Does AA allow using smartphone to make Skype phone calls via onboard WiFi?
Jul 31, 2010, 4:53 pm
#17
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Austin
Programs: AA P4L, WN, BA, DL, UA, HHonors, IHG
Posts: 3,485
Jul 31, 2010, 4:56 pm
#18
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: New York and Berlin
Programs: MM, BA, AA EXP
Posts: 20
Out of curiosity, I tested my BlackBerry Bold mobile (using UMA) on a recent AA flight and was able to place a call.
Admitedly, I did this in the W.C. and rather quietly so as not to disturb other passengers but the signal was clear and the other party had no idea I was on a plane.
Admitedly, I did this in the W.C. and rather quietly so as not to disturb other passengers but the signal was clear and the other party had no idea I was on a plane.
Jul 31, 2010, 5:32 pm
#19
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Nashville, TN
Programs: AA: EXP, 1 MM
Posts: 50
while the rules prohibit it, the connection doesn't.
i've tested skype by checking voicemail.
and ichat was able to make a video connection.
while i don't use either to communicate via voice, i do use ichat regularly to communicate realtime via text with employees, producers, etc. when i'm in the middle of a project and flying. it's made a difference a few times in helping me meet deadlines while i was in transit.
i've tested skype by checking voicemail.
and ichat was able to make a video connection.
while i don't use either to communicate via voice, i do use ichat regularly to communicate realtime via text with employees, producers, etc. when i'm in the middle of a project and flying. it's made a difference a few times in helping me meet deadlines while i was in transit.
Jul 31, 2010, 7:30 pm
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW/DAL
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, AS MVPG, HH Diamond, NCL Platinum Plus, MSC Diamond
Posts: 21,422
using VOIP to talk on a plane isn't necessarily rude...... heck, I was on a flight last week from SFO to JFK. Two women on the opposite side of first class kept talking during the entire flight. They were so loud that I could hear every word they spoke. The only time they stopped was when one of them had to use the loo. 
When the FA asked them "nicely" to keep it down... they responded by saying that they paid full fare first class tickets and shoudl be treated accordingly, not the riff-raffs who got into first class using upgrades. Where's the FAM in first class when you need one?
When the FA asked them "nicely" to keep it down... they responded by saying that they paid full fare first class tickets and shoudl be treated accordingly, not the riff-raffs who got into first class using upgrades. Where's the FAM in first class when you need one?
Jul 31, 2010, 10:17 pm
#21
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Traveling the World
Posts: 6,072
They are available
If you can access WIfi then you can access Skype. They just want you to use their expensive phone service. There are workarounds like DNS spoofing so American does not even know you are using Skype. Try it out.
Jul 31, 2010, 10:24 pm
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW/DAL
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, AS MVPG, HH Diamond, NCL Platinum Plus, MSC Diamond
Posts: 21,422
It's not about them wanting to use their phones. In fact, many of them have been removed. I really don't want to be annoyed by cell phones or other phones on the plane. i have never heard a long conversation on an air phone. I have used one only twice. Once was right before an emergency landing, and the other time was because I wanted to talk to a woman I was in love with. It was the first time she told me she loved me. I am not in favor of idle chit chat on the plane, nor did I consider it appropriate to discuss business issues in a public place, where you conversation can be heard by others. It is enough that people can't even seem to avoid the quiet zone signs in Admiral's CLubs
Jul 31, 2010, 10:53 pm
#23
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Not in DFW
Posts: 2,007
"SusanYVR - using VOIP to talk on a plane isn't necessarily rude...... heck, I was on a flight last week from SFO to JFK. Two women on the opposite side of first class kept talking during the entire flight. They were so loud that I could hear every word they spoke. "
I would find someone using VOIP to talk on a plane rude, intrusive, annoying, irritating and just about every other negative word you could think of. I hope calls are never allowed. I enjoy the peace and quiet I get on a plane and wouldn't want to hear another person yammering on the phone non-stop during a flight. Loud people on a plane happen infrequently, I am afraid if people could make phone calls it would be every single flight.
I would find someone using VOIP to talk on a plane rude, intrusive, annoying, irritating and just about every other negative word you could think of. I hope calls are never allowed. I enjoy the peace and quiet I get on a plane and wouldn't want to hear another person yammering on the phone non-stop during a flight. Loud people on a plane happen infrequently, I am afraid if people could make phone calls it would be every single flight.
Aug 1, 2010, 2:51 am
#24
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 41
"SusanYVR - using VOIP to talk on a plane isn't necessarily rude...... heck, I was on a flight last week from SFO to JFK. Two women on the opposite side of first class kept talking during the entire flight. They were so loud that I could hear every word they spoke. "
I would find someone using VOIP to talk on a plane rude, intrusive, annoying, irritating and just about every other negative word you could think of. I hope calls are never allowed. I enjoy the peace and quiet I get on a plane and wouldn't want to hear another person yammering on the phone non-stop during a flight. Loud people on a plane happen infrequently, I am afraid if people could make phone calls it would be every single flight.
I would find someone using VOIP to talk on a plane rude, intrusive, annoying, irritating and just about every other negative word you could think of. I hope calls are never allowed. I enjoy the peace and quiet I get on a plane and wouldn't want to hear another person yammering on the phone non-stop during a flight. Loud people on a plane happen infrequently, I am afraid if people could make phone calls it would be every single flight.
Aug 1, 2010, 2:54 am
#25
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 195
If i ever see someone trying to make phone calls i will start streaming eight or nine utube videos at once to jam the bandwidth
sT
sT
Aug 1, 2010, 8:16 am
#26
Join Date: Jan 2008
Programs: AA EXP, AMEX Platinum, Global Entry, TSA PreCheck
Posts: 312
Out of curiosity, I tested my BlackBerry Bold mobile (using UMA) on a recent AA flight and was able to place a call.
Admitedly, I did this in the W.C. and rather quietly so as not to disturb other passengers but the signal was clear and the other party had no idea I was on a plane.
Admitedly, I did this in the W.C. and rather quietly so as not to disturb other passengers but the signal was clear and the other party had no idea I was on a plane.
IMHO someone making a voice and/or video call next to me is greatly preferred over many other in-flight occurrences. Screaming baby comes to mind 1st and the list drags on from there ..
Aug 1, 2010, 9:08 am
#27
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW-In Plano & CDG-In the 11th
Programs: DL Diamond, AA revenue negative, Bonvoy Titanium +, Avis likes me
Posts: 3,209
Put me down in the camp of NO CELLPHONES! ^
If you can't get it done on the ground, take a later flight.
As for go-go, voip, skype, etc,, just because you have it, doesn't mean you HAVE to use it.
If you can't get it done on the ground, take a later flight.
As for go-go, voip, skype, etc,, just because you have it, doesn't mean you HAVE to use it.
Aug 1, 2010, 9:18 am
#28
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: AUS / DXB
Programs: BA Silver | AA LT Gold | EY Silver | Marriott LT Titanium
Posts: 1,838
Calling from the W.C. may be considerate of your other passengers, but what about your caller?
IMHO someone making a voice and/or video call next to me is greatly preferred over many other in-flight occurrences. Screaming baby comes to mind 1st and the list drags on from there ..
IMHO someone making a voice and/or video call next to me is greatly preferred over many other in-flight occurrences. Screaming baby comes to mind 1st and the list drags on from there ..
The airline can set limits on how long VOIP conversations can last, and ask the FAs to enforce it. VOIP could be blocked on red-eyes. The FA's can always ask pax being excessively loud to quieten down. By law, pax are required to obey FA instructions. When controlled well, I don't see why VOIP is such a huge issue. There is worse out there.
Aug 1, 2010, 11:57 am
#29
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Boston, MA (BOS)
Programs: AA PLT Pro 2MM, DL Gold, UA Silver, Marriott Ambassador + LT Plat, COFC Venture X, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 5,587
I had an encounter with the EXP desk last year when my flight to DFW was delayed for mx, I called via GoGo to make sure I was protected on another DFW-BOS. Agent was very helpful and rebooked me in F.
At the end of the conversation she said "ohhm aren't you supposed to be in the air now?".
Me: "yes I am in the air now". (Agent unaware calls are prohibited and AA was installing Gogo)
AAgent: "How resourceful of you to call how did you do that?"
Me: "Go-go in flight internet"
At the end of the conversation she said "ohhm aren't you supposed to be in the air now?".
Me: "yes I am in the air now". (Agent unaware calls are prohibited and AA was installing Gogo)
AAgent: "How resourceful of you to call how did you do that?"
Me: "Go-go in flight internet"
Aug 1, 2010, 12:13 pm
#30
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP/2MM, IHG Platinum, Marriott Silver
Posts: 1,185
