FA using iPhone in-flight without airplane mode on
 

I'm currently in-flight on a legacy carrier on a coast-to-coast flight. Lights are dimmed in the F and Y cabins. The Y FAs are sitting in the last row of the plane, minding their own business. I headed to the rear galley to stretch and grab a cup of water when I realize that one FA is using her personal iPhone and that airplane mode is not on (I know it's not on because she actually has 3 bars and the airplane icon is not in the top left corner).

I kind of want to call her out ... what would FTers do?

Nothing. Go back to seat, but headphones on, and try to get some sleep.

I did the first 2 but instead of sleeping, I posted on FT because I need to stay awake to readjust to new time zone :p

FA using iPhone in-flight without airplane mode on
 

Leave the flight-nazis alone or you will be having a nice chat with TSA. She will probably say that you were the one with the phone on and did not want to obey crew orders. The captain will report you and get you in trouble. [Vulgar text deleted by Moderator.]

Hahaha funny, but probably this is the closest one to the truth:)

Mind your business. I know. Passengers are not supposed to do this. But why get into a confrontation with flight crews.

Why are you lookimg at other people's electronic devices? She was "minding her own business." Perhaps you should do the same.

not surprised but nothing you can do about it, unfortunately

creep up much?

FA using iPhone in-flight without airplane mode on
 

when in doubt.... myob.....

I am quite amused at all the 'myob' answers here

MYOB.

On the airplane, MYOB. On FT, let her have it! Hypocrisy! :td:

It was pretty obvious to not notice. Dark cabin, bright phone screen held up (as if she was tying to get signal). As an iPhone user myself, it took all of a split second to notice the cell signal bars.

If FAs don't bother to put phones in airplane mode, why should pax? Everyone talks about the danger of cell phones to inflight instruments, isn't this a safety concern? Why should I MMOB on a safety issue?

No doubt. 100% positive cellular was on.

If a passenger were in the FAs position and the FA in mine, should she have MHOB and not inform the passenger to turn on airplane mode?

I meant "minding her own business" in the sense that these FAs couldn't even bother to do the 2nd drink service on a flight that usually gets 2. I was awake the entire flight so it's not like I missed it.

Understood that from the start.

But I can walk the length of steerage without looking at someones laptop long enough to lock in on what program they are using much less the signal strength bars on an iPhone.

The iPhone entered my field of view when the FA briefly lifted it up (I was looking in that general direction toward a drop down LCD). It took less than a split second to notice.

"oh that's interesting - i didn't know we get reception up here!" ;) lol i probably would have just passed her by after a little staring :)

So far, this is the best one. ;)

Never mind..

good point; pax shouldn't either.

Everyone ? no.

Safety concern ? no

it's not a safety issue.

Looking at someone's phone close enough to see their screen is creepy.

I was under the impression this is really an FCC concern, not an FAA concern. Cellphones at altitude can hit a lot more cellphone towers simultaneously which makes them busiers/less able to respond to actual users on the ground who can't hit so many towers.

Mythbusters looked into this a while back. A summary of their findings can be found here.

What was the airlines response when you contacted them?

Well if you're walking from the rear toward the front, it's quite easy to see the screens of people's laptops or phones that are pointed toward you. And it is generally much easier to notice something that's not supposed to be there, like 3 bars on a cell phone when you're airborne. It only takes a split second for your eyes to capture that image, and it may take a second or two for your brain to process that image before you realize the implication of what you saw. So if OP says he wasn't purposely trying to look at others' devices, I believe him (or her).

TBH, not many people on FT will agree that there's a safety issue. I certainly don't, and leave my phone on all the time on a flight, sometimes without turning airplane mode on, either because I was too lazy or I simply forgot. If this happened to me, I wouldn't give it a second thought. If it bothered you, you could've said something.

If a FA asked me to turn my phone off or turn off the cellular function, I would obey because "not obeying crew member instructions" could get me in serious trouble, not because I think it's a safety issue.

I'm surprised she had signal. Most planes don't get signal at altitude. You must have been flying right over a cell tower.

Signal in flight? What was the altitude?

Second, pax and FA are not the same. Remember? They get to walk around several minutes ahead of the seatbelt sign going off for others. Not that it excuses use of phone, if signal available, but all I am saying is that just because there is a rule for us does not mean the same rule should be enforced on them.

Finally, even if there was signal and assuming FAA is correct about interference, then three FA phones versus 100 pax phones is not apples to apples.

I envy OP's vision. Must be really good.

Cruising, so above 30k.

I've been eating a lot of domestic lounge carrots lately ....

Hmm. You were asleep the first 2 hours but you were awake the entire flight? :confused:

Ignore. It's none of your business and it's not a safety issue.

"the first 2"