Using phone in "flight mode" while in flight
 

I usually only travel a few times a year, however coming early January I have quite a trip planned and then some, plus have become addicted to "smart phones", those phones that do everything and some calls on the side.

Currently my phone of choice is my Treo, which has an option to disable phone portion for use, say in an airplane.
Now during this upcoming trip I thought it would be a good idea to maybe...throw a couple movies and or shows onto my 2gig SD card and keep myself somewhat occupied during my many flights.

BUT I'm wondering what the reaction of flight staff and or the people around me will handle this, seeing as the device I will have in hand is obviously of the cellular nature....

I stumbled upon this article: http://www.news.com/8301-13579_3-9796512-37.html
"ATA Airlines detains passenger for using iPhone in 'airplane mode' "

I was just wondering if anyone has experience using their smart phone (iphone, treo, etc) while in flight, and if you ever got any negative reactions from either someone next to you and or yelled at by a FA.

I've never had an issue. Most airlines seem prepared for this and now announce something to the effect of, "you can use electronic devices including smartphones as long as all wireless features are off."

Some airlines actually request that all electronic devices be in the off mode for takeoff and landing. Do you really need it on for those few minutes?

Both AA* and WN* require that anything "with an off switch" be turned off until the aircraft reaches 10,000'. At that point, "approved personal electronics" may be used, "including wireless telephones and laptops with a wireless card, provided they have an aircraft or game mode." (quoting from my last flight on WN)

* American Airlines and Southwest Airlines, respectively, as future food for the search monster. :D

I'm pretty sure the OP meant that they were going to use the Treo "in flight", since that's included in the title of this thread. I don't think they are attempting to use it during takeoff/landing.

I would think "flight mode" is appropriate for most airlines. I think ATA is the only exception I've heard. I have used my Blackberry in airplane mode, while in flight, on both UA and AA recently with no problems.

Interestingly, WN used to prohibit all smart phone use in flight, specifically saying "even if it's in airplane mode." Thankfully they've changed that policy as of a couple of years ago.

Please continue to follow the discussion in our Travel Technology forum. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, TravelBuzz.

I have used my blackberry many times with the wireless function turned off on CO and have never had a problem. I know that "wireless devices, in airplane mode" are not specifically mentioned as part of the their inflight electronic devices policy, but I have never had a problem from any FA. Some people give me stares, but that doesn't bother me.

The only time I have had a problem was on a UAX flight from IAD-LGA earlier this year. The FA said she knew nothing about a flight mode and they were trained that it had to be completely off according to the FAA. I turned it off and told her that she should check because either her recollection of her training or the training itself was wrong because that was not an FAA policy. She told me that she would check because I was the second person to tell her that. The first was a mainline UA pilot. I think there should be a message there, apart from my flying 100K+ miles per year on AA to minimize flying on UAX to IAD that is. ;)

Not at all, just wondering if I'd get dirty looks or tased by a FA if I were using it during the time permitted electronic devices were allowed.

I contemplated posting it in "Travel Technology", however felt it would be better suited in the "TravelBuzz!" based upon posts there. I am sorry I posted in the wrong section, again. I made a post probubly a year ago, also moved, and had a bit of a flare up with a mod.

Best to check with the exact airlines you'll be flying with. TG is another which explicitly disallows use of such devices "even in flight-mode", according to their in-flight magazine.

This is not an unreasonable request if it's the airline's policy. That's based on the numbers of people who can hardly distinguish and/or determine if their device is "on" or "off", let alone in some other mode. :D

I've never had an issue with this with my Treo which I use for music in flight.

I wonder how many people disable the wireless networking and/or bluetooth on their laptop computers during a flight (I always disable mine at the gate, before boarding, in case I want to use the computer)? Same issue, isn't it?

I will to conserve battery life on my computer. I haven't checked the numbers, but I think the power output of wireless adapters is generally lower than that of cell phones.

My wifi has a mechanical switch to flip on and off in the front of the computer. I flip it off on the plane.

That said, in flight wifi uses 802.11 and both the US FAA and its European counterpart have determined that the use of wifi in flight doesn't harm the navigation system on the plane.

The hard switch for WiFi/Bluetooth is great. You'll drain your battery fast with those services enabled in-flight constantly scanning for networks. Same pain as leaving the cell-phone on. I'm more worried about hurting my own devices (dead battery) than something on the plane.

I'm not sure of any laptops that don't have a hard switch to disable the antenna. I know IBM, Dell, Sony, Toshiba, etc. all have them.

Not sure, but I read the iPhone is sort of unique in that you cannot can't turn off the radio completely? This was from some article about wifi on a plane, so maybe what I am remembering is wrong and that you can't turn on wifi without the cell being on, too. I have use my old Treo (don't have anymore) on AA in "flight mode" and nobody said anything. I did have AA ask me about a small Creative Zen Nano (just an mp3 player) and they made a bigger deal than I thought they would only because it had an FM radio receiver. This was during the part of a flight where you were allowed to use electronics, too. I guess it depends on the flight.

I don't own an iPhone and don't proclaim any expertise with them. That said, I read that the recent upgrade to the iPhone firmware increases your ability to shut things off to make your iPhone more travel friendly (e.g. dataroaming, etc). Of course, that doesn't help anyone with jail-breaked iPhone. Hopefully next month there will be some third party apps that let you dig further in an iPhone's innards.

I had an issue on ANA when I was using my Sony Ericcson w880i (normal looking phone) in flight mode.

The FA told me I couldn't use it, and it took me some time to explain to her about flight mode. She then asked for my phone and took it in the galley, returning to tell me it was OK to use in flight mode only. Not sure what she did exactly but she obviously attempted a couple phone calls.

What truly amazes and mystifies me* is that any carrier or FA on the planet doesn't know what flight mode is all about by now.

* And scares me - but only a little.

This generalization can be applied to FA's too. :-P

I just flew Southwest on Monday, and their inflight magazine listed noise canceling headphones as allowed at all times, along with several other devices less likely to have a power switch, such as hearing aids and pacemakers.

Vietnam Airlines won't allow iPhone use
 

I was told by an F/A on Vietnam Airlines that I couldn't use my iPhone in flight mode during the flight. She made me turn it off.

That ATA story reminds me of the time that I was flying on LH circa 2000. I was watching DVD movies on my laptop and the stewardess came over and very angrily told me to turn it off, as it wasn't permitted. I asked her if she was sure and maybe if she could ask the pilot, which she did. But still no go on letting me finish my movie (about an undersea colony being attacked by a shark if I recall). Sometimes technology gets ahead of the rules.

On a recent Delta flight, the FA actually said during the door-closed pre-flight briefing that all cell phones, even with airplane modes, must be turned off for the entire flight.

Finding this somewhat curious, I sent an email to Delta asking them to clarify their policy regarding airplane mode. I got the following responses from two different reps:



So since they contradicted each other (it's allowed/crew has final say), I point blank asked: Is allowing airplane mode Delta policy (i.e. F/A can't override unless it becomes a safety issue), I wrote again, asking them to clarify -- which is it? Is airplane mode allowed by policy, or is it always the flight crew's call? The answer:




So I basically told them that if this becomes a common occurrence that I'll be flying someone else. (shrug)