No smoking please
About a month ago my wife and I flew from Osaka, Japan to Frankfurt, Germany by Lufthansa airlines, and it was a disaster.
For the past 18 years I have been living in Japan which is a country fool of smokers. Pretty much you can smoke everywhere: in restaurants, bars, coffee shops, train stations, and even hospitals. A few years ago my sister-in-law went to a hospital for a stomach problem. They gave her food via intravenous. When I went to visit her, she was standing in the lobby with a needle up her vein and a bottle of fluid in her hand, while puffing on a cigarette.
Anyway, this is the society I am living in now, so I need my cigarettes. When I take a flight of around 12 hours, my body starts to shake and my mouth dries up. I am addicted to cigarettes! To contravene this problem, I drink a lot of coffee and eat a lot of snacks while I keep shaking. I tried to chew the nicotine gum once, but it did not work that well and I have many fillings so I stopped using it.
On this flight, after about 3 hours, I asked a stewardess for coffee. She made it for me, but after drinking it I did not feel relaxed like I usually do. (Later I found out she gave me decaffeinated coffee.) I started shaking even more and fell down on the floor by the catering space. I could not take it anymore and told her I need to smoke a cigarette and went to a bathroom to smoke. The flight attendants got so angry at me and threatened me with an arrest once we land in Frankfurt. They were even talking about diverting the plane to Siberia. I smoked one more cigarette three hours later, and they locked most of the bathrooms, so passengers had to wait online to use only a few available bathrooms. I even sweared to them that I will not smoke anymore. But they did not care, they did not reopen the bathrooms.
It was a flight from hell! When the plane finally landed in Frankfurt, the paranoid crew had German police meet me at the ramp. The captain started screaming about me being psychologically unstable and dangerous. Once I left the plane the situation came down a bit. I had to pay a 200 Euro fine and was told in order to board on my connecting flight to Austria I would have to get clearance from Lufthansa physician. I saw the doctor and told him that I only feel bad on long flights and the flight to Austria is only one hour so there will not be a problem. He cleared me for the flight, and I was able to board the plane with no problem. Before boarding the plane, a staff from Lufthansa ground authority told me I will need to see a Lufthansa doctor in Vienna who would have to clear me before I can board on my returning flight. Also, the doctor would need to give me nicotine patches. But he said, “If the doctor does not clear you, you will need to go see a psychiatrist and even it maybe required to have a doctor escort you on your flight back to Japan!”
In Vienna, I went to see the recommended doctor and had him clear me for continuing with my flights from Salzburg to Frankfurt, Frankfurt to London, London to Frankfurt, and Frankfurt back to Osaka Japan. He gave me nicotine patches and a nicotine pipe inhaler for extra nicotine if I would have a need for it while I had the patches on. He even made a joke that if he would not have cleared me, I would have to walk back to Japan.
We stayed in Vienna for 3 days sightseeing, and after three days took a train to Anton, Austria for skiing. We skied there for a week. Afterwards, we went to Salzburg by train to fly to Frankfurt. Every hotel we stayed in Austria was no smoking. We had to go on a balcony or outside in the freezing cold to smoke!
No Smoking
In Salzburg we went to the airport ready to board the plane, checked in, and went out to smoke our cigarettes. All of a sudden, I heard on a load speaker, ” Mr Igor Berger, please come to the check in counter!” When I came to the check in counter I was told that I will not be able to fly Austrian airline, code sharing with Lufthansa, because I have not been cleared by a doctor to fly. I protested right away, telling them that I went to a doctor in Vienna and he cleared me, and he suppose to fax the clearing paper to Lufthansa in Germany. I even showed them my 150 Euro receipt. She got on the phone and called Lufthansa, who advised her that they did not receive the fax from the doctor. I continued talking to her trying to explain that I have been cleared by Lufthansa doctor. I asked the clerk if she called Germany, and she said no, but she called Vienna. I asked her to call Germany and she complied. She got a hold of Lufthansa Germany who advised her that they did receive the fax from the doctor clearing me, but it was determined by their medical team that it was not enough and I need to have a psychological evaluation. She told me I cannot fly without a psychiatrist authorization. I protested and asked her to call police, because what the airline was doing was not fare. The Lufthansa ground staff in Germany told me if a regular doctor clears me, I will not need to go see a psychiatrist. They were changing requirements as they wished! A policeman and a supervisor came. We had a long discussion about the problem. The supervisor was getting all mad and hot, telling me to go see a psychiatrist in Salzburg and fill out an authorization to fly form. I said, “I was not told of this before and I have to be in London for my business meeting.” I asked to speak with Lufthansa Germany medical team. Speaking to them I implored them to let me fly. They said they will consult with the team members and will advise shortly. I went out for a smoke and waited for about an hour to get an answer from Austrian airline staff. My answer arrived, and I was told that I can fly, but that I was cleared to Frankfurt and then to London and back to Frankfurt only. I will need to call Lufthansa once I am in London to get clearance for the Frankfurt to Japan flight.
I was relieved that I could fly to London but was very worried that they will not let me fly from Frankfurt to Osaka. Even if I go see a psychiatrist, I will not get authorization. How can you diagnose a person if they are safe to fly from one visit? What, I would need to go through six months of therapy before the doctor is assured I am able to fly on a 12 hour flight? So even though they were confident I can take short flights, but for a long flight, even though I was given medication to help me with my desire to smoke, they did not want to take any chances. Paranoid people!
In London, we did some sightseeing, and I attended my business meeting. You also could not smoke in London hotel rooms! A few days latter we were ready to fly back to Japan. We took a taxi to Heathrow airport. During the ride to the airport I had butterflies in my stomach that I will not be able to fly from Frankfurt to Osaka and my wife would have to return by herself. I was running different scenarios in my head as to how I would get back to Japan from Frankfurt. We got to the airport and checked in to Osaka flight. I asked the check in clerk if I was cleared to fly all the way to Osaka. She said yes. I sort of doubted her answer, thinking I was only cleared to Frankfurt and once there I would be told I cannot board on the Frankfurt to Osaka flight! Not being able to do anything at that point, I was resolved just to fly to Frankfurt and deal with the later problem when I get there. Remember, I was told to call Lufthansa for clearance of Frankfurt to Osaka flight, but I never called. Our flight was being delayed because of the weather. When finally, a few hours later, we saw on the monitor instructions for boarding, we proceeded to the gate. Just before going through the boarding gate an airline clerk checked our boarding passes and told us that we need to recheck in for another flight because we will not be able to make the connecting flight from Frankfurt to Osaka. He said that if a close flight was not available with Lufthansa, we will be able to fly with another airline with no additional cost. We went back through immigration, for the second time, and went to Lufthansa ticket office. We were told there was no convenient connecting flight with Lufthansa today and that they will put us on JAL. We got our tickets and spent 4 hours at the terminal waiting to board the flight. I did not mind the wait! I was happy to get away from Lufthansa. We boarded the JAL direct flight from London to Osaka. Not to have the same experience of smoking again, I put like 3 nicotine patches on my body and kept sucking on the plastic cigarette inhaler all the away back home. It still bothered me, and I wanted to smoke a real cigarette. But I did not have the withdrawal shakes.
I feel as smokers our rights are not respected by the society. Even though there are people who do not like smoke around them, the society should not suppress and oppress smokers’ needs. We as smokers, even if a minority, have the same rights as non smokers, who are the majority. I have been smoking for 30 years and I cannot just throw away my cigarettes because the society has decreed them illegal. Is society which is moral and prudish, next going to decide that sex among non married couples is illegal as well? Any unmarried woman who has sex and gets caught will have to wear a Venetian Chastity Belt and a man will have his thing chopped off?
I have a right to smoke and I wish to exercise my right!
My Ashtray
March 25th, 2008 at 10:14 am
Although I´m a non-smoker, your story made me laugh. Great report, thanks !
March 25th, 2008 at 10:54 am
I really enjoyed your story. Thanks!
March 25th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
Thanks guys, I am glad you enjoyed my misery..:)
I had a fun time writing the story!
I really learned a viable lesson here, and I will plaster nicotine patches all over my Ass next time I fly long haul. I definitely do not want to spend my vacation in Siberia prison camp. I like my freedom!
March 25th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
One word: Quit!
OK, a few more….while I don’t dispute your right to smoke, you’re doing your body an incredible dis-service. Do you really enjoy smoking enough to risk emphysema or cancer? Take a look at some old folks reduced to toting around an oxygen tank or, worse yet, forced into a wheelchair. Is that where you want to be in your latter years? It’s so easy to take the high road (as you see it) and demand your right to smoke; it’s a lot harder to quit. Do your body a favor while doing your loved ones a favor and quit before it’s too late. Your food will taste better and you won’t be coughing up green gunk every morning. Also, your hangovers will be a lot less intense.
March 25th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
Ha, ha! People in Japan live till 90 years old and they are heavy smokers. I want to try to beat that. Will go for 100 years old and will try to die with cigarette in my mouth and a young beautiful chick on top of me! That will be Nirvana..:)
March 25th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
You may have a right to kill yourself with cancer causing smoke, but hear this:
You do not have the right to smoke around other people.
“society should not suppress and oppress smokers’ needs. We as smokers, even if a minority, have the same rights as non smokers, who are the majority”
Stop ranting about your “rights.”
Smokers do not have the same rights. Our right to breathe smoke-free air is more important than your right to smoke.
How incredibly selfish of you to think otherwise.
On the Japan/Germany flight, you made everyone uncomfortable because you have chosen a habit. How greedy of you. How dare you?
If you’re uncomfortable, you’ll have to accept it.
March 25th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
You’re an idiot. You knew you had problems on long flights, and did not figure anything out before you flew? You caused problems on the plane, and shouldn’t have been allowed back on the plane. I understand ocean freighters are nice this time of year. Or fly in your own private plane.
Do you think that no other people have the same problems?
March 25th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
All in all a funny story. Although it is not funny at all that you gave a lot of trouble to the flight attendents on the flight from Japan to Germany. You should be glad, that they didn’t lock you on your chair during the rest of the flight after you smoked your first cigarette in the bathroom.
It is not allowed to smoke on a non-smoking flight and everybody has to follow that rule. You too!
You knew about your problems before and when you can’t be without any cigarette on a 12 hour flight, then just don’t take it. Stay in Japan or Thailand, or just use a ship to get from Asia to Europe
March 26th, 2008 at 1:50 am
I am utterly astonished that anyone could be such a loser as to a) allow themselves to get so dependent on a product which is going to kill them [oh sorry, I forgot for a minute that you are going to live to a 100, which by the sound of it would be bad news for the young women of Japan] and makes them STINK, b) be so selfish as to inconvenience (geddit?) all the passengers on a long haul flight, and then c) write it all up and publish it in a blog! And I suppose I should add a d) because aren’t you actually trying to get people to do business with you? I have no idea how or why I received your email, but it seems like it is an ad for a travel firm. I would not do business with you if you were the last travel agent (or whatever you are) on earth!
March 26th, 2008 at 2:33 am
Well I am an Idiot..:) I did know that I have trouble with smoking when I am taking long haul flight, but I must have flown 30 times or more to USA and Europe since the no smoking legislation has been enacted.
I did have nicotine withdrawal on the plane but did not lose my cool but one time on Air France. The flight attendants on that flight let me go to the bathroom and smoke a few times.
I guess it depends on the people working on the flight, but Lufthansa crew played by the rule book! Of course I cannot blame anyone it is my fault. I wish they would put smoking rooms on planes. I would pay 100 usd for 5 minutes so I can smoke a cigarette. Good business for the airlines and the passengers are happy.
It would be nice if the airlines would think of us as people not as cattle they are transporting. Looks like the USA courts do not even care about passenger rights law. It is all about economics not service!
March 26th, 2008 at 3:50 am
I feel sorry for your need for a cigarette… but really, wake up and sort out your smoking habbits!!
its pretty sad to hear that someone had to stink out an airplane toilet coz you cant handle your addiction.
seriously, (and this is not a dig,,, this is truly friendly advice),,, just coz all the Japanese around you smoke, dont need to be sucked into it yourself.
please, do yourself a favour and make steps to quit or reduce.
you know you can do it.
all it takes is effort.
your body and internal organs will love you for doing so!
March 26th, 2008 at 3:50 am
Great report. Compared to the Americans, the Germans are actually very liberal. In the USA I think they shoot you first, and if you survive determine if you are innocent after about a year in jail, then comes your day in court!
March 26th, 2008 at 3:59 am
Hey EuroYank..:) You are right, if I were on an American carrier I probably would have been zapped by a Taser and put in Jail for 10 years for violating a federal law!
Besides the other zealous captain who thinks he owns the airplane, the flight crew were kind of nice! Also it was a bit funny, in Frankfurt, the police hanging out in front of the airport puffing on cigarettes because there is no smoking room at the airport! Looks like an American invasion, once again!
I do not get it how is it an international law? America made the law for no smoking on airplanes. We use to be able to smoke on planes since they started flying commercial flights.
March 26th, 2008 at 8:11 am
You’ve made my day
I’ve found this story funny and interesting
March 26th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
Igor, do you even think for a second how your smoking makes the people around you feel?
Do you care about the people around you?
Does smoking make people into inconsiderate idiots?
March 27th, 2008 at 7:52 am
Todd, are you judging me?
March 28th, 2008 at 5:14 am
If you smoke like a chimney without thinking of others, then yes. I am most certainly judging you.
April 8th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
Igor,
Is there any plane in the world where they allow smoking on board? On the other hand, I an now five days old here in Tokyo, I agree seeing quite a lot of Japanese people smoking on the streets but only on specified places
April 8th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Clements, welcome to Japan.
“Is there any plane in the world where they allow smoking on board?” Yes there is, that is, there will be one soon.
SMINTAIR has announced on their website that they will be flying the world’s first “all-smoking” airline, with nonstops from Dusseldorf to Tokyo!
So soon I will be able to Smoke when I fly to Europe from Japan.
Clements, the reason that you see Japanese people smoking on the streets but only on specified places is because of American brain washing and imposition on Japanese people by American Christian fundamentalist policies and righteous believes. American government, special interest groups, and neoconservatist politicians are intruding on other countries sovereignties and igniting and contributing to anti-Americanism - opposition or hostility to the people, culture or policies of the United States!
May 16th, 2008 at 11:35 am
Dear Igor,
yes, we have rights also! I agree with you, we must make something for that! We are citizen of this world also, they must find a way to respect us!
Best whishes!
Talita
June 2nd, 2008 at 10:26 am
Smoking is bad for your health.
Just thought that you might want to know.
June 2nd, 2008 at 10:31 am
I see you found a new place to Troll. lol Is that a friendly Troll or an angry Troll?
You should join my Friend Feed room and stop being Anti-Social.
http://friendfeed.com/rooms/igor-the-troll
June 11th, 2008 at 9:36 am
I have posted an apology to the post on Flyertalk as well as here!
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?p=9860032
I am sorry you feel this way.
I was not bragging and I feel very bad for what happened. While on the flight I was in a lot of pain, and I am sorry I made the other passengers feel bad.
I smoke and been smoking 2 packs a day for 25 years now. I never had such a problem when taking long haul flights. It was the first time and I will be ready next time by bringing nicotine patches.
What you said about my company is wrong. I am a partial owner in a Thai travel agency company started by Charlie. Charlie has been servicing travelers for 15 years now. Our workers are very hard working and honest people.
I have represented the company since 2004 and built the first Website for the company in 2000.
Many of the members of Flyertalk, Lonelyplanet, Bootsnall and other travel forums know our company.
I hope travelers judge our company by all its merits not by one bad thing that I did! For a heavy smoker not to smoke for many hours is very painful.
Our Company is Charlie Connection Travel and Tour
www.travelconnecxion.com
I hope the users of this forum and all travelers can accept my sincere apology.
Thank you,
Igor Berger
June 11th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
After I posted my apology, even though it was not published, the origal post was removed.
I am still a bit upset that the user even did this post. The user was not a newbie, and should have known better not to wright a inflaming post deriding my company.
But what was done was done, and the admins deleted the whole post.
Let the bygones be bygones, and the sleeping jackals shall sleep.