Originally Posted by
jackal
I
Well, they really have no technological way of blocking these things if you connect via VPN, which is what I did on a DL flight and participated in a conference call. The guy next to me didn't even know I was doing it, though, because I was talking very softly directly into the phone instead of shouting like too many people do (and guess what, the conference callees heard me just fine). I have no problem with people doing this if they are respectful of their surroundings.
At least the rule gives the FA an excuse to make you hang up if you're being obnoxious. I doubt many people using it quietly and discretely will get much guff unless you're sitting next to some busybody who thinks your phone is going to bring the plane down.