Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Alright, time to be honest: how many of you give the pre-flight safety video your full attention? I certainly don’t every single time I fly, although I like to think that I do more than most.

But apparently that can mean the difference between getting to fly and being left at the airport, at least with Air New Zealand.

Be safe…or get off my plane!

A few years ago, a man and a woman were traveling on Air New Zealand from Wellington to Auckland when the plane returned to the gate to deposit them both once again in New Zealand’s second-largest city. Their offense was refusing to watch the safety video and view the safety card. The crew instructed them to do so multiple times, but the pair made it clear they weren’t interested.

The two were seated in an exit row, which does give you a bit more responsibility than the average passenger, so I can understand why the crew would take this far more seriously. In my experience sitting in an exit row, at least on U.S. carriers, you must provide a verbal “yes” that you are willing and able to help in an emergency, and you are always referred to the safety card to review the procedures. My son never fails to look it over thoroughly (except he can’t sit in the exit row at 8 years old).

a boy and girl reading a book on an airplane

In this case, the two passengers made it clear they were not interested in viewing the video, occupying themselves instead with their cell phones. The woman went as far as to put her fingers in her ears to make it crystal clear she wasn’t listening to the crew. The plane eventually returned to the gate to deposit the pair.

Receiving an infringement notice from the Civil Aviation Authority, the woman stood her ground, asserting that maybe Air New Zealand should stop making “Rachel Hunter ice cream ad” safety videos.

Even if Air New Zealand has a history of making awful safety videos, you still need to listen to them and to the crew. I’m not sure if the airline’s reaction would have been justified had the pair been seated in non-exit row seats. But given the responsibility the two had taken on for a few extra inches of legroom, I understand why the airline reacted the way it did.


Points With a Crew has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Points With a Crew and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Some or all of the card offers that appear on the website are from advertisers and that compensation may impact on how and where card products appear on the site. Any opinions expressed in this post are my own, and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by my advertising partners and I do not include all card companies, or all available card offers. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers and other offers and benefits listed on this page. Other links on this page may also pay me a commission - as always, thanks for your support if you use them

User Generated Content Disclosure: Points With a Crew encourages constructive discussions, comments, and questions. Responses are not provided by or commissioned by any bank advertisers. These responses have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the responsibility of the bank advertiser to respond to comments.

BoardingArea