Mobile Phones & Electronic Items on planes

[2muchplastic]

Yes it does amaze how many people CANNOT reject a call. Some people use it to break the conversation they are having with someone I don't doubt! But many's the time when people have accidentally left their phone on in a meeting (or even on the plane) and when it rings they can't simply press 'reject call' but have to dash out of the room answering it (bit difficult on a plane I know) or crouch down in their seat and talk in a low voice, progressively getting back to normal and then loud and annoying.

I love having the power to hit 'reject'. Very few things are that important (calls from the missus excluded :mrgreen

I'm frequently training people, classroom style or one on one, and it does amaze me how often the trainees do take calls. I'm stood at the front having flown many hours to get there normally, and yet it's still felt to be acceptable to take calls and skip out of the training, or sit and mumble so that everyone can hear.
Even when you ask for phones to be switched off, it doesn't happen. It's often got to the stage where I purposely stop and say very loudly "It's OK, we'll wait for xx_x". :evil:

 

[jingles]

The "no ipods during ascent/descent" rule is silly on the face of it

They can't cause any interference, all the wiring on a plane is heavily insulated to prevent interference*

I have always assumed that the no ipods ect during take-off/landing is more for safety.
As statistically this is the most dangerous time you don't want people tuned out listening to their own music while the FA's are giving out information about an emergency which is happening.

There is talk of allowing mobile phone calls in flight (i hope this never happens or is at least charged at some exorbitant rate so people dont use it.) Even though it would be possible i am sure that it would not be allowed during landing and take-off for the same safety reason mentioned above.


Just look at the TV's (Say the old CRT's) which are not always turned off for take-off/landing. They are going to be emitting just as much, if not more electronic noise as an ipod

*This statement is purely based on an episode of mythbusters.
I know there has been quite a bit of discussion on this, just adding my thoughts.

 

[medhead]

I'm frequently training people, classroom style or one on one, and it does amaze me how often the trainees do take calls. I'm stood at the front having flown many hours to get there normally, and yet it's still felt to be acceptable to take calls and skip out of the training, or sit and mumble so that everyone can hear.
Even when you ask for phones to be switched off, it doesn't happen. It's often got to the stage where I purposely stop and say very loudly "It's OK, we'll wait for xx_x". :evil:

See this is what SMS is for, I put the phone on silent. If I get a call, usually the missus, I reject and then SMS that I'm in a meeting. If it's a question then they can sms back and get an answer, otherwise they know I'll call back at lunch or whatever, in an hour or two.

This really annoys me about my boss, sometimes I've had to ask him a yes or no question when I know he's in a meeting. Well, he doesn't really seem to understand silent mode or reject. I've seen him in meetings he goes straight to the Off switch if the phone rings, and it usually does because he forgets to switch off first. So anyway this is annoying because I just want him to see it is me calling, reject the call and then wait for my SMS with the question. But it just turns off, even if he gets a SMS.

 

[wallacej]

Many many moons back I tried my hand-held GPS I use for work against the B734 window to see if it worked with the reduced signal access. Worked fine but couldn't handle speed over 1000kmh! FA spotted me and asked what it was so I told her about it and she left. About 5 min later she asked would I like to go up to the flight deck as the Capt wanted to see it. Turns out he wanted to buy one so I spent 2 hours in the jump seat explaining and comparing it to their (much, much betterer) differential system!!

I did this on a recent DJ flight, midway through, only went up to 740kmh though. It had trouble linking onto roads though lol.

Unknown to me at the time I was seated adjacent an off duty DJ pilot, this become known to me when the on duty pilot came down for a chat with him.... I continued with my tom tom 1 against the window. The certainly saw me with it and had no issue.
I did turn off when requested to turn off electronic devices.

 

[jingles]

I did this on a recent DJ flight, midway through, only went up to 740kmh though. It had trouble linking onto roads though lol.

Unknown to me at the time I was seated adjacent an off duty DJ pilot, this become known to me when the on duty pilot came down for a chat with him.... I continued with my tom tom 1 against the window. The certainly saw me with it and had no issue.
I did turn off when requested to turn off electronic devices.

I have been on one QF flight (not too long ago actually) and it was stated during the safety briefing that at no time are GPS devices to be operated.

I have however used a GPS on a plane (before that) and was seen by a FA who had no issue with it

 

[simongr]

That's very true, but my employers seem to have very clear ideas about when I should be contactable.
My job can in no way be construed as being life or death. It's IT. But all the people I support (east of India to west of the Americas) seem to think that way when they can't get an answer in 30 seconds.

How can you ever afford to take a flight, go for a pee for sleep then? If you have to answer all calls in 30s I am surprised your employer can afford for you to fly anywhere and be out of contact at all.

It is not so much about rejecting calls but it amazes just how many people get on a train and then start calling people randomly to tell them they are on the train going to the airport, or work, or what they had for dinner last night or tonight, or whatever and whatever.

When are these people going to realise that others around them are not interested in listening to their pointless drivel and would prefer some peace and quiet? Most of these calls should happen in private. But the same happens at work so I think it is a new version of the ignorance virus growing out of control....

Ah the old "people on trains with phones are bad" line. I travel everyday (pretty much) for around 2 hours on a train and it is not phones that are the issue but people. If someone has a conversation on their phone it is little annoying - but if a group of 4 women get on the same train at the same time and start yapping for 300 mins about their day at work WHERE THEY WORK AT THE SAME PLACE it is pretty annoying (I no longer get into that carriage).

I am amazed how people see phones as the route of all evil when travelling - when really people are thr problem...

 

[skeeo]

missus accidentally left her mobile on whole trip back from singapore to syd, plane didn't crash woohoo (mobile was in a bag in overhead cabin and she didn't realise until after we had landed)

 

[tuapekastar]

Ah the old "people on trains with phones are bad" line. I travel everyday (pretty much) for around 2 hours on a train and it is not phones that are the issue but people. If someone has a conversation on their phone it is little annoying - but if a group of 4 women get on the same train at the same time and start yapping for 300 mins about their day at work WHERE THEY WORK AT THE SAME PLACE it is pretty annoying (I no longer get into that carriage).

I am amazed how people see phones as the route of all evil when travelling - when really people are thr problem...

I agree with you in that, putting aside the safety arguments, the manner in which people choose to use phones is the real problem rather than phones per se.

And while I'm sure most posters here, yourself included, would be judicious and considerate in onboard phone use, there are going to be people, in every cabin, on every flight, who would not.

And guess what, those will be the people sitting next to, or directly behind, you or me. :shock:

It's too difficult and subjective to define, regulate and police what is fair and reasonable use of a phone onboard (at least I think it is, maybe someone has some ideas on this), so for those reasons at least (safety notwithstanding), I would support a continuing ban on mobile phone use onboard.

There is probably an element of selfishness in that opinion , but ditto for the mobile phone proponents.

 

[simongr]

I would support a continuing ban on mobile phone use onboard.

There is probably an element of selfishness in that opinion , but ditto for the mobile phone proponents.

But then how do I get the old granny sat next me to shut up? Should I take some duct tape with me when i travel?

 

[tuapekastar]

But then how do I get the old granny sat next me to shut up? Should I take some duct tape with me when i travel?

I think QF provides pillows that can be employed for that. :shock:

 

[Warks]

Even talking quietly on a phone on a plane could be annoying as opposed to the train as there is a lot more ambient noise on a train to mask the murmur. I've been on flights in the US with the "swipe your card, $5 per minute" phones and one guy (IT guru by the sound of his convo) spent about 45 minutes telling someone how to do something with the server. It was quite irritating. If that's what it's going to be like then I'd favour the ban to continue ad infinitum.

In Japan some years ago I noticed the train phone etiquette was to only text on the metro/suburban trains and on the Shinkansen (bullet train) you went to the back or front of the car near the doorways (separated from the main car) to talk on the phone. Worked well. Then again the Japanese are a bit more considerate in general in such situations.

 

[NM]

But then how do I get the old granny sat next me to shut up? Should I take some duct tape with me when i travel?

that is what the Shure in-ear phones are good for

 

[Flashback]

Even talking quietly on a phone on a plane could be annoying as opposed to the train as there is a lot more ambient noise on a train to mask the murmur. I've been on flights in the US with the "swipe your card, $5 per minute" phones and one guy (IT guru by the sound of his convo) spent about 45 minutes telling someone how to do something with the server. It was quite irritating. If that's what it's going to be like then I'd favour the ban to continue ad infinitum.

In Japan some years ago I noticed the train phone etiquette was to only text on the metro/suburban trains and on the Shinkansen (bullet train) you went to the back or front of the car near the doorways (separated from the main car) to talk on the phone. Worked well. Then again the Japanese are a bit more considerate in general in such situations.

I notice also that even when out on the street, Japanese people will place their hand over their mouth/end of phone to try and quieten the noise to everyone else also.

 

[JohnK]

I am amazed how people see phones as the route of all evil when travelling - when really people are thr problem...

Simon I tend to agree with your statement but in my relatively short time travelling on public tansport in Brisbane mobile phones and to a lesser extent iPods are the biggest noise issue. Some people should not be allowed to have mobile phones or iPods in their possession in public ever.

Maybe I am being harsh but all I am asking for is to have a little peace and quiet, including relaxation, in my short 10 minutes train trip to work instead of getting off the train all worked up as I have had to listen to some moron's pointless conversation on the train.

Can't wait for the day where people can choose to have implants for electonic devices and conduct phone conversations with the throughts rather than annoying the people around them....

 

[dede]

Simon I tend to agree with your statement but in my relatively short time travelling on public tansport in Brisbane mobile phones and to a lesser extent iPods re the biggest noise issue. Some people should not be allowed to have mobile phones or iPods in their possession in public ever.

Maybe I am being harsh but all I am asking for is to have a little peace and quiet, including relaxation, in my short 10 minutes train trip to work instead of getting off the train all worked up as I have had to listen to some moron's pointless conversations on the train....

I agree 100% - I even have people having LOUD conversations on the treadmill next to at the gym where they have to talk louder due to the noise of the treadmill. I like my peaceful time at the gym, on public transport and in the air.

 

[medhead]

I agree 100% - I even have people having LOUD conversations on the treadmill next to at the gym where they have to talk louder due to the noise of the treadmill. I like my peaceful time at the gym, on public transport and in the air.

Um, your own ipod would be an answer to that problem. Then you can have a peaceful time with the sounds of your choice.

 

[JohnK]

Um, your own ipod would be an answer to that problem. Then you can have a peaceful time with the sounds of your choice.

To some people peaceful and relaxing does not involve using iPods.

I don't own an iPod, and not a big fan of music anyway, so I need to invest money in a device in order to block out useless noise from people who cannot remain silent in public? Sad!!!!

 

[dot]

I - for one - don't understand why everyone seems to think that if the airlines enable mobile phone usage on aircraft, there will suddenly be a rash of noisy conversations for everyone to listen to. I have done a lot of kilometres on sky-phone equipped aircraft and have yet to hear anyone using one. The general consensus seems to be that the cost of using the sky-phone is too expensive and serves as a deterrent (at US$5 per minute, I can understand that). The thing to remember is that even on a domestic flight, the mobile phone call would incur international call rates (as proven by the recent QF 767 trial with pico-cell equipped aircraft) While the rates are not as expensive as the sky-phone, they are still non-trivial and pax will need to have International roaming enabled on their account. Once pax realise that it is so expensive, don't you think that calls will be restricted to real emergencies? (Such as the server issue that Warks experienced)

Also, even in Australia (although not as well observed as it is in Japan), the general etiquette is to refrain from speaking too much on your phone on trains. Do you think it will be any different on the planes? If you take into account the cost of such calls from aircraft (intl rates) as opposed to the cost on a train (std rates), my expectation is that there would actually be very little use for voice calls. On the other hand, I would expect that SMS messages would boom.

 

[Warks]

To some people peaceful and relaxing does not involve using iPods.

I don't own an iPod, and not a big fan of music anyway, so I need to invest money in a device in order to block out useless noise from people who cannot remain silent in public? Sad!!!!

And I thought I was the only one who didn't own an iPod or MP3 player! I have never owned even a Discman or Walkman. I hear songs way too much on the radio (a lot of driving) to ever actually want to hear them incessantly on a personal sound system. My hearing is bad enough (from loud machinery) to damage it any more with these "instruments of the devil".




dot's comment that people tend not to talk too much on phones in trains is true - but it's that annoying 'individual' who is 'special' who makes life hell for everyone else. They come along with more than enough regularity for comfort.

 

[medhead]

To some people peaceful and relaxing does not involve using iPods.

I don't own an iPod, and not a big fan of music anyway, so I need to invest money in a device in order to block out useless noise from people who cannot remain silent in public? Sad!!!!

ipods don't have to involve music and they don't need to be loud. There ar thousands of podcasts out there to suit all tastes. Personally, I use it to catch up on This Sporting Life while riding to work. I miss quite a bit of the dialogue because I have the volume low enough so I can hear the cars but then that is better then sitting out in the shed to listen to that show. I also watch new inventors and media watch when flying on ipod.

I used to share many of your opinions but since getting an ipod/phone, there is no looking back.