<p>We’ve all been forced to listen to people chattering away on their cell phones in just about every public space there is: in line at the store, at restaurants, at work, in doctor’s waiting rooms, even in public restrooms. Onboard an airplane is one of the few places we can get away from all that involuntary eavesdropping. Imagine being stuck for 3 or 4 hours, in an enclosed cabin, with 100 people yakking about their medical problems, their fights with their boyfriends, their important business deals. No thank you.</p>
<p>You’ll just have to invest in one of these and you won’t hear or see a thing!</p>
<p>[The</a> Power Nap Head Pillow - Hammacher Schlemmer](<a href=“The Power Nap Head Pillow - Hammacher Schlemmer”>The Power Nap Head Pillow - Hammacher Schlemmer)</p>
<p>When my husband mentioned this last night as something that might actually happen, all I could think about was the fights which will inevitably break out in the cabins if airlines really institute this. I hope that somehow the pilots and flight attendants’ unions are strong enough to put the “kibosh” on this. If a couple of the airlines are holdouts and the others permit it, everyone will eventually cave in to this stupidity because of the fear of losing passenger revenue.</p>
<p>Since my iphone is where I keep my music & videos as well as my Ebooks , I am happy for the relaxing of rules, especially since I am a nervous passenger.
I just use noise canceling headphones, they work great!
Now if I can just sit next to someone who is healthy & lets me have an armrest.</p>
<p>“If a couple of the airlines are holdouts and the others permit it, everyone will eventually cave in to this stupidity because of the fear of losing passenger revenue.”</p>
<p>I actually think that very few airlines will allow it. The reaction to this has been overwhelmingly negative. I just flew on Delta, who bragged about being the first passenger airline to allow this…they still make people put their phones in the airplane mode. No cell phone calls. Thank God. I think the passengers want this even less than the aircrew.</p>
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<p>Both H and both Ds, who flew in the last two weeks, told me that the airlines now allow small portable electronics (iPhones, iPods, iPads, e-readers, etc.) to be used during take off and landing, as long as it’s in the airplane mode. No more turning them on and off during these times.</p>
<p>Yes, my 15 year old daughter flew from Florida to Maine today and was very happy that she was allowed to use her iPod.</p>
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<p>While this might fall under the guise of ‘sensationalist’ headlines, I did see one article that suggested that this issue might allow airlines to see another revenue opportunity… people have to pay more to sit in a ‘quiet’ row.</p>
<p>^^That would be sickeningly opportunistic, but yeah, I can see it. Ugh.</p>
<p>That’s what I’ve heard.
On previous flights, my experience was putting them on airplane mode wasn’t enough during takeoff & landings, they had to be put away.
And those are the times when I have the most anxiety.</p>
<p>I don’t fly often but I have a friend who is an international flight attendant.
Boy does she have stories!</p>
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<p>I was really hoping you would dispel this myth!!</p>
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<p>If Only!</p>
<p>Most conversations involve people saying “guess where I am now” and “nothing, whats going on with you?”. Years ago I had a friend with a cell phone scanner and 99% of the calls I heard with him were completely pointless- people calling to say that they’d left work be home in 15 minutes or the “whats going on/nothing” calls. I dont see how cell phone exist as a business where people pay $100/mo for the privileged of being in pointless conversations. I dont think I have ever been in a Subway line where the conversation happening in front of me seemed to be necessary. </p>
<p>But then I dont get how limiting people to 140 characters is a business or 8 second videos is a business. </p>
<p>On the other hand it would be nice not to have to turn off my “book” for the 15 minutes that it takes to taxi and take off.</p>
<p>But I seem to remember that cell phones WERE allowed pre-9/11, and many planes had those phones in the back of the seat in front of you. How is this different? There aren’t many times I’d need to make an in-flight call, but boy, there are times I needed to.</p>
<p>Ok…this is NOT going to be a politically correct post.</p>
<p>As long as the person’s size does not make them encroach on my seat, I honestly don’t care if they talk on the phone.</p>
<p>I’m more offended by the flatulent fliers around me.</p>
<p>Actually, thumper, your post was more politically correct than I imagined. </p>
<p>It could’ve been like this:
As long as I am not next to a fat person, I honestly don’t care if they talk on the phone.</p>
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Flatulent fliers* irk me to no end. There’s no escaping it. What can you do? Tell them they can’t pass flatulence?</p>
<p>*Or any person who keeps passing gas in public, cramped spaces</p>
<p>Yes! That is exactly what I meant!</p>
<p>As long as the person’s size does not make them encroach on my seat, I honestly don’t care if they talk on the phone.</p>
<p>This is a pet peeve of mine also.
I am petite and some people assume that means they can encroach upon my space since I’m not “using” it.
Well I hate feeling crowded and I need it for a buffer zone!</p>
<p>It isn’t necessarily overweight people, some people just take up more space. I can commiserate, but they should have gotten first class or aisle seat if they needed the room.</p>
<p>There is a company called GOGO that is installing wifi on many domestic and now international jets. For a fee of about $15 people will be able to access the internet and sent email and texts. They will also be able to make cell phone calls if permitted. I think Southwest airlines now has wifi on some of its planes but charges only $8 per flight. Has anyone used these wifis.</p>
<p>I am right there with you, emerald kitty! But the encroachers are usually skinny men who spread their legs so far that they take up my legroom and I can’t put my feet on the floor. Makes me nuts! Even very large women are generally very courteous and aware.</p>