Virgin Atlantic Flying Club - Virgin Atlantic announces plan to allow phones at 35,000-feet

Virgin announces plan to allow phones at 35,000 feet (http://www.boston.com/travel/explorene/blogs/packup/2012/06/cell_phones_in-flight_virgin_atlantic.html?p1=Upbox_links)

This should make some people happy, others likely upset and likely others upset because they are limiting use to 10 people at a time. Now we all know there is tons of misinformation out there about phone use and it's effect on navigation/safety (or perhaps it's true and some here just choose to ignore it or not believe it). In any event, I am wondering if this particular part of the article is true or misinformation:

Additionally, the rule about not being allowed to use your phone during takeoff and landing stays in tact, and cell phones must also be turned off within a 250-mile radius of US airspace because of American laws.

Now we all know there is tons of misinformation out there about phone use and it's effect on navigation/safety (or perhaps it's true and some here just choose to ignore it or not believe it).

and cell phones must also be turned off within a 250-mile radius of US airspace because of American laws.[/I]

This is slightly OT but do people really think that an airline would put the lives of hundreds of innocent people in the hands of some idiot who was too stupid to turn off their phone and, if so, why aren't there planes dropping out of the sky regularly as a result.

Regarding the use of mobile/cellular phones in US airspace, this is from the FAA web site (http://www.faa.gov/news/fact_sheets/news_story.cfm?newsid=6275):

"Since 1991, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has banned the inflight use of 800 MHz cell phones because of potential interference with ground networks. This ban requires that in addition to the testing the FAA requires to show non-interference to the airplane systems, an airline would also need to apply for an exemption to the FCC rule before it could allow cell phone use inflight. The FCC proposed modifying this ban in 2004, but subsequently withdrew the proposal based on the comments it received.

Even if the FCC ever rescinds its ban, FAA regulations would still apply."

I agree they aren't going to do something to put customers/planes at undue risk.

My bigger question here has to do with 250 miles within US Airspace; is it a law? Rule? Regulation? Suggestion?....etc.

I agree they aren't going to do something to put customers/planes at undue risk.

My bigger question here has to do with 250 miles within US Airspace; is it a law? Rule? Regulation? Suggestion?....etc.

Short answer: I don't know.

However, the use OVER US airspace is covered in the exerpt I quoted. I'd say the 250 mile thing is probably a Virgin rule.

its ok w/me only if they put in a couple of sound proof phone booths for the calls......the shouting would have rto be much louder at 35k ft!....its bad enough in the terminal....

Ugh. That's one airline I won't be flying.

This is an exclusive luxury service which is only available to 10 people at a time due to lower bandwidth limit at such great height. It also comes at a price. In-flight calls are expected to set phone users back GBP 1 a minute for making calls and 20p for sending text messages.

At a buck fifty a minute or whatever they end up costing, I don't see many more than ten people even trying to use it at the same time, and certainly not for much more than a quick "running a half hour late, see you at the gate" message.

Ugh. That's one airline I won't be flying.

+1! Never have, and now, never will. Flight is the one of the last places you can actually escape cell phones.

I have a hard time believing that people actually would never fly Virgin because of this. For now, they are offering this service on 1 route where the plane carries just over 300 people; and only 10 at a time can use the service. This is just me, but I think the chances of me being disturbed by two passengers having a loud conversation with each other is much higher than being disturbed by a passenger on their phone.

I often wonder if the real reason we get upset when people are on their cell phone (wherever it may be) is that we are nosey and can only hear one side of the conversation.

Qantas and a few others explored the idea but canned it for a variety or reasons including the "customer annoyance" factor. IE somebody next to you loudly using their phone.

I've never flown any of the Virgin airlines but VA has some HOT(!!) FAs and that might make up for the phone thing....

FlyingRabbit announces plan to not fly Virgin ever again

Qantas and a few others explored the idea but canned it for a variety or reasons including the "customer annoyance" factor.

And a number of others are running it today quite successfully.

I agree they aren't going to do something to put customers/planes at undue risk.

My bigger question here has to do with 250 miles within US Airspace; is it a law? Rule? Regulation? Suggestion?....etc.

1 - As noted, it's an FCC regulation, preventing overload of the cellular system due to thousand of phones handing off from cell to cell every few seconds. So no, it's not and never has been defined as a customer/plane risk.

2 - I suspect it has to do with a 200 mile exclusive economic zone defined in the UNCLOS (Law of the Sea), in which the FCC regulation would theoretically apply. 50 miles is probably a safety margin.

I have a hard time believing that people actually would never fly Virgin because of this. For now, they are offering this service on 1 route where the plane carries just over 300 people; and only 10 at a time can use the service. This is just me, but I think the chances of me being disturbed by two passengers having a loud conversation with each other is much higher than being disturbed by a passenger on their phone.

I often wonder if the real reason we get upset when people are on their cell phone (wherever it may be) is that we are nosey and can only hear one side of the conversation.
You can believe it, a plane is one place to escape cell phone chatter. If someone starts talking on a cell phone beside me I already have a plan in place to make as much chatter but louder than them the entire time they are on the phone. If they are talking I will match them word for word, tone for tone and volume for volume. They are gonna hate me....and probably think I am crazy.

FlyingRabbit announces plan to not fly Virgin ever again
+ 100

I have a hard time believing that people actually would never fly Virgin because of this. For now, they are offering this service on 1 route where the plane carries just over 300 people; and only 10 at a time can use the service. This is just me, but I think the chances of me being disturbed by two passengers having a loud conversation with each other is much higher than being disturbed by a passenger on their phone.

I often wonder if the real reason we get upset when people are on their cell phone (wherever it may be) is that we are nosey and can only hear one side of the conversation.

I would never fly Virgin for that one route, and if it spreads to more than 1 route I would avoid it at all costs.

Studies have shown that the annoyance factor from being involuntarily subjected to 1/2 of a conversation is markedly higher than if you're overhearing a two-sided conversation.

And how in the world are they going to enforce the "10 at a time" rule? Have FAs patrolling the aisles with counter-clickers? Or will there be 300 people constantly checking for a signal, shrieking "Hello? Can you hear me now? Can you hear me now?" into their phones in unison?

At a buck fifty a minute or whatever they end up costing, I don't see many more than ten people even trying to use it at the same time, and certainly not for much more than a quick "running a half hour late, see you at the gate" message.

Hmm, I'm not so sure about this. I think cell phones on planes will be the new status symbol and there will be no shortage of people making completely unnecessary phone calls just to show off, talking endlessly about mindless minutia.

You can believe it, a plane is one place to escape cell phone chatter. If someone starts talking on a cell phone beside me I already have a plan in place to make as much chatter but louder than them the entire time they are on the phone. If they are talking I will match them word for word, tone for tone and volume for volume. They are gonna hate me....and probably think I am crazy.


+ 100

^

Amen, sister. Cell phone yappers on planes is one of the seven signs of the apocalypse.

And how in the world are they going to enforce the "10 at a time" rule? Have FAs patrolling the aisles with counter-clickers? Or will there be 300 people constantly checking for a signal, shrieking "Hello? Can you hear me now? Can you hear me now?" into their phones in unison?

I'm assuming something in the technical implementation would prevent more than 10 phones from connecting to the onboard equipment.

Not news. VS has been doing this for months. A press release came out last month about it, so there was another flurry of interest, making it seem like it's a new news story.

Emirates has offered this service across most of its fleet for many years now. I have used it many times myself and it is a big reason why I would choose Emirates over another carrier. I also switched mobile providers to one that partners with Aeromobile in order to use the service.

Most people do not use the service for lengthy voice calls but rather for text messages (although I have seen an instance of an inconsiderate man walking up and down the aisle shouting "Hello? Hello?" into his phone in the middle of a night flight). Those who make voice calls tend to go to the galley at the rear and make the call in relative privacy there. Alternatively, I've seen folks lock themselves in the lav for a while to make a call.

And a number of others are running it today quite successfully.

Very true. That's why businesses have the right to make their own decisions and so do their clients.

Personally, I don't think I'd have a major issue with it. I put my headphones in my ears and go to sleep. They can talk on their phone for the entire flight for all I care but I can see how it would irritate others at times.

Slightly OT, as it's not Virgin flight related, but a coworker of mine has a tactic that has been 100% successful so far. If he's in a "confined space" with someone who is loudly using their phone he simply joins the conversation.

Phone user: "When the price of GE gets down to 104 sell, otherwise hold"

Mr X: "I'd sell at 108. Now United is another story. I'd sell right away and buy more Apple."

And so on....

Slightly OT, as it's not Virgin flight related, but a coworker of mine has a tactic that has been 100% successful so far. If he's in a "confined space" with someone who is loudly using their phone he simply joins the conversation.

Phone user: "When the price of GE gets down to 104 sell, otherwise hold"

Mr X: "I'd sell at 108. Now United is another story. I'd sell right away and buy more Apple."

And so on....
As opposed to just politely asking the loud talker to keep his voice down, which has also worked for me 100% of the time and makes me less of a jackass. Hmm.

As opposed to just politely asking the loud talker to keep his voice down, which has also worked for me 100% of the time and makes me less of a jackass. Hmm.

True and no argument from me there but it's also less fun.

Ugh, it's bad enough having to listen to Cell Phone Man talking loudly and self-importantly in an airport lounge. At least you can get up and move. Being trapped in an airplane seat having to listen to him would be awful. What a bad idea!

Slightly OT, as it's not Virgin flight related, but a coworker of mine has a tactic that has been 100% successful so far. If he's in a "confined space" with someone who is loudly using their phone he simply joins the conversation.

Phone user: "When the price of GE gets down to 104 sell, otherwise hold"

Mr X: "I'd sell at 108. Now United is another story. I'd sell right away and buy more Apple."

And so on....

Curb Your Enthusiasm had a hilarious bit about a guy loudly talking on his Bluetooth in a restaurant. To get back at him Larry loudly talked to himself about nothing in particular. It really annoyed Bluetooth Man. Very funny scene.

There really is something very distracting and irritating about having to listen to half of a conversation. Bad enough listening to all of the "I'm on the plane!" calls before the doors close and the "We just landed!" calls upon landing.

Moving this thread to the Virgin Atlantic forum. Thanks for your understanding.

Jouy31
TravelBuzz co-moderator

I would never fly Virgin for that one route, and if it spreads to more than 1 route I would avoid it at all costs.



VS does not allocate planes to routes (except at the moment the signle 3 class A330 operating the VS/4 route 6 days a week) it rotates them so you never know which named plane you will get.

Also what would you do if there was a last minute substitution of a no-phone plane with a phone plane?

As much as I am not a fan of this there are (to me) more important reasons for fkying (or not) with one carrier than another.

Ryanair equipped some of its planes with cellphone service a while back and quietly dropped it later.