The secret cell phone enforcer on my flight
Oct 5, 2018, 8:55 pm
#31
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: The FT AA forum, until it no longer wants me.
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Posts: 1,913
And no mileage runs.
Oct 5, 2018, 8:56 pm
#32
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: The FT AA forum, until it no longer wants me.
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Posts: 1,913
Oct 5, 2018, 10:16 pm
#33
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: SLC/HEL/Anywhere with a Beach
Programs: Marriott Ambassador; AA EXP 3MM; AS MVP, Hilton Gold, CH-47/UH-60/C-23/C-130 VET
Posts: 5,234
The cell phone rule has always been an FCC rule, not an FAA rule because the concerns, as stated above, that it would tie up signals from too many cell towers simultaneously.
That being said, occasionally I have an FA push the issue and I comply. Not worth the problem.
And ... it if was an avionics problem, I figure that over the past 10-20 years, the number of individuals flying on planes with their cell phones not in airplane mode has multiplied by hundreds ... yet planes don't seem to be falling out of the air even with all these wifi equipped flights.
That being said, occasionally I have an FA push the issue and I comply. Not worth the problem.
And ... it if was an avionics problem, I figure that over the past 10-20 years, the number of individuals flying on planes with their cell phones not in airplane mode has multiplied by hundreds ... yet planes don't seem to be falling out of the air even with all these wifi equipped flights.
Oct 6, 2018, 1:38 am
#34
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 167
Let's break this down
1. You were breaking the law.
2. Someone told you you were breaking the law
3. You got pissy
Here's what's polite. If you are breaking the law (you have your phone out, you cut someone off driving, anything illegal that you know is wrong), and someone mentions it (they tell you, they honk at you), you don't get pissy - you admit you were wrong. Because getting angry when you're in the wrong is stupid.
Nobody is perfect enough to never break the law, but everyone is good enough to accept critique when they make that mistake.
And before anybody says "but this was minor" - it doesn't matter. it's the principle. Society rests on an edifice of rules and regulations. The alternative is red in tooth and claw.
1. You were breaking the law.
2. Someone told you you were breaking the law
3. You got pissy
Here's what's polite. If you are breaking the law (you have your phone out, you cut someone off driving, anything illegal that you know is wrong), and someone mentions it (they tell you, they honk at you), you don't get pissy - you admit you were wrong. Because getting angry when you're in the wrong is stupid.
Nobody is perfect enough to never break the law, but everyone is good enough to accept critique when they make that mistake.
And before anybody says "but this was minor" - it doesn't matter. it's the principle. Society rests on an edifice of rules and regulations. The alternative is red in tooth and claw.
Oct 6, 2018, 1:40 am
#35
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 167
Oct 6, 2018, 2:07 am
#36
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Chicagoland
Programs: AA exp 3mm Hertz 5*
Posts: 334
I don’t claim to know the origin of the rule, but I can say that about 10 years back, you could hear the whistling in your headset from cellphone use. I’ll specifically reference headset (rx and trx) as opposed to headphones. As there is a lot more critical comm at take off and landing, the rule would seem to make sense. Whether this is still the case today...I don’t know.
Does the FAA does prohibit the use ‘in flight’? it’s odd that anyone would know that and not know that movement towards becoming airborne, including taxing, and run up, has long been interpreted by the FAA to be part of the ‘flight’.
My my first flight as an EXP, was w my wife ORD/FLL. The middle seat (yep, y) was occupied by a non rev FA, who thought it appropriate to moderate our conversation. A brief quip that their opinion wasn’t welcome didn’t stop the matter, so we decided it was time to read our books. I didn’t know who she was, but easy for her to find out who I was. Apparently the FA working the section caught wind of her comments, and made a point of asking what We would like for our free drinks... the middle seater first looked shocked (I don’t recall saying anything nieve or stupid), but then just rolled her eyes.
Does the FAA does prohibit the use ‘in flight’? it’s odd that anyone would know that and not know that movement towards becoming airborne, including taxing, and run up, has long been interpreted by the FAA to be part of the ‘flight’.
My my first flight as an EXP, was w my wife ORD/FLL. The middle seat (yep, y) was occupied by a non rev FA, who thought it appropriate to moderate our conversation. A brief quip that their opinion wasn’t welcome didn’t stop the matter, so we decided it was time to read our books. I didn’t know who she was, but easy for her to find out who I was. Apparently the FA working the section caught wind of her comments, and made a point of asking what We would like for our free drinks... the middle seater first looked shocked (I don’t recall saying anything nieve or stupid), but then just rolled her eyes.
Oct 6, 2018, 2:49 am
#37
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Atlanta Metro
Programs: DL , AC, BA, Hhonors Diamond, IH Platinum, Bonvoy Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,352
Let's break this down
1. You were breaking the law.
2. Someone told you you were breaking the law
3. You got pissy
Here's what's polite. If you are breaking the law (you have your phone out, you cut someone off driving, anything illegal that you know is wrong), and someone mentions it (they tell you, they honk at you), you don't get pissy - you admit you were wrong. Because getting angry when you're in the wrong is stupid.
Nobody is perfect enough to never break the law, but everyone is good enough to accept critique when they make that mistake.
And before anybody says "but this was minor" - it doesn't matter. it's the principle. Society rests on an edifice of rules and regulations. The alternative is red in tooth and claw.
1. You were breaking the law.
2. Someone told you you were breaking the law
3. You got pissy
Here's what's polite. If you are breaking the law (you have your phone out, you cut someone off driving, anything illegal that you know is wrong), and someone mentions it (they tell you, they honk at you), you don't get pissy - you admit you were wrong. Because getting angry when you're in the wrong is stupid.
Nobody is perfect enough to never break the law, but everyone is good enough to accept critique when they make that mistake.
And before anybody says "but this was minor" - it doesn't matter. it's the principle. Society rests on an edifice of rules and regulations. The alternative is red in tooth and claw.
Being scolded is annoying for sure, but when they're right, just eat crow and admit it.
Oct 6, 2018, 4:38 am
#38
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,265
the whole cell phone interfering with electronics is such a load of crap, remember when they used to not allow cell phones in hospitals because they thought it'd interfere with medical equipment, also glad they stopped the previous rules of only using phones at the gate. Don't forget you still can't use your cell phones while pumping gas...also crap and widely debunked.
Not sure if we are, but 2 seconds do not matter.
Oct 6, 2018, 4:58 am
#39
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: United Kingdom
Programs: Bonvoy LTTitanium, BAEC Silver
Posts: 591
Let's break this down
1. You were breaking the law.
2. Someone told you you were breaking the law
3. You got pissy
Here's what's polite. If you are breaking the law (you have your phone out, you cut someone off driving, anything illegal that you know is wrong), and someone mentions it (they tell you, they honk at you), you don't get pissy - you admit you were wrong. Because getting angry when you're in the wrong is stupid.
Nobody is perfect enough to never break the law, but everyone is good enough to accept critique when they make that mistake.
And before anybody says "but this was minor" - it doesn't matter. it's the principle. Society rests on an edifice of rules and regulations. The alternative is red in tooth and claw.
1. You were breaking the law.
2. Someone told you you were breaking the law
3. You got pissy
Here's what's polite. If you are breaking the law (you have your phone out, you cut someone off driving, anything illegal that you know is wrong), and someone mentions it (they tell you, they honk at you), you don't get pissy - you admit you were wrong. Because getting angry when you're in the wrong is stupid.
Nobody is perfect enough to never break the law, but everyone is good enough to accept critique when they make that mistake.
And before anybody says "but this was minor" - it doesn't matter. it's the principle. Society rests on an edifice of rules and regulations. The alternative is red in tooth and claw.
Oct 6, 2018, 6:10 am
#40
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: BOS, MHT
Programs: AA ltg, B6, DL, UA, AS, SPG/Marriott Plt, HH, Hyatt
Posts: 10,052
On a Republic flight, was in the middle of finishing a text to someone when the door closed for pushback. Almost immediately, the woman in the window seat next to me said "please put your phone in airplane mode". I was a little taken back and looked at her for a moment and told her I was almost finished. She then said "I'm an FA and this is against FCC and FAA regulations. I'm advising you this for my own safety". She also went into the argument about interference with aircraft systems.
Ok, we were not even yet pushing back. And yes, I know when the door closes the announcement comes on to put mobile devices in airplane mode and put away "large" laptops. I also know that "reasonable" time to comply with those instructions is given. She didn't waste a second to tell me this the moment the door was closed.
Her stickler attitude was what shocked me more than anything. I replied to her that I would have been done already if she hadn't interrupted me, and no - it's not an FCC regulation to not use a phone on the ground. She then looked over to the passenger on the other side of the aisle who was on his phone. She raised her voice to him as well "Airplane mode please. I don't see the airplane icon on your screen". On his screen was his music library and he had headphones on. She was in the "D" window seat of an E175 and saying this to the person in the "B" aisle seat across from me. I don't see how she could make out if he had his phone in airplane mode or not, but whatever.
Rather than engage further with her, I finished my text and put my phone away. We didn't speak the rest of the flight.
Ok, we were not even yet pushing back. And yes, I know when the door closes the announcement comes on to put mobile devices in airplane mode and put away "large" laptops. I also know that "reasonable" time to comply with those instructions is given. She didn't waste a second to tell me this the moment the door was closed.
Her stickler attitude was what shocked me more than anything. I replied to her that I would have been done already if she hadn't interrupted me, and no - it's not an FCC regulation to not use a phone on the ground. She then looked over to the passenger on the other side of the aisle who was on his phone. She raised her voice to him as well "Airplane mode please. I don't see the airplane icon on your screen". On his screen was his music library and he had headphones on. She was in the "D" window seat of an E175 and saying this to the person in the "B" aisle seat across from me. I don't see how she could make out if he had his phone in airplane mode or not, but whatever.
Rather than engage further with her, I finished my text and put my phone away. We didn't speak the rest of the flight.
The main reason they state their rules is to make everyone listen to the safety briefing.
Oct 6, 2018, 7:01 am
#41
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: South Florida
Programs: AA LTG (EXP), Hilton Silver (Dia), Marriott LTP (PP), SPG LTG (P) > MPG LTPP
Posts: 11,329
Let's break this down
1. You were breaking the law.
2. Someone told you you were breaking the law
3. You got pissy
Here's what's polite. If you are breaking the law (you have your phone out, you cut someone off driving, anything illegal that you know is wrong), and someone mentions it (they tell you, they honk at you), you don't get pissy - you admit you were wrong. Because getting angry when you're in the wrong is stupid.
Nobody is perfect enough to never break the law, but everyone is good enough to accept critique when they make that mistake.
And before anybody says "but this was minor" - it doesn't matter. it's the principle. Society rests on an edifice of rules and regulations. The alternative is red in tooth and claw.
1. You were breaking the law.
2. Someone told you you were breaking the law
3. You got pissy
Here's what's polite. If you are breaking the law (you have your phone out, you cut someone off driving, anything illegal that you know is wrong), and someone mentions it (they tell you, they honk at you), you don't get pissy - you admit you were wrong. Because getting angry when you're in the wrong is stupid.
Nobody is perfect enough to never break the law, but everyone is good enough to accept critique when they make that mistake.
And before anybody says "but this was minor" - it doesn't matter. it's the principle. Society rests on an edifice of rules and regulations. The alternative is red in tooth and claw.
Oct 6, 2018, 8:52 am
#42
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 494
I would have informed her that I understood that closing of the door was a necessary but not a sufficient condition for engagement of flight mode to be mandatory, and that I would engage it when requested or ordered to do so by the operating crew.
Oct 6, 2018, 9:21 am
#43
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: STL/ORD/MCI/SAN
Programs: AA CK MM, AC SE100K, UA 1K, DL Plat, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 1,986
I kind of have to agree here. She was right; you were wrong. It doesn't matter if the regulation seems pointless to you. You sound just like the person who ignores the boarding groups and says, "It doesn't matter; we're all going to the same place anyway." (That actually happened to me.) Or puts his/her bag in the 1st class cabin and says, "It doesn't matter; there's room here and there isn't back there." Etc.
Being scolded is annoying for sure, but when they're right, just eat crow and admit it.
Suddenly, for unclear reasons, the deadheading flight attendant began (quite rudely, in my opinion) examining both his phone and the phone of the passenger across the aisle, which I find very strange. No one should be attempting to look at others' private cell phone screens. She then took it upon herself to attempt to be judge/jury/executioner, even though she actually had no standing as a crewmember on the flight.
Additionally, with regard to the quoted post above, I have no idea how being a bit slow to switch one's cell phone over to airplane mode could possibly mean OP is also the type of person who ignores boarding groups -- I see no connection between the two. He wasn't attempting to break any rules, so there's nothing to suggest he would attempt to break any other rule.
I guess some people just enjoy telling others what to do (and apparently some people here enjoy being critical of other posters when they haven't even bothered to familiarize themselves with the details of the original post).
Oct 6, 2018, 10:40 am
#44
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 17,435
I think some of the recent posters who are being critical of the OP need to go back and read the original post. The OP makes it clear that this occurred almost immediately after the door closed and the announcement was only just being made, and he basically hadn't even had time to switch over to airplane mode yet (he specifically says he had not yet had "reasonable time" to comply).
Suddenly, for unclear reasons, the deadheading flight attendant began (quite rudely, in my opinion) examining both his phone and the phone of the passenger across the aisle, which I find very strange. No one should be attempting to look at others' private cell phone screens. She then took it upon herself to attempt to be judge/jury/executioner, even though she actually had no standing as a crewmember on the flight.
Additionally, with regard to the quoted post above, I have no idea how being a bit slow to switch one's cell phone over to airplane mode could possibly mean OP is also the type of person who ignores boarding groups -- I see no connection between the two. He wasn't attempting to break any rules, so there's nothing to suggest he would attempt to break any other rule.
I guess some people just enjoy telling others what to do (and apparently some people here enjoy being critical of other posters when they haven't even bothered to familiarize themselves with the details of the original post).
Suddenly, for unclear reasons, the deadheading flight attendant began (quite rudely, in my opinion) examining both his phone and the phone of the passenger across the aisle, which I find very strange. No one should be attempting to look at others' private cell phone screens. She then took it upon herself to attempt to be judge/jury/executioner, even though she actually had no standing as a crewmember on the flight.
Additionally, with regard to the quoted post above, I have no idea how being a bit slow to switch one's cell phone over to airplane mode could possibly mean OP is also the type of person who ignores boarding groups -- I see no connection between the two. He wasn't attempting to break any rules, so there's nothing to suggest he would attempt to break any other rule.
I guess some people just enjoy telling others what to do (and apparently some people here enjoy being critical of other posters when they haven't even bothered to familiarize themselves with the details of the original post).
I also commend those who think this woman was reasonable to reread this bit from the OP:
She raised her voice to him as well "Airplane mode please. I don't see the airplane icon on your screen". On his screen was his music library and he had headphones on. She was in the "D" window seat of an E175 and saying this to the person in the "B" aisle seat across from me. I don't see how she could make out if he had his phone in airplane mode or not, but whatever.
Oct 6, 2018, 11:20 am
#45
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: LAX and LHR. UA lifetime Gold 1.9MM 1K , DL Gold Medallion, HHonors Gold, Marriott Gold, Avis President's Club
Posts: 3,592
the whole cell phone interfering with electronics is such a load of crap, remember when they used to not allow cell phones in hospitals because they thought it'd interfere with medical equipment, also glad they stopped the previous rules of only using phones at the gate. Don't forget you still can't use your cell phones while pumping gas...also crap and widely debunked.