Welcome aboard EK. Please do not switch off your mobile phone

[serfty]

If you don't want to be contacted, the phone has an OFF button

Dave

For me, not being able to be contacted is not a problem, I happily turn my 'phone off.

What my issue is that the SLC seated next to me may decide to spend most of the flight loadly sharing with me one or more one-sided conversations with people on the other end of their phone. :evil: :evil: :evil:

I like the idea of Mobile Free Zones; lets start them in row 1 and finish them in row 25 (734), row 29 (73H) or however many rows their happen to be in the particular aircraft.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

not to mention the pax with this ringtone who gets called every few minutes

I blogged about this today

 

[JohnK]

What my issue is that the SLC seated next to me may decide to spend most of the flight loadly sharing with me one or more one-sided conversations with people on the other end of their phone. :evil: :evil: :evil:

Why do all the people we meet have loud one-sided conversations? We don't notice too many people with a phone glued to their ear quietly saying, Mmm.... Yes.... I see.... Sure....

 

[NM]

Why do all the people we meet have loud one-sided conversations? We don't notice too many people with a phone glued to their ear quietly saying, Mmm.... Yes.... I see.... Sure....

I tried that once, just to see whet the people around me would think. Then in the middle one of my "I see"'s my phone range and the game was up .

 

[cssaus]

It's a shame that Connexion by Boeing is finishing at the end of the year, it was really cool using SKYPE to make phone calls from mid-air using the laptop.

I sure hope that something comes along soon as a replacement for inflight internet access.

 

[Shano]

It could be worse - we could all be flying SMINTAIR

SMINTAIR reinstates the liberty of smoking in all seats. Non-smokers will find the cabin air more refreshing than on any other flight with any other airline, as SMINTAIR adds fresh outside air to the conditioning system! This is more expensive, as it burns more fuel, but it is seen as an additional service to our guests.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

I certainly wouldn't be (assuming it ever takes off)

 

[maninblack]

Haven't read every post but surely the airlines will insist that ringers are left off. Any which way, it's going to be a real pain.

 

[Dave Noble]

It could be worse - we could all be flying SMINTAIR

I did hear that tests had shown that air quality in aircraft has got worse rather than better since smoking was abolished on most carriers since these carriers were now increasing the amount of recirculating air rather than taking fresh air in

Dave

 

[sully]

I posted this in another thread on the incorrect assumption that it had not yet been broached. Silly me, how could this community not be aware of what is going on in the flying stakes? The article I read today indicated that passengers would be requested to keep their phones on silent or vibrate mode, but how many of us have been in cinemas, meetings, concerts or restaurants when the mood is ruined by Smoke on the Water or Sweet Child of Mine??? People do what works for them and if an oik decides to be exactly that no amount of asking will get him to change.

The ring is only the small part of the story. My concern will be the ubiquitous loudmouth who is probably the same person who thinks that the only efficient way to use a mobile phone is the same as the means adopted in speaking with 'foreigners' who can't speak English. YELL!!!!!

These morons also have the tendency to fall into the vernacular of whoever they are talking to. There have been some recent experiences in my train trips to and from work where the air is turned a deep blue by the caller's choice of words.

A special place on the plane for phone users? Sure, its called the wing.

 

[Soundguy]

Like most others I'm not happy about people using their phones on planes also, enjoy the peace. However the myth that a phone can interfere with the aircrafts navigation system is just that - a myth. Any pilots on here should be able to tell you that.

I once sat next to a young guy who apparently hadn't flown much & when the usual announcements about no smoking & no phones etc was made there was a problem with the PA and the message was inaudible. Anyway as the flight was delayed coming into Melbourne he was busy trying to phone his folks to tell them the flight was late. I just sat next to him and laughed, wondering how long before the flight attendants busted him. He got brief service as we went over some cities but couldn't get through properly until we were descending through the clouds into Melbourne. This is when the flight attendant saw / heard him and totally freaked out, threatening to throw him off the plane and claiming it could have crashed and such rubbish. Gave me a good laugh and left him rather bewildered!

 

[dajop]

. My concern will be the ubiquitous loudmouth who is probably the same person who thinks that the only efficient way to use a mobile phone is the same as the means adopted in speaking with 'foreigners' who can't speak English. YELL!!!!!

Guaranteed this will happen. Ever tried one of the in seat phones? I did once purely for the novelty factor (or I left the iron on or something like that). I could barely hear the other end of the line above the cabin noise. And what happens when one can't hear the person they are talking to - it is natural to talk louder.

 

[Gazza]

I foresee extra business for proctologists and makers of replacement phones

Gazza

 

[Shano]

This is currently posted on the Qantas website and has probably been seen by many...

Staying Connected Inflight
Qantas is evaluating new technology, which will allow customers to stay connected inflight. The technology will be evaluated on one Boeing 767 aircraft operating on Australian domestic routes from early 2007 over a three month period.

Qantas will be one of the first airlines in the world to evaluate the technology that will allow customers to make and receive emails and text messages via their own mobile phones or personal electronic devices such as Blackberry.

Qantas will work with customers to shape any final service as well as draw up a policy on using devices inflight.

About the evaluation partners
Qantas has teamed with Telstra, Panasonic Avionics Corporation and AeroMobile for the evaluation to examine potential solutions to allow communication devices to be used safely in-flight without interfering with the ground network.

Qantas and its partners are working with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), Australian Communications and Media Authority and other agencies to ensure the system operates in accordance with Australian regulatory and legal requirements.

It specifically mentions SMS and emails but not voice calls (probably so they don't p*ss off too many AFF members). Does the technology exist to block voice calls yet transmit emails / SMS? Hopefully it does.

 

[simongr]

In one of the earlier mobile phones on planes threads I think Dave Noble or NM or Serfty referred to the technology of text only being available. Given this article refers to blackberry I would be very happy with this service. No need to make calls on a plane for me (until landing to confirm to mrssimongr that plane has not crashed) but BB would be useful. It does have an off switch that I know how to use and will be using it when I want to

 

[oz_mark]

Qantas trials airborne SMS, bans voice calls

From Qantas trials airborne SMS, bans voice calls | The Daily Telegraph

PASSENGERS will soon be able to use their mobile phones to send text messages and emails in the sky.

Qantas is about to start a three-month trial on a Boeing 767.
Passengers will be able to send and receive SMS messages and emails, but voice calls will be banned.

Virgin Blue may soon follow, with the airline indicating the idea was being considered.

...

 

[straitman]

Is this the beginning of the end of life as we know it :?:

 

[NYCguy]

In one of the earlier mobile phones on planes threads I think Dave Noble or NM or Serfty referred to the technology of text only being available...

Great. Let's hope that the alert volume is turned right down, because I can only hear that well-known Nokia SMS alert :evil: so many times before becoming homicidal!

 

[Dave Noble]

Is this the beginning of the end of life as we know it :?:

The sky is falling in , the sky is falling in

If the use of a mobile is that unpopular , then people won't use it and so it would have no impact; if people do use it , then it shows that the airline is offering a service which people do want

Dave

 

[pleasureg]

Wellt his will mean one will not be able to have a reasonable peaceful flight with mobiles going off at all times off day/night. Can't we have some time free of mobiles/communication technology?