Passengers, Please Turn Off All Cell Phones And Other Battery-Operated Items Or My Electronic Gizmo Will Catch You

A couple of weeks ago, I was traveling from Dallas to Tampa on a nonstop flight.

Being a "million miler" on several airlines, I pay for tickets but go for the upgrades to first class.

I fly at least a couple of times a month and in the future I plan to write more of these stories about what I see along the way, especially the good, the bad and the ugly.

On this trip, we had been delayed due to noise in one of the landing gears. The pilot did what I would want him to, which is to get a new wheel. (This has actually never happened to me before). It took about two hours to replace the wheel right at the gate. I still have no idea how they did it.

On with the story. When they finally closed the door, the flight attendant in first class came on the intercom with the standard announcement. She told everyone that the plane couldn't leave until everyone was seated and also for everyone to turn off their cell phones and other battery-operated equipment.

About 30 seconds later, The flight attendant came back on the intercom and said, "Alright, folks. My electronic gizmo here tells me that not everyone has turned off their cell phones."

I looked at my wife in surprise. Flight attendants now have "electronic gizmos" to detect cell phones in use? Of course not! But, at least five business travelers in first class jumped out of their seats to turn off computers and cell phones. I have no idea how many jumped up in coach.

Now folks, I do have a real sense of humor and obviously so did this flight attendant. I still giggle when I recall those business travelers who jumped up trying to turn off their electronic gizmos. The joke was on them.

By the way, the airline sent us an email about a week later apologizing for the delay and they gave us 3,000 bonus miles. That was nice. This is the second time since April that this airline has given us 3,000 bonus miles for a delayed flight.

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