Handing out written prayers on an airplane?

I'd probably ask if the pilot was actually so bad that I needed prayers to get me through the flight. I don't see the offense in it. It's probably more intellectually stimulating than any of the on-flight movies they might play - and certainly more interesting than the 'In Case of Emergency" manual. Though in all honesty I'd use it as a bookmark for whatever book I brought with me to read.

I didn't know they did this until they quit. I am thinking though that not as many people use this airlines as a normal one....but all in all I don't think I would get upset enough to book another airlines but I really don't like people pushing things on me.

I would have thought that Alaska Airlines would have had a shaman on board. "Please find a small medicine drum in the pocket in front of you along with your complimentary toothbrush, eye shade, pen and sick bag" I don't actually see any problem with them handing out prayer sheets. One isn't obliged to use them. It's something of the same thing as finding a bible in the drawer of your hotel room. Prayer (if you believe in it), in any case, is an activity which can be comfortably and profitably indulged in on a flight. It doesn't have to be "preventative medicine"; it may be a chance to give thanks or to reflect on the wonders of creation as one sees them from above. Most (all?) airlines also routinely give explicit instruction on what to do in the case of emergency or accident. That doesn't imply that they expect you to need them!

LOL... Sarah, if the Alaskan Airlines(AS) guys read your post then they will certainly jump off the plane... It is nicely written... Good job.. I did not know about this too.. This comes to me as a surprise. I work with one of the best airlines, and the basic concerns here are very different. We and our passengers are concerned about date changes, seats, meals on board, or cancellations etc... A prayer book on the plane was unheard of! What could have been the purpose anyhow??

Wow your a bit over-sensitive all the best urban

I didn't know they could do that either and I don't think I'd have liked it if I'd have ever been handed a prayer sheet on an airliner. I'm not anti-religion or anti-prayer but I think this is crossing a line that shouldn't be crossed. Alaska Airlines is doing the right thing by ending this practice, in my view, at least as far as ever hoping to get me as a passenger! Annie

I'm surprised Alaska Airlines is discontinuing a practice that I'm shocked was allowed in the first place! I'm not anti-prayer, but I think all the hype about religion and having to have one or you're doomed is a bit overrated. I'm surprised in that the airlines was allowed to hand out some kind of religious pamphlet in the first place, but I'm not at all shocked that they discontinued this practice. I absolutely hate flying. The plane I step on is going to crash - every time, guaranteed. It is doomed. I get on a plane; I'm going to die. I can't stand to fly! My experiences with flying were always negative because I was either flying to or from college (I live in Michigan and flew the two hours to Florida for school once a year or semester). And I always flew by myself! I never got to sit by anyone I knew on a plane! I cannot stand turbulence. I never understood how a plane in midair could feel like a car on a road full of potholes. Ugh...just to think about flying makes my blood pressure rise! I haven't had any horrible experiences to make me feel this way, though, other than one of my flights back to school when the plane randomly dropped a couple hundred feet, and I grabbed the poor, elderly man sitting next to me out of fear. I apologized right afterwards, but I'm sure he was laughing at me! So now all this hype about flying, and I have a confession to make! My hubby and I are flying to Florida to see my grandparents in March! Yes, I'm scared out of my mind, but it's an all-expense paid trip because that's how badly they want us to come see them. They've moved to Florida full-time whereas they used to have a condo here in Michigan that they'd come to visit when it was warm. We're going to take the two-hour flight out there and back because it's much faster and more convenient than the 20+ hours it would take to drive there. And the other thing? My husband and I have never flown together, so he gets to see me face my fears. He's going to see the pathetic flyer that I am in action! (At least I'll be grabbing my hubby instead of some stranger this time - LOL!!) I'll let you know how that goes. Anyway, I think it's odd for any airline to hand out literature that isn't a catalog, magazine, or something that would assist in the safety of the passengers. I don't think a prayer (other than in my case!) has anything to do with flying anyway. I'll let you know how it goes in March! I haven't flown for a few years, so maybe things have changed. We will see!

This is the first time i am hearing of such a thing.It looks like they don`t have confidence in their crew or maybe the planes will fall apart during flights. Thats why they are asking passengers to say their prayers and sort of warning them that they are taking the flights at their own risk. Now since most passengers will be of Christian faith and hardly any of other faiths, naturally their prayers would be of the same faith. Maybe Alaskan airways started losing customers and so decided to discontinue giving the prayer sheets onboard.

This makes me wonder if they started the practice for some particular reason, like a plane load of frightened flyers that received comfort from the prayers. Perhaps it was successful so they continued the practice until it became a habit. Whether or not a person has any regard for things of faith, if these printed prayers give comfort to some, I don't see how that's a bad thing. If some think they have no need for the prayers, all they have to do is say, "No thanks."

I am not sure they are up to anything sinister but then in this world ,anything is possible .I think it is their way of inviting God on teh plane to guide the pilot. As with any other offer ,you have the right to say no and that is what I would do if I am not up for it. Idont think they would throw you off the plane though lol

I've actually been on a few Alaska Airline flights, but I've never seen them hand out any written prayers. But if they did give me somthing, I would surely dismiss it. And you're right! Handing out prayers doesn't really do much in the confidence-department of the pilot/airline.

Hi behen I dont have an issue as I know I will never FLY But seriously speaking, some people are sensitive and might not appreciate. And some have orthodox beliefs who will interpret this as a negative thing. Not good for a commercial service. ps: if they try to throw any passenger out on flight... I wonder what do the courts of law say to that

Why would they hand out prayers in the first place? I think that is solicitation. I hate it when someone tries to push their religion on me. And I hate when they feel like they are entitled to something just because of their religion. I think in this country whines should be different. Look, everyone has the right to practice their religion, but not to push it in your face. I also believe that all religions should be paying taxes as well. Religion should have no bearing on the country. And they should pay their part. As for the airlines, they should have been boycotted long ago. I would never fly on an airline that forces there religion on you in any way shape or form.

We should have faith in the Lord. Handing out prayers may be offensive to some passengers.

Hi sarahruthbeth, I had never heard of the practice and I'm happy to hear that they have stopped it. It is wrong to do this and not offer prayers from other world religions. It's a strange world when even airlines start doing this. Blessings.

I have never heard of such a thing.In fact ,whether you pray or not makes no difference to a good flight.Which airplane crash was due to the absence of prayer?Aparting from natural factors,we ought to put most of airplane crashes down to staffs' neglect of duty.

I think it is only the policy of the company which was entered by some manager. And now it has been changed by another one. This is probably the only Airline that gives such written prayers to their passengers. I myself haven't gotten any, although I don't fly a long time ago.