Hallelujah! We can finally use our phones even more than we already do!
The FCC has allowed phones to be on during plane rides. Long gone are the days where flight attendants hound you to turn off your phones and electronic devices every five minutes before the flight takes off.
FCC Regulations
Cell phone use is banned during take-off and landing but it is allowed once the plane is at 10,000 feet. Though the FCC is lifting this ban, it is up to the airline itself to allow cellphones on planes or not. According to the Wall Street Journal, “since 1991, the FCC has prohibited in-flight use of cellphones due to concerns that they could interfere with wireless networks on the ground. The FAA said recently that cellphones pose no safety threat to aircraft”– more on this below.
Silence on planes
Most of us want to get on our flight and sleep until we get to our destination. We don’t exactly want to sit next to someone who is constantly on Viber or Skype with each of their family members the entire flight. I personally turn my phone off anyway when I get on a plane because it is nice having that time to myself without any sort of communication or the Internet for a couple of hours. Others might want to spend every waking minute speaking to their friends and checking their status updates.
The reason why it has taken so long for cell phones to be allowed on planes is that it can become a nuisance. People talking constantly on their phones can become an issue to other passengers on the plane and airlines don’t want their passengers to suffer this discomfort. A survey of 1,600 U.S. adults that was taken by the FAA showed 51% of the people with negative reactions to in-flight phone calls versus 47% responding with a positive reaction to inflight phone calls.
Jet Blue Airways spokeswoman Jenny Dervin said that “Our customer feedback indicates people may not want that policy but, of course, tastes and desires change. We would prioritize making the cabin comfortable…for those who want cell service and for those who like peace and quiet.”
Why I don’t think phones are necessary on airplanes
It’s simple: people talking on their phones during a flight can become annoying. I think people will be able to survive without their phones for the duration of their flight. Also, when people make calls, what do they even talk about? How smooth the plane ride is? Or how great the food was? Or where you are heading to? Snooze. Another reason I don’t believe phones are necessary is phone reception won’t be as great when you are up in the air. Another reason, as I mentioned above, is that it’s nice to be off the grid for awhile. Get some sleep and relax without checking your texts or emails every five minutes.
Some airlines will also be charging you a lot to access their WiFi. You know that one picture you took of your airline food to post on Facebook? Yeah, it’s probably costing you 20 bucks. The best is when people post photos out of their tiny windows flying over random masses of land. It’s these blurry picture of clouds and land and then two minutes later it’s on Instagram. #nobodycares.
AND to my biggest concern yet: does this mean airlines have been lying to us this entire time about our phones interfering with their systems?! All I remember from my flights were flight attendants watching me like a hawk until I turned my phone off. I was always scared that if the plane crashed it would be because I turned on my phone for a second to listen to a song and then it would be all over the news that the girl who didn’t turn off her cell phone caused the deadliest plane crash EVER. But now I realize that clearly wasn’t the case.
Why I think phones would be a good thing
One good thing I have found about my phones working on planes is that I can update whoever is picking me up at the airport with when I am arriving. Let’s say my plane becomes delayed or lands earlier than is supposed to, I can let my friend or whoever is picking me up what time I will actually be landing. I don’t have to wait until I land and then call and say that I have landed two hours earlier. This does not apply to you if you are a nice person who is taking a shuttle service or taxi.
Second plus to having a phone on the plane is being able to keep up with work or keep in touch with your boss while you’re flying. This is to all the people who work 24/7 and probably don’t have a second to take a break. It will probably help to be able to have WiFi while in the air to stay updated with emails and such.
Another plus I have found to having my phone on the plane is that I don’t have to watch the bad movies on the plane. I can entertain myself with my phone apps or my friends. Sorry, I don’t want to be stuck watching Godzilla on my entire flight home.
Which airlines allow cell phones on planes?
These are the airlines that allow cell phone usage:
Aer Lingus
Aeroflot
Air France
All Nippon Airways
Azerbaijan Airlines
British Airways
Cebu Pacific Air
Egyptair
Emirates
Etihad
Garuda
Hong Kong Airlines
KLM
Lufthansa
Oman Air
Philippine Airlines
Qantas
Qatar Airways
Royal Jordanian
Saudia
SAS
Singapore Airlines
TAM Airlines
TAP Portugal
Transaero
Virgin Atlantic
History of cell phones being banned on planes
Anyone who has ever flown the friendly skies knows that before take-off, flight attendants used to request that you power down all mobile devices.
So, why couldn’t you use your electronic companion? (And why are flight attendants such sticklers for making sure they’re turned off?) Well, starting in 1991, the Federal Communications Commission prohibited in-flight cellular usage because of interference with both the airplane’s navigational systems and its ground networks.
In the past couple of decades, we’ve been able to incorporate more electronics into our skyward travels, from listening to iPods to utilizing “airplane mode” on our smartphones. With the burst of technological advances today, the FCC had to consider whether this warranted a change to wireless services while flying.
The FCC proposed access to in-flight mobile services for all fliers, and when this was adopted, airlines were able to allow passengers to use their wireless devices in the sky – but the decision to let consumers access their mobile devices while in the air remains at the sole discretion of each airline company.
This FCC proposal also states that by no means does this give passengers the right to operate cell phones while on planes. Instead, this proposal gives airlines the option to offer its customers in-flight mobile services. How would this work? Well, according to the FCC:
“If adopted, the new rules could give airlines the ability to install an Airborne Access System that would provide the connection between passenger’s wireless devices and commercial wireless networks, much like Wi-Fi service is provided today aboard aircraft to provide connections to the Internet and safely manage connections.”
The FCC has been bombarded with both opposition and interest in this proposal. Those opposed are concerned that flights will be inundated with loud, unwanted chatter, while others welcome the ability to make and receive calls and continue life as normal while on the plane.
The initial proposal was approved in mid-December by a vote of 3-2. This vote has now opened the floor for more serious consideration by both the commission and the public. The FCC would like to hear from you, so consider voicing your opinion about in-flight mobile services on the FCC’s website.
What do you think of being allowed to use cell phones on planes? Would you rather have peace and quiet on your flight or be able to communicate with your friends and family back at home while you’re flying?
Main image: Jorge Rosal – Unsplash
