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We learned last month from the AJC that the Atlanta City Council voted to ban indoor smoking that will impact all the (many) smoking rooms in the ATL airport.
Before we get to far into this post I have a few disclaimers. I am a former smoker. In my late teens, I smoked a pack to a pack and a half a day. I quit over 32 years ago and now HATE cigarette and cigar smoke. Even the smell gives me an instant headache. I simply have zero toleration for all things smoke. But I understand the addiction — quitting was one of the hardest things I have ever done.
If I still were a smoker, coming off a long flight from Europe or Asia, I would have been one of those making a beeline to one of these rooms to light up as quickly as I could. I am thankful that is not me and applaud anyone with the fortitude to quit this filthy and poisonous habit.
With the above in mind, I am personally thrilled over this coming change. While a smoker may not notice that he or she is mundungus after puffing away in one of these enclosed rooms, I despise sitting next to one of these reeking folks on the next flight. Even just walking past one of these rooms can result in a wave of offensive stink wafting into my nose. But I get these changes will have many negative impacts on not just smokers.
For the smoker, it means departing security and going outside the airport to smoke in the open air. Depending on the connection, this may not even be an option.
Also, this can drive smokers to vape where they should not. This past summer I was on a British Air flight to London and the passenger in 1D was vaping up in the air at his seat no less (we were descending and I did not want to get the flight attendants attention at that point). The point is I am sure many smokers, due to the nasty addiction, will break rules and vape in bathrooms other places they should not.
I have also seen folks use smokeless tobacco on Delta flights (no, it is not allowed per Delta rules). That habit is also revolting (spitting into your Dasani bottle) and tends to stink as well. This is even grosser in a Sky Club when trying to enjoy a meal.
You tell me. Are you a smoker who may just at last quit once this change hits? Are you a nonsmoker and, like me, happy about this coming change? You tell me! – René
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Rene, these people aren’t just going to let themselves be flicked into the ashbin of society.
Sadly, most smokers will simply smoke in an ATL bathroom stall instead of going outside and having to reclear security.
Please tell us how you really feel 🙂
@DDiamond – LOL. I did hold back – a little! 😉
I smoke. 2-3 cigaretts a day. But I was wondereing all my travelling life long how bad ventilated the smoking rooms in ATL are. They are stinking and brownish… . I will not miss them, I prefer to go landside have a walk, or have rooms like in AMS. But a outside terace, inside security would be my choice number one. No stinky clothes, no problems with the (over-) regulation.
BTW: I am astonished how bad words somtimes are used for bashing others. A little more tolerance from all sides would be helpful.
I agree with the attitude toward smoking however….we all get punished when banning smoking like this. It yields to the PC folks but the majority of these people will end up going outside to smoke and then guess what…yes that’s right they will come back through security adding more people to already ridiculous lines at ATL of all places. In addition, it can add stress to people that are already in stressful situations.
Ex smoker also. But even when I smoked I avoided the smoking rooms. Didn’t like smelling like an ashtray. Much less bringing that smell onto an airplane for others to deal with. Personally, I think smoke break areas should be open air or not at all. With vaping, nicotine mints/patches I’m really puzzled people still do it.
Smokers have been going outside and back through security for years at ORD. I did it quite a few times. But now I have joined the ranks of nonsmokers and I also avoid ORD. I obviously wont miss the smoking areas in ATL but have a couple family members that will.