MOSCOW (AP) -- Russian airline giant
Aeroflot said Wednesday that its envoys
have urged the U.S. government to lift a
smoking ban on regular airline flights
between the United States and other
countries.

Aeroflot maintains that the ban, which
went into effect June 4, breaks international law, and it has appealed to the International Air Transport Association to step into the dispute.

Aeroflot representatives met with U.S. State
Department officials in Washington last week to discuss lifting the ban, Aeroflot said in a statement. Details of the talks have not been released.

The head of Aeroflot's legal department, Boris Yeliseyev, said that if the ban remains in place, Russia may retaliate by demanding that international airliners that carry Russian passengers have Russian-speaking flight attendants on board, in accordance with Russian law.

Russia is one of the most smoker-friendly nations in the world, with few limits
on smoking in public places.

(from www.cnn.com)

I am so amazed at how stupid people are who smoke. Smoking is one of the most offensive habits people have that (affect other people). People who smoke are almost militant about their right to poison everyone elses air...just so they can get off on their nicotine habit. I'm amazed at how ignorant smokers are, regarding the addiction, and the grip that this habit has on their lives.

Back to the intercontinental flights...It has been proven that smoking in an enclosed compartment like an aircraft, causes over a period of time a deadly toxic chemical to build up in the filtration systems. This toxic chemical causes dangerous fumes, which can lead to numerous illnesses.

Don't get me started...I get so tired of smokers flicking their cigarette butts out the window of their car...litering those filthy butts all over our roads. I can't tell you how many times I've had a cigarette butt bounce off the windshield of my car from some selfish smoker who doesn't even think twice about dumping their (non-biodegradeable) trash out the window of their car. People just don't think. People just don't care. If smokers knew half of the facts I know about how deadly smoking is, they might think twice about lighting up....or maybe not...once again, smokers could care less.

I know I've probably offended all of those smokers out there that read this board, but I am very outspoken about how filthy the habit of smoking is. My advice to those smokers....QUIT.

Over the years I've found that being tolerant of people's mores and accepting their customs and ways of life, regardless of how different they are from ours, makes for a lot less agro in life.

I 'm not elevating myself, and maybe your right "stupid" is not the appropriate word to use, and I'm sorry, but just think of how "stupid" the act of smoking is. Our bodies are configured to consume air, water, milk and various liquids, and food...this is normal....breathing in smoke just doesn't make sense. Purposely contaminating our bodies with such coarse and vial substances just to get high, just to get a boost...is indeed stupid.

I should rephrase that...hey, I like all people, even people who smoke. My mother smokes. (I'm not crazy about that little fact) I am just frustrated that so many people are caught up in addiction.

"Your pleasure is to smoke cigarettes. Smoke is the residue of your pleasure, which I inhale. My pleasure is to drink alcohol. Urine is the residue of my pleasure. How would you like it if I pee'd on your head?"

Sign above urinal "PLEASE DO NOT THROW CIGARET STUBS INTO THE URINALS"

Written below "It makes them difficult to light"

I really agree, smoking is not only
offensive, but it is downright inconsiderate
to anyone else who has to breath secondhand
smoke. STUPID, maybe not WEAK minded, Yes !

It amazes me how some people hate the truth.

OBTW, Don't take this personal, but I see
you seem to take this discussion personally,
and I laugh when I read your user name,
GOHAZE. Is that because you always GO in
a HAZE because you smoke ? All joking
aside, smoking is something that should
be done in private and not in mixed
company. It is only the courteous thing
to do.

Regards,

Kbozman, I'm glad you said it and not me regarding smokers having a lack of self control, because that's the truth behind why I have formed such an opinion of smokers.

In the old days it was cool to smoke. The movies made it cool. Today we are seeing all those people who started because it was cool...dying becuase of their initial desire to fit in and be cool. The way I see it...the millions maybe billions of smokers are people who go with the flow of humanity, and if humanity all started jumping off a cliff so would they...these smokers don't have the individuality to realize that smoking is killing them and harmful to their bodies, and even other people around them. It truly takes self control for a smoker to realize that the act of smoking is not natural, and that they should quit. But instead of embracing their individuality and self control by quiting, they become militant about their RIGHT to smoke. Sure do what you want to your own body, but leave me out of it...I don't want to be effected by your decision to smoke.

If I stand out in a crowd as a non-smoker...I'm fine with that. It's easy to be just like everyone else, but it takes someone of strong character and self control to do what is right, and stay away from such ugly habits as smoking.

I told you don't get me started.

Barryboat...if the Paradise is so wonderful why haven't other companies rushed to get a similar one built..or CCL brought out lots more. QED.

Lighten up a little....... We all know
it comes down to a choice, and your
decision to quit was a good one !

Regarding the " politically correct "
comment, I would say when the " so called "
rights of SOME infringe on the rights of
the MAJORITY than everyone affected needs to
address the issue.

Anyway, on a lighter note, congrats on
quiting ! and what was the price of tea in
China ?

Best Regards,

Funny you mentioned tea, we were in Ceylon back in March on the Marco Polo - note, back to cruising - and priced the tea. At home here we use a pure Ceylon which is packaged there, and we can get it cheaper here in the Safeway.
....peter

By the way...I am a people person, and I accept people for who they are. I have friends who smoke, my mother smokes. I do however have very strong values, and especially with my pregnant wife, I am very sensative about where I take her...if there are people smoking around her I try to move her away from them, or leave the area. I am also polite about it, because I certainly don't want to offend people. In this forum formate, however, I feel I can express my views and some facts regarding smoking.

I've flown with Aeroflot five times and the feeling of elation, when those wheels touch down on the runway, is better than sex! (Sorry wife!)

A friend of mine is very knowledgeable about aviation matters. Before I flew, I asked him if Aeroflot planes were safe. He replied that he would not risk walking underneath one, let alone boarding it!

I have mild asthma which is due in part to the fact that, while I have never touched the weed, my father was a heavy smoker and I breathed in his second hand smoke while still at home. My Dad eventually died of the habit at the age of only 54. The really sad part was that he tried for years to quit but was so addicted he could not. Like many other smokers of his age group smoking was seen as perfectly acceptable and even healthy when he started.

For myself I cannot go into a restaurant or bar which is smokey which means that my choice and my social life, is limited. I know that if I breathe in smoke I will simply be ill.

Part of the reason I love cruising is that although smoking is allowed, most ships have good filtration systems which mean I can actually enjoy the entertainment.

I recall one land based holiday abroad where I could use none of the facilites on offer because of the thick haze of other peoples smoke which prevailed. I tackled the manager of the hotel (which was advertised as having a brand new air purification system) as to why the smog was so bad. He stated that the system was not on as it was too expensive to run!

On return home I challenged the company I had booked with under the Disability Discrimination Act and received a refund for the portion of the cost of the holiday which covered entertainment. This challege was made not for gain (I passed the money to an Asthma charity) but to make the point.

Britain had strong disability discrimination laws as I believe does America. These ensure that "reasonable adjustments" must be made to accomodate in this case people with breathing problems. People should use these laws not to attack smokers but to procure air filtration. Hit a company in their pocket and they will listen (There are no upper financial limits on DDA cases).

There - I have now vented my spleen.