The alternative:

No plane has ever crashed > Doesn't prove anything > Therefore phones are not safe

Is even worse

this about FA just may be was doing old fashioned announcement.

and wow how many people were like oh you have to follow all FA instructions.... WE KNOW THAT, thanks :)
but still..... who hasn't rushed to the toilet when one really need to go even when the seat belt sign is on.... you have to follow all signs as well...... so give me a break.

I personally almost have never ever switched off my phone during a flight in my lifetime..... i don't think our cell interfere with flight much anymore with nowadays different frequencies.

I can almost agree. Your logic/ reverse logic makes sense.

But still... millions of flights. Phones are left on. Come on. Think it through.

Leaving your phone on because you forgot is one thing. Leaving it on because you are more important than or smarter than anyone else is just asinine.

Told To Turn Off All Electronics?
 

I have been told the reason phones should be off is they work on "line of sight" with cell towers. When at altitude and they finally can reach a tower they hit numerous towers at once which apparently messes with the cell network. Whether or not it's true I don't know. I do know that leaving them on at altitude drains your battery much faster as they search for a signal. Learned that first hand once.

Just turn the damned thing off for a few minutes if asked. :rolleyes:

Review premise,conclusion and logical argument in Wikipedia, then post back if you need more help in understanding why your question has no relevance to the "phones are safe" conclusion.

Alternatively, searching FT on topic will similarly educate.

Totally a separate issue. What you say is true, but is an FCC issue.

Not only does it drain your battery, but the towers are also doing a lot of work handing off you phone every few seconds. There is (or at least was back when I knew it better) a real burden placed on the cellular system by phones in the air.

Yeah, one phone is not going to matter. But if everybody left their phones on in the air might.

This thread though is about how phones might interfere with on-plane systems, or at least following rules based on such.

Seams right to just follow the rules. They were put in place for a reason, and the reason was legit.

When I power on my computer and attach it to Gogo, I can always see the list of people who, I assume, have left their phones on and also use their phones as hotspots. There are always a few, many of which have names like "Sally's iPhone" or the string that lets you know it's someone's Verizon MiFi cellular device.

As for the OP, had it been me, I'd have followed the FA's instruction had she specifically told me to turn off my phone and innocently asked the pilot as I'm leaving why the FA required us to turn off all electronics. While the pilot wouldn't likely throw the FA under the wheels of the plane while you were there, at least, if it was an FA mistake, it would be corrected after you left and not negatively impact her next set of passengers.

Finally, I always put my phone in airplane mode so that it doesn't drain the battery. Why have it searching for a cellular network when it's not going to find one for the duration of the flight? Even if it did, it would only be for a few seconds, not long enough to get/receive a call, and I'm getting my email via Gogo anyway.

This of course assumes it is REALLY a rule and not something made up my a crew member?


Personally I would turn them off, and politely ask about the new rule. I would guess I would then find out if it was a real reason, or the FA is just an idiot.

Following up:

I saw the FA at work last night. She's a nice lady. I asked her about it; she said she was referring to someone in the front of the plane with a large tablet that should have been stowed for takeoff, but was glued to it the entire time. I forgot to ask about other people like me with just phones on.

Good way to get arrested in China, where the national rule is all cell phones OFF from door closure to parking at the gate.

Actually saw this happen last weekend when somebody was trying to hide his cell phone use during flight. He did not look too happy when the police met him at the jetway in Chengdu.

Interesting. Pretty much rules out listening to music in the air on your phone.

I assume they still allow ipods, tablets, etc?

You can use iPods, tablets, etc. There is no WiFi available on domestic Chinese flights, and International flights have no WiFi once in Chinese airspace.

In fact, in some provinces (such as Xinjiang), WiFi is not even allowed in hotels; you have to use a wired connection.

Do you guys really think leaving your iPad on would ever bring down a modern airliner? The flight attendant or flight crew was on a power trip. Santa needs to bring some new brains for Christmas this year...