Family Booted from Flight for Complaining About Movie

Didn't want children exposed to violence, but drop down monitors couldn't be shut off

A United Airlines flight from Baltimore to Denver was diverted and a family removed after parents complained about a violent PG-13 movie shown on the carrier's in-flight entertainment, The Atlantic reports.

The parents of the family – so far unidentified – say they could not shield their children from the "Alex Cross" movie because the in-flight entertainment on the United Airbus A320 was being shown to the entire aircraft on drop-down TV screens.

The parents say they asked attendants if anything could be done to shut off the screens in their area of the cabin, but were told that was not possible.

Comments

[Hugh Akston]

I'm pretty sure being stuck in a confined space with no way to turn off a Tyler Perry movie violates the 4th Amendment in some way.

[Sevo]

Hugh,
Dunno here.
Most airlines censor the flicks, so who knows what the kids might see.
With the drop-down screens, it's not like you could tape off one and be done with it.
And then, there's the gag-factor of parents trying to keep their kids from seeing, what? What they normally see on the evening news?
Dunno. Need a program.

[GroundTruth]

Hugh.... I think you meant the 8th (cruel and unusual punishment).

Aside from that, I find the mindless drivel on airline monitors to be pretty annoying, particularly when I get told to close the window shade so that everyone can see the pablum. (The few times that I still fly, I still try to get a window seat for a bit of sight-seeing. Always amazed at how many people have zero interest in geography, weather, beauty or anything else besides "popular culture".)

[EDG reppin' LBC]

I love to sit by the window, too. I will stare at the ground the entire flight, and compare geography. Pump some epic electronica through the earbuds, and watch the grey-brown desert of the West slowly transform into the green of the Midwest. It's cool.

[Sevo]

EDG reppin' LBC| 4.6.13 @ 11:25AM |#
"I love to sit by the window, too. I will stare at the ground the entire flight, and compare geography."

Some international flights, there'll be an animated icon over a map so you have an idea of where in the world you are. I'm a sucker for those.
And if the goddam captain understands who the boss is, they'll leave channel 9 open so the passengers can hear the ground control ('Company 87, .85 mach is too damn fast!')

[GroundTruth]

Glad to know I'm not alone! I used to bring the large National Geographic satellite images on cross country flights with me, but the electronic maps are cool too!

[Sevo]

LA direct to Frankfort; that great-circle route means you're looking at more of Canada than the US. The map told me that and when to expect England off the starboard side (after I woke up).

[Copernicus]

Hey Reason,
Can't you take an extra 5 minutes to find out some facts about the case, like why did the family really get kicked off?
Are we to believe complaining about the movie actually diverted the flight?

I especially like this summary:
"The parents say they asked attendants if anything could be done to shut off the screens in their area of the cabin, but were told that was not possible."

As it is written, this article is completely worthless.

[Sevo]

Boy, are YOU embarrassed!
Read the fucking LINK!

[Thane of Whiterun]

As it is written, this article is completely worthless.

...because it isn't an article; it's a blurb.

[John Galt]

To be fair the airline did offer to gouge out the children's eyes before the impossible to please bawl-baby parents created a scene forcing the flight to be diverted.

(and no I didn't read the linked to article)

[neoteny]

The family is charged with failure to carry a pet to be shot by police authority.

[Jayburd]

I wonder if the "Chicago police officer" was a big black cop wearing a bullet proof vest?

[Old Man With Candy]

Why do I smell the ripe odor of a lawyer?

[Joao]

This might be a strange thought, but the airline accommodated them with a new flight free of the movie that they felt so objectionable to their values. I'm sure it didn't cost any more.

Likely, it is policy to have an officer escort those who are unexpectedly "rerouted".

Of course, they may have given the family the option. The family, however, may have already made their feelings known quite clearly that they wanted a flight free of that movie.

The real losers are the rest of the passengers who had to waste time, on this issue.

Could it be that the Airline was being too PC?

[Bernieyeball]

Let the little shits...er..kids sit in the restrooms while the movie is showing.

[Brian from Texas]

At least the movie wasn't Biodome with Pauley Shore.