Pretty sure voice communication is against FAA regulations.
Top Things Passengers Should Know about Expanded Use of PEDs on Airplanes:
...
4. Cell phones may not be used for voice communications.
...
http://www.faa.gov/news/press_releas...9&newsId=15254
Edit: More here:
and cannot be used for voice communications based on FCC regulations that prohibit any airborne calls using cell phones.
Edit II:
idlechill states this below:
Originally Posted by
idlechill
Founds this on the United site:
"If you purchase an Internet plan on board, you can surf the Internet and send emails. Please note that we do not allow the use of our onboard Internet service for voice communication or videoconferencing through a cell phone, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) or any similar device or service. Voice and video calls are expressly prohibited."
http://www.united.com/web/en-us/cont...i/default.aspx
Cut and dry there for UA policy to me. Don't know about the feds.
So, it's both against FAA policy & UA policy. FA did nothing wrong - no need to chastise. All answers found pretty easily through Google.