Tuesday, June 25, 2013 What's the opposite of a lock out?  A lock in.  On a daily basis any number of emergency exits and hallways may be locked at Los Angeles International Airport, according to tips from several celebrity photographers who work at LAX. The airport's attempt to thwart photographers from taking pictures of celebrities is creating a dangerous situation for the flying public.  According to U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Fire Marshalls and police laws, the airport is in blatant violation of safety codes by permitting airline employees to lock emergency exit doors on public property.   Furthermore, this is not the first instance LAX breaching fire safety codes. Back in 2010, an airport employee whistleblower exposed blocked emergency doors at the airport. According to photos obtained by CBSNews, some exits were blocked by ladders, and in one case an emergency exit was padlocked. The station reported that the photos were obtained from an airport employee with firefighting experience. LAX spokeswoman Nancy Castles thanked the news station for bringing the photos to her attention, and said, "I'll concede some of the photographs to me are bothersome."   Videos:  Locked LAX airport doors AA falsely stating LAX Fire Marshall's position wheelchair passengers denied access by locked exit doors                           "I have found American Airlines to be bullies that could care less about safety," said photographer Erik C.  "I just feel that regardless of paparazzi, etc., these doors should remain unlocked at all times for public safety, and they should not bend the law."    The National Fire Protection Association's (NFPA) Life Safety Code 101 says that in general every person within the building must be able to exit all doors in their path to the outside without "the use of a key, a tool, or special knowledge or effort for operation from the egress side" (NFPA 101, 7.2.1.5.2).     FlyersRights feels a formal complaint must be filed with DOT. Supply and Demands at Boeing Boeing freezes out suppliers that don't lower costs Last month Boeing CEO Jim McNerney told suppliers to lower their prices or they might be blacklisted from any Boeing projects in the future. And last week two Boeing 787s were diverted because of an engine oil indicator and an oil filter issue. Cause and effect? Here's what McNerney said Wednesday at the company's annual investor meeting in South Carolina.  "We have no fly lists across the company, so if a certain group is not working with us on program A, they will feel the pain on every other program, and they'll be on a corporate no fly list for next programs," McNerney said. "They'll not be allowed to bid on new programs with Boeing." In other words, if suppliers negotiate too tough, they might get shut out from any Boeing projects in the future. The FAA says it will look into the latest incidents. A+ Airline Gets An F- Even World's Top Ranked Airline Can't Deal With Plus-Sized Passengers William J. wrote to FlyersRights last week following his experience on Emirates Airline: I was recently seated on a 13-hour flight next to a person who occupied the seat next to me, plus a third of my seat. This person could not fit in the assigned seat with the armrest down. Since economy class was full, the airline would not offer me an alternative, regardless of the fact that 80 percent of Business Class seats were empty.  While I have no desire to embarrass those who are overweight, it does not seem fair that another person be allowed to infringe on the seat space I purchased. What's the solution? It would be insensitive to require passengers to prove they can fit into a specific space, as is done for carry-on luggage, or for the airline to charge by the pound for economy class. And it would be unfair to require airlines to offer larger seats at the same price to those who need them. But when confronted by such situations, airline crews should be required to offer the adjacent passenger an alternative seat in economy class or business class if available. This should be part of the passenger bill of rights. We agree, the airline should be required to offer you any available seat.     US Airways' New Anti-Family Policy: Two Steps Back Ann K. just sent us a story about how often families are now relegated to the back of the boarding line.     This comes on the heels of the other anti-family policy of not allowing families to sit together without extra fees. I want to start by saying we will never fly US Airways again, and are in the process of letting every friend we know who has children to do the same.  I appreciate you listening to our experience, as we were one of many families with kids on our flights.  We began our journey in New Orleans, where our flight was already late, and we tried (along with several other families) to board early - as most airlines allow for those traveling with infants.  We were answered back with unbelievable HOSTILITY from the gate attendant, who told us of US Airways new policy to CHARGE CUSTOMERS an extra $36 to be allowed to board early.   My infant daughter was sound asleep, and as the other families and us began to protest, she woke up - howling. Thanks, US Airways! It's a cruel and mindless policy, because families spend quite a bit of money on several tickets.  We spent $1500, and $85 each way for bags, and now US Airways requires us to shell out $36 per person to board early?! Since we couldn't board after Zone 2 - per US Airways new policy - our brood and the other families held everyone up - and it led the the ALREADY LATE FLIGHT being even later.  So we MISSED our connecting flight out of Charlotte.  In fact, the gate attendant there actually slammed the door to the gangway in our faces after we ran from our other gate with both kids.  Then she proceeded to give us unbelievable attitude too - especially considering our flight was late because OF US AIRWAYS POLICY and because the first flight was also late.   So, we thought perhaps it was just the New Orleans policy to not let families board first - so we tried again to board in Charlotte - and had an equally hostile response from that gate attendant. US Airways seems to be making it clear that families ARE NOT their priority - and although their ticket price was the lowest we got on Expedia, with the baggage fees, and the $36 a person "board early" fee, not to mention the hostility of the employees at both airports - boy, it is a price too high to pay.  We will never fly US Airways again.  I also wrote to the New Orleans mayor, the BBB and the tourism office, as the experience we had in our hometown airport is not one I want visitors to have.  It is completely opposite from what our city stands for - HOSPITALITY. FlyersRights' Affiliations:  - Wear FlyersRights ARMOR to the airport -and get treated right!  Polo shirts & more. Flybag ™ - the must-have TSA-compliant toiletry kit for the efficient traveler. Enter code: ISTILLFLY and you'll receive one dollar off AND another dollar will be donated to FlyersRights!     Check out our FlyersRights Napa wine shop. You can't miss with any of these great wines.    Paul Hudson, FlyersRights president Kate Hanni, FlyersRights founder   Founded by Kate Hanni in 2007, FlyersRights is funded  completely through donations and our Education Fund is a 501(c)(3) charity, to which contributions are tax deductible.    Thank you for your support!