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Save/SharePassengers on European planes will be yapping on their cell phones during flights, thanks to a new ruling by officials in Brussels. (So much for cell phone use being disruptive of an airplane's electronics!)
Air France has been testing the service since mid-December, but the airline has not yet decided whether it will allow passengers to place voice calls along with sending text-messages. Air France's service allows you to download email attachments and surf the Web from your device's browser. So far, the service is only available on its Airbus A318 operating on routes in Europe. Fees have not been announced.
It's not clear if other airlines will follow suit. Just because it's allowed doesn't mean that every airline will offer the service. Airlines have permission to ask passengers to switch their phones and devices to "silent mode" during night flights.
The fine print:
You have to have a phone or device that operates on the standard cellular network in Europe, GSM, to take part in the service. Theoretically, users of the AT&T and T-Mobile services in the U.S. should be able to take advantage of this service on European planes because they also run on GSM.
A device will force all cell phones (and Blackberries, Treos, and iPhones) to use a transmitter on the plane, which will direct the calls via the satellite to ground transmitters.
On our previous blog post, "Do you really want to be connected in-flight?", dozens of readers commented about cell phone use during flights. Here are a few of your comments:
Can you imagine how (extra) loud people will be talking on cell phones on airplanes (my wife is loud enough when we are in the car)! :-)—Mark SilverI don't care about being connected to the web but I sure don't want everyone being able to use their cell phones.—Walter Grebe.
Absolutely a positive! Airline flying is a total bore and a waste of a perfectly good day. Even with the tight seats in coach that nearly exclude using your laptop (especially if the person in front of you leans the seat back - YIKES!), most of us still have our i-Phones, Crackberries, etc. and could make much better use of our time onboard the flying projectile if we could connect in-flight.—Carol White
Feel free to sound off with your own opinion below.
MORE The BBC's coverage.
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Noooooooooooooo!
What were they thinking? Now everyone will have to get those Bose.
Posted By Marilyn Terrell on April 7, 2008, 4:22 PM
As they say... "Don't go there girl"...here in Australia, our national carrier Qantas is trialling sms and web browsing but I can't believe the so far minority of travelers who actually think that being allowed to make a mobile call in flight is a good thing.
It's funny, when you see people using the in seat phones you have on some airlines they tend to speak in hushed and respectful tones...give them a cell phone and they instantly become Gordan Gecko! No thanks!
Posted By Newest Cell Phones on April 9, 2008, 3:42 AM
This is just stunning... now, as you drift off to sleep finally, the guy next to you either makes or recieves a phone call! Between that and the crying babies, you'll be back for more in no time! Terrible idea folks.
Posted By aly on April 10, 2008, 12:38 PM
THIS IS A TERRIBLE IDEA! THE QUALITY OF THE TRAVEL EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN STEADILY ERODING AND THIS WOULD MAKE LONG TRIPS NEARLY UNBEARABLE. BORING, SELF-IMPORTANT PEOPLE ALREADY ARE ANNOYING ENOUGH IN OTHERS SETTINGS WHERE ESCAPE IS AT LEAST POSSIBLE. BEING TRAPPED NEXT TO A "YAKKER" IN A SMALL, CRAMPED SEAT WITH NO WHERE TO GO SOUNDS TERRIFYINGLY LIKE HELL TO ME. LET'S GET SERIOUS! NO CONVERSATION, OTHER THAN THOSE OF THE FLIGHT CREWS, ARE SO IMPORTANT THAT THEY MUST BE HELD DURING FLIGHTS! DON'T DO IT, PLEASE!
Posted By ANN MOYNAHAN on April 10, 2008, 12:45 PM
I agree with Ann. Being trapped next to a boorish loud talker on a cell is PURE HELL!!! No phones in Space!!!
Posted By Marianne on April 10, 2008, 2:21 PM
Absolutely not! I can't imagine being stuck on a plane with no means of escape with some insensitive person just yapping away about god knows what! And, I am certain that without a doubt, it will at some time and place profane and/are unacceptable for anyone within earshot - especially children.
Posted By Evelyn Croff on April 10, 2008, 5:39 PM
I can't wait to read about the first "air rage" incident over some idiot's abuse of this moronic ruling. All because those that don't have a life have no shame in subjecting the rest of us to insane and unnecessary babbling! What I don't understand is why, as all I've read indicates that a vast majority of fliers, as well as flight attendants, are against cell phones in flight, the industry chooses to ignore us!
Posted By Notonyerlife on April 11, 2008, 9:07 AM
I wish that everyone who uses cell phones in public places would immediately come down with the inability to speak for at least one hour's duration.
Posted By Alan Gilbert on April 20, 2008, 11:40 AM