You're right about a drunk being potentially dangerous on a plane. But that's part of the staff's fault. They can deny a person boarding- and if they see that BEFORE getting on a plane the person is intoxicated- it would be wise not to let them on. And if they get drunk on the plane- its like going to a bar- it is at the discretion of the staff to cut them off! So again- that would be partially their fault if the drunkard gets out of control- they could have stopped 5 drinks ago!
As for those 2 girls (I don't know if you heard about it- they had to divert in Seattle- this would have been a couple of years ago) models no less, they had I think a beer and got drunk (that was their story- I'm not buying it) They did get arrested (There IS justice!) But I think they just decided to get extremely obnoxious and blame it on the beer- because for BOTH of them to have behaved badly- twins or not, me thinks it highly unlikely that it was the alcohol.
I don't work AT the airport- but when planes get diverted because of drunkeness- its a big story- it doesn't happen all that often.
As far as the air being changed in the planes- the plane has a way of recycling the air, so you're breathing the same air the 8 hours you're on the plane. When extra factors like cigarette smoke are added- what gets recycled is less clean than if you didn't have that element. It is not a air purification system- it does the job to get us by to our destination. So the less 'extra's you put into the air- the cleaner the recycled air will be.
What about a nic patch for flights? Like a person with motion sickness will take dramamine... wouldn't that help?
Siguiendo mi propio Camino de Santiago
Posts: 387 | Location: Madrid | Registered: 19 October 2002
One of the main difficulties with having a smoking section on an airplane is that even if the air in the non-smoking section was 100% smoke free there would almost never be the correct percentage of smokers/non-smokers on any given flight to properly fill such an arrangement.
Therefore, either the airlines lose gobs of money by having empty seats in either section or some poor shmuck gets caught in a section he can't tolerate as I did way back in 1978 with my mother and sister on a transatlantic flight from Mexico to England. Pure hell.
It's easier for the airlines and the non-smokers to have non-smoking flights even if it means making smokers' trips damn uncomfortable.
As for the Madrid Metro, I've noticed plenty of people smoking on the "andens" but never in the cars. At least I'm grateful for that. On the platforms and even in the airport with such a large space and the ability to move away from the smoker I don't find I mind so much.
Now if only clubs and bars could just install better ventilation systems I could join Juliette on her club outings.
p.s. it's interesting that we non-smokers harp on about the deleterious effects of smoking, yet the country with one of the highest (if not highest) rate of smoking in Europe has the longest average life-span!
Posts: 289 | Location: Madrid via DC via Mexico via ... | Registered: 01 August 2003
I do try to take night flights longhaul, cos I don�t smoke when I�m asleep!!!!! I have tried patches, dummy cigarettes, hypnosis, acupuncture, nicotine nasal spray. Everything except for Zyban (which I believe kills you :jeje: :jeje: !!)
________________________________________ Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional
Sue, some smokers have resorted to smokeless tobacco on airplane flights, but I wouldn't recommend it. Having gone to an agriculture-dominated university (www.nmsu.edu) here in cowboy country, I can attest that it is not a very pretty habit, especially inside, within confined spaces.
"An honest man is always a child" - Socrates ...no wonder I'm so immature!
Madsue - I think I have found my soulmate! (Smoking and wine!)Anyway, for what it's worth, here's my opinion re : Barajas. I get off the plane, light up and know I am in Spain. Heaven forbid it will soon turn into a nanny state like the US and UK.And yes, I know I can't argue with the anti smoking facts (though hang on, what goes into your system walking through any traffic filled Madrid street??) but a regulated, designated, sanitised world...? In Birmingham they are thinking of making all public places no smoking and while many of you may applaud this, it seems pretty hypocritical to me. Yes, they will take your taxes (nearly �5 a pack here now) but make you feel bad at the same time. Ho hum! Karenanne
kah
Posts: 61 | Location: Birmingham, UK | Registered: 21 May 2002
Paulandirene, is that the same as chewing tobacco? When I lived in Saudi we lived with mainly Texans (and a lot of Aggies ) who would carry round an empty soup can for their spit!! Not a nice sight!! If you mean snuff, after the episode with the nicotine nasal spray, I am loathe to ever ever stick anything up my nose again!!!!!
I do admit, I feel very guilty in UK if I do smoke, especially in my parents house, as the houses are so closed up you can never get rid of the smell. Here in Lanzarote my old farmhouse just has mozzie screens on the open holes we pretend are windows, and my doors are open day and night, and visitors say they do not notice the smoke.
Karenanne, I may just have to make that visit to Madrid when you are there to smoke and drink ourselves silly together! I�ll even bring the fags - at 7.20� for 200 I can treat you!!!!!
________________________________________ Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional
Way to go madsue I'm with you on all that. after a few hours or more of not being able to have one, by the time I get into Barajas I need a Weed, and what about all these meat eaters, they can practice their habit anywhere anytime, and right in your face too. I've never heard of anyone being Addicted to eating meat, or bacon Bocadillos and yet everywhere you go you get someone standing right in front of you eating chorizo or Jamon, or a hamburger, and vegetarians can't ask them to take it elsewhere, so that they don't have to be subjected to their habit. And I think to myself, what the hell have I got to worry about, all I want is a Plant, that's all, just a Tobaco leaf, and after sitting next to Typhoid Mary for 2 hours from London to Madrid, with all her throat clearing, coughing & Sneezing all over me, I think smokers like you & I are entitled to go & have a puff ASAP, and without complaint from others, who need to take a long good look at what things they do before condemning Smokers.
And we smokers don't BrainWash our children into believing that they need & must have a cigarette, yet they are force fed with meat and told to be happy, cos it's good for them.
There you go.
Paranoidian, What is it you actually smoke?? I may even take it up!
Iberian I haven�t bothered to read this post completely, but....... who is ladybird. What exactly has this post got to do with smoking at Barajas? I mean, I know we all go off subject in some of the threads but come on!!!! I�m sorry but am I the only one who is finding this a bit tiresome!!!!!
________________________________________ Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional
Hey madsue, Iberian was making a simple (yet long) statement about the worldwide attack on smokers in general, not necessarily the ones who smoke at Barajas.
Iberian, overkill if ya ask me but VERY well done in my opinion. I think you got your point across (and then some) and expressed yourself nicely.
I was at the airport this morning and Interestingly enough, while there are TONS if "smoking points" in the international terminal, there are only 2 in the domestic terminal.
When I was upstairs at domestic departures, I did not see any "smoking points". One sign at the info desk that said "Smoke only in the designated smoking areas" but when I asked where they were, I was told "in the cafeterias". So, no real "smoking areas" at all.
I guess they are not crazy enough to try and make the Spaniards not smoke in the domestic terminal.
Being against smoking has nothing to do about chastising smokers for their addiction or their life choices. At least for me anyway.
People can have all the habits they want and do as they please. I strongly advocate this way of life :jeje: People can go eat entire cows, wrap their mouths around the keg taps, or stick a Hoover up your nose and the other end in a big pile of Marijuana. I don't care whatever makes you happy. However, when ANOTHER'S habit affects OTHERS in a DETRIMENTAL way the time comes when it must be checked. When I say excuse me can you not smoke right next to me? or remind someone there's no smoking, I'm not banishing you from humanity or condemning your choices. It's the simple fact that smoke is harmful and I shouldn't have to be subjected to someone's harmful habit. If you're blasting your headphones, fine go do what you want. It may annoy me but it's not detrimental to me. You can blow your eardrums out for all I care.
I'm not giving pity here but I really do feel sorry for smokers because they can't do something they enjoy and it sucks. But that happens all the time so I guess we just have to live with it.
"He who hath not a dram of folly in his mixture, hath pounds of much worse matter in his composition".
Posts: 334 | Location: New York, USA | Registered: 06 June 2003
(There IS justice!) But I think they just decided to get extremely obnoxious and blame it on the beer- because for BOTH of them to have behaved badly- twins or not, me thinks it highly unlikely that it was the alcohol.
)... a nic BODY SUIT!!! :jeje: 
- rent or buy a cell phone from me for your stay in spain, more info at 
- already have a cell phone, get a spanish SIM card for it at 
I have tried patches, dummy cigarettes, hypnosis, acupuncture, nicotine nasal spray. Everything except for Zyban (which I believe kills you :jeje: :jeje: !!)
) who would carry round an empty soup can for their spit!! Not a nice sight!! If you mean snuff, after the episode with the nicotine nasal spray, I am loathe to ever ever stick anything up my nose again!!!!!
