[Scan-DC] Fw: United Airlines confiscated my scanner.

[michael.rumberg]

Agreed we need "the rest of the story" because there seems to be a lot of misunderstanding, misinformation and missing information.

UA does forbid use of certain (but certainly not all let alone most) radio transmitters and receivers during all phases of flight, but UA does not forbid carriage of them in the cabin or in checked baggage.  In fact, their policy expressly implies they can be carried in the cabin. See "travel information" then "in-flight services" then "Electronic device policies".

The contract of carriage does not mention use of personal electronic devices that are not assistive medical devices. Rule 23 B 2 b does give broad discretion to refuse to carry something in the cabin.

Why the airline deemed the devices unsafe to fly and would not allow the radios at all (even with the batteries removed, or gate checked, oor the crew holds them until arrival, put them in checked baggage) but let the passengers continue on sounds odd.  Was the option of "turn it off and put it away" even offered?

Hmmmmm.....


Sent from my Galaxy S6®

<div>-------- Original message --------</div><div>From: Bruce Harper <brucebharper at gmail.com> </div><div>Date:03/28/2016  10:13 AM  (GMT-05:00) </div><div>To: Scan DC <scan-dc at mailman.qth.net> </div><div>Subject: Re: [Scan-DC] Fw: United Airlines confiscated my scanner. </div><div>
</div>On Mon, Mar 28, 2016 at 7:04 AM, Andrew wrote:

I know that airlines forbid _using_ scanners or ham equipment on board
> (they have for decades), but I have never heard of them forbidding you from
> having them in carry-on luggage. I cannot find anywhere on the United Web
> site where they state this. The only restrictions for carry-ons seems to be
> hazardous/flammable materials. Something seems very wrong with this
> incident.
>

This seems to be the key part:

"On the flight the stewardess asked me about the ham radio & I told her
what it was, and showed her my Federal FCC Amateur Radio license. She had a
hard time finding it but showed me the United list of what may or may not
be carried in carry on. Scanners & two-way radios are on the list. So she
took them [I was very nice but steamed] and then had three customer service
people escort me and my wife from the aircraft at Denver [not TSA.... just
United folks]."

It sounds like he must have had the radio out of the bag (and perhaps using
it to listen to ATC) for a flight attendant to notice it. This would then
fit into the "forbid using scanners" rule, which should get attention
(granted, the myth of electronics disrupting avionic equipment has been
laid to rest). Depending on the reaction to "please turn it off and put it
away" the confiscation and escort may have been required.

What we need is "the rest of the story."

Bruce in Blacksburg
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