Travel Technology - Cell phones in airplane mode: you can't use them at all?

OK, not sure if this belongs in the Delta forum, but since every airline has different verbiage on their approved list of electronics, decided to post it here

So, to make a long story even longer, here it goes ;)

I am flying ELP-ATL (upgraded to first :)^), and I got my new cool phone, with 2.0 MP camera and MP3 player, downloaded a few games, and as with any new gadget, you need to be messing with any function that it has.

One of the nice features it has, it's airplane mode, in which the cell phone's communications are cut off, and all it is at that point is a camera, MP3 player, calendar, etc.

So, I am minding my own business, and the FA comes and tells me, "you need to turn that off" I explained that it had this feature that disabled the cell phone, but he gave me attitude, and told me I had to turn it off, "it is a cell phone, and those can't be turned on until we land"

<sigh>

So, didn't want to argue with him, it looked like it was a lost cause, and decided to take a nap instead.

So, does it vary from FA to FA? Or can you prove to someone that it is OK to carry with phones that can turn off their communications?

YYMV or SOL?

You are correct that this thread does not belong on the DL board. Therefore I am moving over to the Travel Tech board.

Rssrsvp - Moderator

Flight mode is exactly that; it turns off the transceiver of the phone turning it into an expensive gameboy/pda. The phone doesn't broadcast anything, no GSM (or whatever system it is for), no WiFi if it has it, and no Bluetooth. FA's just don't know which phones do and do not have this feature so they usually just tell you that none of them are allowed.

Jesus: I think you were wise to abandon the discussion and nap. I wouldn't even attempt to explain this to your average person. And at the taxi mode, they want all portable electronics devices turned off as well.

Tell them it is off. Explaining "flight mode" is a waste of time.

On the Q phone their latest firmware update changed the display to read "Phone Off" instead of "Flight Mode". Perhaps they had too many complaints from people that have these types of encounters with FA's?

I guess that even the clueless will understand what "Phone Off" means @:-) .

Tell them it is off. Explaining "flight mode" is a waste of time.
I have NEVER been hassled for using my Treo 650 during flight. "the phone function is off" is all you should have to tell the FA.

I keep the whole thing off during taxi and landing, of course.

If they are so interested I just hand it to them and ask them to show me how you turn it off, my HTC can not be. I then show them how it is in flight mode and how you get it out of flight mode, has always worked.

"the phone function is off" is all you should have to tell the FA.
I did, he did not care

But yet the guy with the Blackberry right next to me was using it without any problems

:confused:

Tell them it is off. Explaining "flight mode" is a waste of time.

Yeah, then he must to be turn it off all the cell phone and electronics devices during in-flight.

If they are so interested I just hand it to them and ask them to show me how you turn it off, my HTC can not be. I then show them how it is in flight mode and how you get it out of flight mode, has always worked.

Have you tried to press and hold the power button for approximately 5 seconds? That's typically how you turn off HTC devices.

I have NEVER been hassled for using my Treo 650 during flight. "the phone function is off" is all you should have to tell the FA.

I keep the whole thing off during taxi and landing, of course.


I have never been hassled about my Treo 700w either. On a flight 2 weeks ago, the FA saw it sitting on the seat next to me, and asked me what model it was, and explained that she wanted to get one. I showed her a couple features, and there wasn't a single hassle or problem.

Recently on my flights - during the FA announcements - they've made reference to "turning your cell phone off, or turning the radio portion of your phone off." As someone mentioned before, it has a lot to do with how tech-savvy your particular FA is. Trying to explain to someone what "flight mode" is is probably a waste of time.

I did, he did not care

But yet the guy with the Blackberry right next to me was using it without any problems

:confused:

I guess you have more patience than me. I would have probably told him to get the pilot if he can't understand that I am in perfect compliance with the rules.

I did, he did not care

But yet the guy with the Blackberry right next to me was using it without any problems

:confused:

One thing I like about my Blackberry 8700g is that right where the coverage indicator is, it says, "OFF" when in flight mode. If ever needed, I think I could just show that to the FA.

One thing I like about my Blackberry 8700g is that right where the coverage indicator is, it says, "OFF" when in flight mode. If ever needed, I think I could just show that to the FA.

But wouldn't you agree that the Q phone is now even more descriptive as it clearly says "Phone Off" in the new models and also the old ones that have had the firmware update? Even a dummy should understand what that means.

Yes, that is even better.

One thing I like about my Blackberry 8700g is that right where the coverage indicator is, it says, "OFF" when in flight mode. If ever needed, I think I could just show that to the FA.

I've still had issues with FAs even having the 8700g. Somehow OFF doesnt really mean OFF ...

Go figure

Just tell them its a PDA and NOT a phone.

Just tell them its a PDA and NOT a phone.

That's doesn't work. I have a PDA and was sitting quietly playing solitaire and was rudely ordered to turn it off. My mistake was sitting in the aisle seat of row two of a CRJ. The FA could see me during landing.

This is a basic Palm TungstenE that does nothing and they don't even make WIFI for it anymore (I know, I tried to buy something to upgrade it). I explained it was no more threatening that a tamagotchi game bought from the dollar store but that didn't change the ruling.

I figure FAs can't be expected to know the features of every handheld devise that is on the market. But it still angered me because I was prejudged to be an obnoxious rule-breaker and smacked down accordingly.

You certainly can't expect a FA to be up to date on the latest technology. They are FAs not the Director of Technology for the airline. Best to keep the thing shut off until you land. Not everyone is first class (me included) really cares about another passanger being up to date on the latest gizzmo or gadget.

So, does it vary from FA to FA? Or can you prove to someone that it is OK to carry with phones that can turn off their communications?

YYMV or SOL?

I don't fly DL, but on UA, "Cell phones and other devices using wi-fi technology (sic, 1) may be used only if the transmit function is turned off," (or very similar phrasing) seems to have been added to the standard FA script because I hear it a lot. I haven't seen or heard of any recent complaints on UA about FAs not understanding "airplane mode." It really isn't that hard of a concept.

(1) because cell phones don't use wi-fi technology, but that's what UA says.

I don't fly DL, but on UA, "Cell phones and other devices using wi-fi technology (sic, 1) may be used only if the transmit function is turned off," (or very similar phrasing) seems to have been added to the standard FA script because I hear it a lot. I haven't seen or heard of any recent complaints on UA about FAs not understanding "airplane mode." It really isn't that hard of a concept.

(1) because cell phones don't use wi-fi technology, but that's what UA says.


I've heard the same on UA. and on some CO flights.. i've
heard them ask people to keep the cell phones off.. even the
ones with "Airplane mode"

...But yet the guy with the Blackberry right next to me was using it without any problems ...

The report about being denied use of an old Tungsten notwithstanding, I think you've put your finger on what's going on. If it's big, like a Blackberry, a Treo or a Pocket PC, it's rare to find an FA who will do more than ask you if you have the transmit turned off. But if it is small enough to look like a cell phone, well, they figure it quacks like a cell phone.

Have you tried to press and hold the power button for approximately 5 seconds? That's typically how you turn off HTC devices.

Still on, just turns the screen off for me.

That's doesn't work. I have a PDA and was sitting quietly playing solitaire and was rudely ordered to turn it off. My mistake was sitting in the aisle seat of row two of a CRJ. The FA could see me during landing.

This is a basic Palm TungstenE that does nothing and they don't even make WIFI for it anymore (I know, I tried to buy something to upgrade it). I explained it was no more threatening that a tamagotchi game bought from the dollar store but that didn't change the ruling.

I figure FAs can't be expected to know the features of every handheld devise that is on the market. But it still angered me because I was prejudged to be an obnoxious rule-breaker and smacked down accordingly.
If I read your post right, you were playing solitaire during landing.... is that correct? If so, then the FA was correct. They don't want you doing anything during landing. Of course, your PDA is electronically the same whether playing solitaire or sitting in your pocket with the screen off, but that's beside the point.