Cell phone use in flight - inevitable?
Feb 21, 2006, 5:56 am
#1
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Cell phone use in flight - inevitable?
I was reading an article in the Washington Post this morning. It made an off-hand comment that cell phone use in-flight will surely be allowed eventually. The thought of sitting next to someone shouting into their phone for hours is abhorant to me. Assuming it happens how should UA control things?
Feb 21, 2006, 6:20 am
#3
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My guess is that usage will be gated by cost, just like the current onboard phones that few people are willing to use. The interesting question for me is when we see broadband on the United planes will they try and block voip since that would bypass any cell phone service for those people suitably equipped (laptop and headset).
Feb 21, 2006, 6:23 am
#4
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Originally Posted by Foster461
My guess is that usage will be gated by cost, just like the current onboard phones that few people are willing to use. The interesting question for me is when we see broadband on the United planes will they try and block voip since that would bypass any cell phone service for those people suitably equipped (laptop and headset).
Feb 21, 2006, 6:27 am
#5
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Good point on VOIP. Assuming there is enough bandwidth, that will be available before cell phones and will be the first test for UA policy on the issue.
Regardless of method, I can see phone use being widespread. Perhaps they should segregate phone users like they did when smoking was permitted?
Regardless of method, I can see phone use being widespread. Perhaps they should segregate phone users like they did when smoking was permitted?
Last edited by deckman; Feb 21, 2006 at 6:33 am
Feb 21, 2006, 6:48 am
#7
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I think it is inevitable but there may be a possibility that you have 'no cell phone use' sections (in E+?) after it's initially implemented. Virgin Trains in the UK (and I'm sure many others) have this concept, and it's a great offering to those of us who can't bear to listen to someone blurting "I'm on the plane". 
Feb 21, 2006, 6:49 am
#8
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Fortunately, GMS, UTMS, and CDMA don't have the range for the cell phones to
lock on the ground transmitters reliably. So as said before, the aircraft will have
to be fitted with a router.
Horrible thought to have VOIP or cell phones for at a low cost on the plane.
Segragation of phone-challenged pax into the bay area will only help partly
as they won't quit screaming once the plane levels off.
Maybe they should then also allow other transmitting devices such as
broadband jammers?
On board LH Skype works just fine via Flynet which is an unpleasant idea in
the long run. I really think that the TCP/IP traffic from planes should be
jittered to keep VOIP non-op.
lock on the ground transmitters reliably. So as said before, the aircraft will have
to be fitted with a router.
Horrible thought to have VOIP or cell phones for at a low cost on the plane.
Segragation of phone-challenged pax into the bay area will only help partly
as they won't quit screaming once the plane levels off.
Maybe they should then also allow other transmitting devices such as
broadband jammers?
On board LH Skype works just fine via Flynet which is an unpleasant idea in
the long run. I really think that the TCP/IP traffic from planes should be
jittered to keep VOIP non-op.
Feb 21, 2006, 6:51 am
#9
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Originally Posted by lucky9876coins
If it is ever allowed, I sure UA will differentiate itself and not allow it at all.
Unfortunately, even if you are correct, I think they would cave to competetive pressure when all the other airlines allow it.
Feb 21, 2006, 6:52 am
#10
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Originally Posted by seanp7
I think it is inevitable but there may be a possibility that you have 'no cell phone use' sections (in E+?) after it's initially implemented. Virgin Trains in the UK (and I'm sure many others) have this concept, and it's a great offering to those of us who can't bear to listen to someone blurting "I'm on the plane".
Feb 21, 2006, 7:04 am
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Originally Posted by weero
On board LH Skype works just fine via Flynet which is an unpleasant idea in the long run.
Ny now, I have seen piles of preemptive complaints about allowing phones on aircraft. Most interestingly, close to 100% of these complaints are from FTers who haven't even come near an aircraft equipped with broadband Internet.
OTOH, with dozens of such flights under my belt since May 2004, I still haven't witnessed one single complaint about this issue on-board a plane equipped with FlyNet. Nobody cares, because one hardly recognizes somebody using Skype. So it's a non-issue. But hey, we can have HEATED threads about WARM nuts, so why not...
Feb 21, 2006, 7:07 am
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Originally Posted by iluv2fly
And this is here and not in Travel Buzz because...?
Compensation, anyone?
Last edited by flysurfer; Feb 21, 2006 at 7:35 am
Feb 21, 2006, 7:07 am
#15
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Originally Posted by qasr
If anything I would expect UA to differentiate itself by offering it first to passengers--they are placing themselves as the business flyer's friend, sadly that will probably come to include cell phone use.
Unfortunately, even if you are correct, I think they would cave to competetive pressure when all the other airlines allow it.
Unfortunately, even if you are correct, I think they would cave to competetive pressure when all the other airlines allow it.