Cell Phones on Flights

Serious Business 19 replies 401 views
se-alum's avatar
se-alum
Posts: 13,948
Dec 12, 2013 3:54pm
The FCC is apparently thinking about allowing cell phone use on flights. Personally, I couldn't imagine being stuck on a flight with a bunch of people talking on their cell phones. Would you be for or against this?
TedSheckler's avatar
TedSheckler
Posts: 3,974
Dec 12, 2013 3:56pm
I'm important. So I don't care if I annoy you or anyone.
V
vball10set
Posts: 24,795
Dec 12, 2013 3:58pm
se-alum;1552623 wrote:The FCC is apparently thinking about allowing cell phone use on flights. Personally, I couldn't imagine being stuck on a flight with a bunch of people talking on their cell phones. Would you be for or against this?
This would be hell, so no.
Q
queencitybuckeye
Posts: 7,117
Dec 12, 2013 3:58pm
Internet access on planes is well on its way to being ubiquitous. You can text, e-mail, tweet, and Facebook to communicate with anyone on the ground. That should be enough for anyone.
G
gut
Posts: 15,058
Dec 12, 2013 4:00pm
I shudder to think how awful first class would be with all the "look how important I am" business types having to have their conference calls.

But I think it's really tough to get a signal in the air (even if you can get a tower, don't think the tech can handle tower switching that quickly). So I assume this would be some sort of VoIP, or apply mainly to shortly after take-off and before landing. Mainly that stupid time between "doors closed" and 10,000 feet. Add in taxiing and you could be talking 20+ minutes of electronics use.

Although for peace of mind consider those "inflight phones" that charged like $10 a minute never really took off. And a tech savvy person can already do VoIP on the many flights that offer wifi. Maybe it's the fact people don't like to discuss business on planes because it isn't private (and more probably like the excuse to be "disconnected" for a few hours).
Commander of Awesome's avatar
Commander of Awesome
Posts: 23,151
Dec 12, 2013 4:05pm
Doesn't matter if we lie it or not, it's going to happen. Airlines will respond by having quiet sections like trains do and charge more for it.
sleeper's avatar
sleeper
Posts: 27,879
Dec 12, 2013 5:01pm
I'm okay with cell phone use but not talking.
Z
Zombaypirate
Posts: 581
Dec 12, 2013 5:02pm
No problem I believe in freedom.
M
MontyBrunswick
Dec 12, 2013 9:52pm
I've only flown twice in my life and both times cell phones weren't super popular yet... but I could easily see why people wouldn't want this on flights.

Granted, you have to consider there are no rules saying you can't do it on other forms of transportation (bus/rail).

Chalk me up into the indifferent category.
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sportchampps
Posts: 7,361
Dec 12, 2013 11:36pm
On a train or bus you can usually move a little bit away from someone on a cellphone. I couldn't imagine being on a long flight next to someone on their cellphone the entire time.
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gut
Posts: 15,058
Dec 12, 2013 11:42pm
sportchampps;1552780 wrote:On a train or bus you can usually move a little bit away from someone on a cellphone. I couldn't imagine being on a long flight next to someone on their cellphone the entire time.
Ha! Not always, not during rush hour in the big city. And it's actually far worse on a plane that is usually so quiet that you can hear people talking quietly several rows away. The fact that people don't usually talk on the plane gives me hope that they won't chatter away on their cell phone just because they can.
Laley23's avatar
Laley23
Posts: 29,506
Dec 12, 2013 11:45pm
Cell phone usage? YES!

Cell phone voice calls? FUCK NO!
Glory Days's avatar
Glory Days
Posts: 7,809
Dec 13, 2013 12:00am
I flew back from Mexico City and it was the worst flight ever. Imagine being on an elementary school bus on a field trip the day before summer. Allowing cell phones will be the most annoying thing ever.
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gut
Posts: 15,058
Dec 13, 2013 12:01am
I've only checked a few times briefly...but I can't get a signal at 30,000 feet. Even if you could, between the weak signal and how quickly you're switching towers I can't imagine your call doesn't get dropped after a minute or two.
H
hang_loose
Posts: 802
Dec 13, 2013 3:45am
I don't know if it was allowed or not but there was a whole lot of info given to and from passengers and family on cell phones Sept 11 . Thankfully some of them were able to say good-bye to their family and some found out what was really happening.

God bless them all!!!
Raw Dawgin' it's avatar
Raw Dawgin' it
Posts: 11,466
Dec 13, 2013 8:37am
I don't care - i fly with headphones.
Belly35's avatar
Belly35
Posts: 9,716
Dec 13, 2013 9:02am
I Ok with cell phone useage and computer usage ... but cell phone or facetime talking .... NO

Keep your communication to yourself, nobody what to hear you talking to your hand and we sure in the hell don't need to listen to the loud mouth you're talking to. If you're talking on your cell phone and sitting beside me ... Best be speaking English or you could find that cell phone up your ass .. mofo
HitsRus's avatar
HitsRus
Posts: 9,206
Dec 13, 2013 9:05am
Yes, with restrictions. Texting OK...voice calls limited to 2mimutes or less and they should be VERY expensive.
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friendfromlowry
Posts: 6,239
Dec 13, 2013 4:02pm
Everything else about flying sucks, why not allow cell phones, too.
justincredible's avatar
justincredible
Posts: 32,056
Dec 13, 2013 4:17pm
I think it should be up to the airlines, not the federal government. That said, I would probably only fly airlines that didn't allow calls.