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EU: Go ahead, talk on a cell phone in flight

By Steve Pounds | Friday, April 18, 2008, 05:26 PM

The European Union has agreed to allow the use of cellular phones in-flight.

The loosening of rules is aimed at pleasing the high-priced business traveler. But I wonder if they won’t regret it in the end.

In the early-Nineties, they were the only ones carrying mobile phones. Now everybody’s got them.

Sure, there are restrictions on the number of calls that can be made at any one time. And flight attendants will have the authority to shut somebody up who’s too loud.

It just doesn’t seem workable to me. People always talk too loudly on their mobiles. Are you ready for mobile phones on commercial airliners?

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Comments

By Walter

April 18, 2008 6:31 PM | Link to this

I don*t want someone sitting next to me talking about whatever. I enjoy the peace and quiet that you get on an airplane most of the time. People forget about others or they want to impress others with there ability to talk about anything when nobody really cares. The phones should not be on in the airplane as you will end up with fighting and yelling directed at the ones who are to ignorant to know there are others around them.

By JD

April 18, 2008 8:02 PM | Link to this

People are already obnoxious enough on planes - every time I’ve flown recently I have been treated to someone kicking my seat plus someone with a blasting iPod next to me. Then there’s the trifecta, where a supremely obese person will ask to raise the armrest to share my seat (oh, yes, it has happened more than once). While not quiet today, at least airplanes aren’t filled with the banal conversations of halfwits who don’t know when to stop talking.

By john

April 18, 2008 10:50 PM | Link to this

The last thing we need is useless chatter on a flight. It is bad enough before takeoff . I have learned more about sales opportunities gone sour and problems at home than I care to remember. Cell phone use in public is rude ,but what else can we expect from people today .Manners are a thing of the past .

By CBL

April 18, 2008 11:07 PM | Link to this

Cell phone calls from planes are pointless. Can people really not afford to be unreachable for 2 hours? Most of the calls I hear being made once inside the plane are the typical “I’m on the plane now / We just landed / We are going to the gate / I’m still on the plane”-type calls. Totally pointless. Does everyone around you need to know where they are, in case they forgot? Does the person on the other end need to know which stage of your travels you have reached? No.

Also, you can’t get cell signals at altitude because the towers transmit laterally, not vertically. Good luck with “I think we’re flying over our house!!1~!@!”

By Saul

April 19, 2008 12:02 AM | Link to this

So the airline BS of “Do not use your cell phone as it may interfere with the planes navigation system” has been exposed as a plan to make money on the in flight phone.

By Lowell

April 19, 2008 2:34 AM | Link to this

They would have to have some sort of cell relay device on the plane. I have tried to send and receive text messages on planes and found I had no signal at any significant altitude, though my cell phone starts buzzing to indicate receipt of messages when in the approach to landing.

By elainer7

April 19, 2008 8:13 AM | Link to this

I totally dont understand this whole cellphone business. If I have to sit next to someone on a plane making their “necessary” call to someone about what altitude they are flying at and what the snack was, Im gonna be plenty upset. If you cant stay off the phone, then stay home! Business travelers are an exception although I think they use the phone unnecessarily alot too. Lastly, when did it become acceptable to use cellphones at your place of employment?

By ash

April 19, 2008 8:27 AM | Link to this

People are already very inconsiderate with cell phones..I really don’t want to sit next to someone talking on one eihter.

By Voice of Reason

April 19, 2008 8:42 AM | Link to this

NO CELLPHONES ON PLANES!!!!!!!!! People are OBNOXIOUS when on their cellphones. In fact, I’d like Atlanta (metro area, surrounding counties) to declare a NO CELL PHONE DAY sometime soon. Even just for a few hours, lest people slit their wrists. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to just see people just DRIVING without GABBING on the damn phone, let’s say from 10 AM to 4 PM?

NO cell phones on planes, ever. I would never fly an airline that allowed it, so Delta, please DON’T do it.

By Dan Daugherty

April 19, 2008 10:24 AM | Link to this

I’m in favor of it. There are times when it would be of great value to contact someone to exchange urgent information, such as changes in schedule, limo pickup, etc..

I also totally understand how annoying some people can be when talking loudly or having prolonged or ill-timed conversations.

Texting and email should be allowed 100% of time, and perhaps conversations regulated only to reduce the annoyance to other passengers while also allowing urgent and timely communication.

By HeavensNO

April 19, 2008 10:28 AM | Link to this

NONONONONONONONONO What a disaster of a travel nightmare since people HAVE to talk very loud to hear on a plane in flight….

By Becky

April 19, 2008 10:31 AM | Link to this

More noise pollution. More and more and more. Why not make texting OK but not allow phone calls?

Flying used to be fun. Now it’s very, very unpleasant. In almost every way.

By bronco

April 19, 2008 11:34 AM | Link to this

First cell phones on the plane and before you know it they’ll have movies and then peanuts and a coke to watch it with. WHERE IS GONNA STOP

By Voice of Reason

April 19, 2008 12:53 PM | Link to this

I agree with you, Becky. Flying is NOT fun anymore.

And, why is our email address now being displayed for folks to email us!?

By Fed Up

April 19, 2008 1:19 PM | Link to this

I have never seen any e-mails displayed on these blogs. If you are worried about it, do as I do and make up a fake one.

By KJ

April 19, 2008 1:25 PM | Link to this

Can people really not afford to be unreachable for 2 hours?

Have you been to a movie lately?

By Mike In Woodstock

April 19, 2008 3:34 PM | Link to this

We absolutely must allow this. Do you all know how important I am? Well the next time we fly together I can assure you that you’ll be in awe of me and the cell phone conversations I’ll be having.

By Steph

April 19, 2008 6:17 PM | Link to this

Most of the calls I hear being made once inside the plane are the typical “I’m on the plane now / We just landed / We are going to the gate / I’m still on the plane”-type calls. Totally pointless. Does everyone around you need to know where they are, in case they forgot? Does the person on the other end need to know which stage of your travels you have reached? No.

Honestly, I think its the only acceptable use of a cellphone on an airplane. If I am the person driving in circles waiting to pick someone up because I was told by the airline when I called that they have “arrived”, I appreciate the call from the plane telling me their status (even if it is ‘we’re waiting for a gate to open up’).

By Voice of Reason

April 19, 2008 8:55 PM | Link to this

Hey FedUp. This is something new. But if you move the cursor over your “FedUp” name, it takes you to an email address, whether real or not. Not good…unless it’s bogus :-). Works for me.

By Lantanna

April 19, 2008 8:59 PM | Link to this

Please no!!!!!!!!!Why must we always be entertained. The incessant video presentation is annoying enough. Can’t we just sit quietly and read or be meditative for the diration of a flight? Pease and quiet, there’s not enough of it left in the world.

By Voice of Reason

April 20, 2008 8:04 AM | Link to this

Hey Steve Pounds, WHY are you making the username a link to our email address!…? This is not good. WHY this particluar blog and why do it at all? RSVP. I vote NO on this. Let phony email addresses abound if you do this. Other blogs don’t do it.

By Julie

April 20, 2008 8:13 AM | Link to this

OK, flying sucks enough as it is -I cannot imagine being stuck next to some a*hole going on and on and on about nothing anyone else wants to hear. We’re already subjected to that everywhere else in society -even bathrooms! If the airlines want to know why they’re in such trouble, they need look no further than how miserable they’ve made it to fly. Smaller seats, absolutely NO leg room, no snacks, surly attendants if you ask for an entire can of soda, nasty planes, delays, etc. I remember a long time ago when flying used to be an enjoyable part of your trip-not anymore. Add cell phones to plane travel and you’re going to have skyrocketed “incidents” on flights from people already really P.O.’d from all the other crap they’ve had to deal with in the airport before being stuffed into a dirty, smelly and uncomfortable seat.

By West Cobb Dad

April 20, 2008 8:23 AM | Link to this

Not going fly if they allow this. Nope, ain’t gonna do it. I have to listen to useless prattle at the grocery store, in line at the bank, waiting to get my overtaxed-overpriced pack of cigs, and while riding the bus because gas it is cheaper for me to get lasik than to drive to work. I am just waiting for the slight attendent to TRY to quiet someone obnoxious talking about their recent bunion surgery. All hell will break loose.

By Tom

April 20, 2008 9:23 AM | Link to this

No! No! No! I travel extensively and flying is the only time I get any rest at all. In meetings people can not pay attention for their cell phones and blackberries. So, no on cell phones on planes.

By DJ

April 20, 2008 9:48 AM | Link to this

VERY BAD IDEA. American are way too self-absorbed and will have essentially no respect for their seat mates. If someone is jawing on their cellphone next to me, you can be sure i will be incredibly annoying by simply talking out loud, joining in their conversation, and playing iPod headphones at max volume - with them just sitting on my fold-out table.

By DHD

April 20, 2008 10:00 AM | Link to this

Allow text messaging but no talking.

By JN

April 20, 2008 4:43 PM | Link to this

Isn’t it bad enough that as patrons in a restaurant, a mall or even church that we are forced to endure the conversations of arrogant, swaggering buffoons disguised as “businesspeople?” The airplane cabin was one of the last few places where we could get a respite from the cell phone conversation hogs, and now it seems that no place is sacred anymore! A cell phone actually went off during my Grandmother’s funeral service, and the cell phone-packing public has no sense of manners or respectability.

By Charles

April 20, 2008 5:08 PM | Link to this

Cell phones on flights and fist fights !

By jon gill

April 20, 2008 8:38 PM | Link to this

I may stop flying. I always book first or business to get away from disturbances. Now, having to listen to loudmouths on a plane is too much.Most people on cell phones seem to think that they are the only people in the world that matter. Hang up and fly!

By Thrash

April 20, 2008 8:49 PM | Link to this

What happened to the GOOD OLD DAYS when cell phones were outrageously expensive and only people who actually needed them had them and used them judiciously?

By DB

April 20, 2008 10:36 PM | Link to this

NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!! A chartered airplane is looking better and better!

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