnK]

*(ISTR that back then the legislation was not as strong - I'm thinking smoking was not permitted on Oz registered aircraft.)

For what it is worth I travelled to Greece in 1990 (with QF and then TWA) and 1994 (with OA) and smoking was allowed on these flights.

Of course me being young(er) and smart(er) pre-allocated a seat in the non-smoking section and would go down the back regularly to have a cigarette.

 

[whereishome]

Smoking pods would take away the visceral pleasure in hammering in that first coffin nail after x hours on a flight.