Narrative:

The PA to discontinue using electronic devices was already given several times. I walked through the cabin to make sure nobody was using their electronic devices and that the ones out were off so that flight attendant #1 could shut the cockpit door. When I went back to my starting position for the safety demonstration, passenger seating in front of me in coach, was using his blackberry. I told him all electronic devices needed to be off. He said it was off, but continued to scroll and touch icons (I guess to open different menus). Air carrier has not kept the flight attendants up-to-date on all the new electronic devices. I asked him if it was off, then how is he still using it? He told me, once again, the power was off. I didn't fall for it. Meanwhile, the other flight attendants had started with the safety demonstration. When I realized passenger was not going to cooperate, I gave the flight attendants the 'cut' sign so they would stop the demonstration. After further discussion with passenger, he finally said, 'well, the wireless part is off' and he showed me. I told him the device needed to be turned completely off and that he needs to listen. His reply was, 'what?' then the passenger across the aisle told passenger that he needs to listen. Finally, the device was turned off. The demonstration was done. No further problems. To help correct this, we need to go back to turning off electronic devices 10 mins before departure instead of when the aircraft door closes. Also, when I am flight attendant #1, I find I have to walk through the cabin to make sure all electronic devices are off, leaving my 2 armed doors unattended. So, it would also be safer.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN MD80 FLT ATTENDANT MADE A SAFETY SUGGESTION THAT PERSONAL ELECTRONIC DEVICES (PEDS) BE TURNED OFF PRIOR TO BOARDING ACFT AFTER A CONFRONTATION WITH AN UNCOOPERATIVE PAX ON A FLT FROM IAH TO DFW.

Narrative: THE PA TO DISCONTINUE USING ELECTRONIC DEVICES WAS ALREADY GIVEN SEVERAL TIMES. I WALKED THROUGH THE CABIN TO MAKE SURE NOBODY WAS USING THEIR ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND THAT THE ONES OUT WERE OFF SO THAT FLT ATTENDANT #1 COULD SHUT THE COCKPIT DOOR. WHEN I WENT BACK TO MY STARTING POS FOR THE SAFETY DEMONSTRATION, PAX SEATING IN FRONT OF ME IN COACH, WAS USING HIS BLACKBERRY. I TOLD HIM ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES NEEDED TO BE OFF. HE SAID IT WAS OFF, BUT CONTINUED TO SCROLL AND TOUCH ICONS (I GUESS TO OPEN DIFFERENT MENUS). ACR HAS NOT KEPT THE FLT ATTENDANTS UP-TO-DATE ON ALL THE NEW ELECTRONIC DEVICES. I ASKED HIM IF IT WAS OFF, THEN HOW IS HE STILL USING IT? HE TOLD ME, ONCE AGAIN, THE PWR WAS OFF. I DIDN'T FALL FOR IT. MEANWHILE, THE OTHER FLT ATTENDANTS HAD STARTED WITH THE SAFETY DEMONSTRATION. WHEN I REALIZED PAX WAS NOT GOING TO COOPERATE, I GAVE THE FLT ATTENDANTS THE 'CUT' SIGN SO THEY WOULD STOP THE DEMONSTRATION. AFTER FURTHER DISCUSSION WITH PAX, HE FINALLY SAID, 'WELL, THE WIRELESS PART IS OFF' AND HE SHOWED ME. I TOLD HIM THE DEVICE NEEDED TO BE TURNED COMPLETELY OFF AND THAT HE NEEDS TO LISTEN. HIS REPLY WAS, 'WHAT?' THEN THE PAX ACROSS THE AISLE TOLD PAX THAT HE NEEDS TO LISTEN. FINALLY, THE DEVICE WAS TURNED OFF. THE DEMONSTRATION WAS DONE. NO FURTHER PROBS. TO HELP CORRECT THIS, WE NEED TO GO BACK TO TURNING OFF ELECTRONIC DEVICES 10 MINS BEFORE DEP INSTEAD OF WHEN THE ACFT DOOR CLOSES. ALSO, WHEN I AM FLT ATTENDANT #1, I FIND I HAVE TO WALK THROUGH THE CABIN TO MAKE SURE ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES ARE OFF, LEAVING MY 2 ARMED DOORS UNATTENDED. SO, IT WOULD ALSO BE SAFER.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.