Should cell phones be allowed to be used on airplanes

3timesblessed · #1 (**permalink**) 05-27-2006, 11:22 PM

During the flight that is? Just an FYI, the do NOT interfere with the flight controls for the pilots, my DH is a commercial pilot.

slopeside · #2 (**permalink**) 05-28-2006, 08:16 AM

i'm not sure how i feel about it, yet?

i would be worried havin to listen to them talk, it wouldn't be so bad if ppl spoke in a lower tone while on the phone. i also think it might be nice for bussiness men?

how does your husband feel?

Beth,Alyssa,Robby · #3 (**permalink**) 05-28-2006, 08:26 AM

No, they should not, especially with the rising costs of airfare. I did not pay 1300 for my family to fly cross-country to listen to the person next to me talk on the phone during the whole flight. FAA says no electronics during take off and landing. Now, I am not a plot or anything, but I think there must be a reason for that. Once you hit cruising altitude, you are too far from any tower to make a phone call, not to mention the fact that you are traveling at very fast speeds at the same time.

3timesblessed · #4 (**permalink**) 05-28-2006, 08:33 AM

Originally Posted by slopeside

i'm not sure how i feel about it, yet?

i would be worried havin to listen to them talk, it wouldn't be so bad if ppl spoke in a lower tone while on the phone. i also think it might be nice for bussiness men?

how does your husband feel?

There was an article about this in Costco magazine. Two different views and one on the opposing side was about how loud people talk when on their cell phone. And to have someone sitting 12-18 inches from you YELLING on the phone about who knows what, for several hours, with no way to get away from it, would be terrible. At least when people do this in public, you can walk away.

As far as how my DH feels, he is more against it. Not so much how it would effect his job, he wouldn't be able to use his phone during the flight while working, but he DOES fly as a passenger to and from work each week, and doesn't want to listen to the latest gossip of the life of the lady next to him either.

For safety's sake, I think it should not be allowed to happen. I was a flight attendane before becoming a stay at home mom. If they DO allow it, there have to restrictions on when it is ok. For instance, it should not be allowed, just like portable electronic devices are not allowed, during the safety demonstration, taxi, take off, and landing. I don't agree how it is done now, that you can use your cell phone while taxing to the gate. Something can still go wrong with the plane at that point, and you have people on their cell phones not being able to pay attention to the crew members instructions for evacuation etc. IF they do allow it and they put restrictions on it, it will be like everything else, the flight attendants have no recourse if someone doesn't follow the rules. Like the seatbelt sign, if it is on, stay in your seat. But there is always someone who HAS to use the bathroom 5 minutes after take off. All the flight attendants can do it, warn them about needing to be in their seat. I guarantee if that same person gets hurt, they will sue the airline because they didn't listen to the warnings or read the signs. So, they will have some obnoxious person who won't hang up their phone when asked, then what? Call the sky police? I just see it creating lots more problems.

3timesblessed · #5 (**permalink**) 05-28-2006, 08:38 AM

Originally Posted by Beth,Alyssa,Robby

No, they should not, especially with the rising costs of airfare. I did not pay 1300 for my family to fly cross-country to listen to the person next to me talk on the phone during the whole flight. FAA says no electronics during take off and landing. Now, I am not a plot or anything, but I think there must be a reason for that. Once you hit cruising altitude, you are too far from any tower to make a phone call, not to mention the fact that you are traveling at very fast speeds at the same time.

The reason for no electronic devices during take off and landing is because the FAA wants the passengers to be concentrating should an emergency occur. As a previous flight attendant, you want the passengers listening to you during an emergency, or evacuation, and you would ask some of them to assist you with opening doors, helping at the bottom of the evacuation slides etc. If they are working on their lap top, or in this case, talking on their phone, they might miss important instructions. Many crews use the excuse that it interferes with the flight deck controls, that is not the case. It is just easier to say that then to explain the real reason.
There would have to be some modifications to the towers, and probably each plane, for cell phones to work at 35,000 feet.

slopeside · #6 (**permalink**) 05-29-2006, 08:01 AM

i totally agree ~ if they do end up allowing it i hope they set a designated area/times. i would be a lil upset if i was on a airplane and my family was listening to the instructions and someone like my mother gabbin about some social gathering, would drive me nuts.

did you like being a fight attendant? i love to travel and right now i work for a hotel/resort. i had a ex co-worker try it out but after she was done w/ training i never saw her again!

NovAngel · #7 (**permalink**) 05-29-2006, 08:09 AM

No, they should not, especially with the rising costs of airfare. I did not pay 1300 for my family to fly cross-country to listen to the person next to me talk on the phone during the whole flight.

You don't need a personal cell phone, there are already pay-phones on most commercial airliners located right at your seat...

Either way, you're going to hear some yapping going on.

3timesblessed · #8 (**permalink**) 05-29-2006, 08:23 AM

Originally Posted by NovAngel

You don't need a personal cell phone, there are already pay-phones on most commercial airliners located right at your seat...

Either way, you're going to hear some yapping going on.

Actually most commercial airlines have since removed the phones from the seatbacks. They were not money makers and ended up with lots of problems, phones not working etc. AND even if they still have them, the cost was something like $2/min. and most people would not pay that, especially when they can use their own cell minutes for free.

Originally Posted by slopeside

i totally agree ~ if they do end up allowing it i hope they set a designated area/times. i would be a lil upset if i was on a airplane and my family was listening to the instructions and someone like my mother gabbin about some social gathering, would drive me nuts.

did you like being a fight attendant? i love to travel and right now i work for a hotel/resort. i had a ex co-worker try it out but after she was done w/ training i never saw her again!

That is a terrific idea. They could have designated cell phone seating. Similar to the smoking sections in some restaurants, depending on where you live. That way they can all sit there and talk next to eachother. Unfortunately there would still be those passengers who think they can break the rules. There always has to be at least one, to mess things up.
Yes, I did enjoy being a flight attendant. I met some terrific people and traveled to cities I hadn't been before. There are times, when I am in the airport hauling all my kids things, alone trying to get to a flight to fly home on, that I am flying standby on and was just told is oversold, that I miss the job. LOL But it was hard enough when DH and I were dating, to try to coordinate our schedules so we could see eachother, I cannot imagine doing that with kids. I say it is a perfect single persons job!