Are We Ready for Cell Phone Calls from 30,000 Feet?
December 21st, 2006 (12:01pm) Judi Sohn 8 Comments
CNN is reporting that Emirates Airlines is planning to allow cell phone usage on its planes, beginning in January.
Fliers have long been able to keep in touch with those on the ground by using phones built into the backs of airplane seats. But the costs of those seatback phones can be upwards of $10 a minute, plus a connection fee.
In contrast, the cost of calls made in-flight on Emirates will be in line with international roaming rates, the airline said. Those rates vary by mobile carrier and by location but can be as low as $1 to $2 a minute.
The reporter doesn’t seem to think the idea will go over well with U.S. travelers, even if the FAA lifted the ban on cell phones on planes:
A majority of business travelers (61 percent) oppose the idea of being able to use their phones in the sky, according to a global survey conducted by travel management company Carlson Wagonlit Travel early this year.
The obvious reason is because we all enjoy listening to each other’s cell phone conversations in tight places, don’t we? But isn’t it the truth that two colleagues sitting next to each other having an animated conversation or a crying baby is a far worse distraction on a long trip? Common cell phone courtesy goes a long way whether you are sitting in a restaurant on the ground or seat 14D in the air.
So assuming the fines for obnoxious cell phone use are swift and severe, is this a good thing? What about Internet access in the air?
According to the annual Airline IT Trends Survey conducted by industry group SITA and Airline Business magazine, 59 percent of airlines plan to offer in-flight Internet access by the end of 2008.
One company helping U.S. carriers make that leap is Louisville, Colorado-based AirCell, which won a license earlier this year to provide exclusive broadband connectivity to U.S. airlines starting in 2008.
Are we eliminating our last excuse to sit back and read a book or sleep instead of work?
Personally, I want the choice. Will I pay $30 to have wifi on a flight (or on an Amtrak train)? Maybe. Sometimes I just want to sit back and relax and close my eyes on a plane or train. Sometimes I want to work and to do that I need Internet access. I go back and forth between New Jersey and Washington, DC for daytrips via Amtrak often and it’s hard to give 6 hours up to travel that I could be doing something more productive. Then again, sometimes I go to a coffee shop and just drink coffee.
What do you think? Assuming tests show it doesn’t interfere with the plane’s instruments, should the FAA lift the cell phone ban for domestic flights? If they did and the pricing was no worse than a roaming call or a T-Mobile day pass, would you use your cell phone or laptop on a flight?
8 Comments Post your own comment
Anne Zelenka says: December 21st, 2006 12:14pm
I’d use my cell phone or laptop on a flight… definitely. But like you say, there are plenty of times I don’t need to. It’s nice to have the option, so long as people aren’t obnoxiously loud on their phones.
Marc Orchant says: December 21st, 2006 12:30pm
Personally, I hope this is never allowed. Based on what I regularly experience with people shouting into their phones prior to take-off and as soon as we hit the ground, it would be an entirely new level of hell to be trapped on a plane for hours at a time listening to a cacophony of ring tones and conversations I neither want nor need to be party to.
Should this come to pass, I will see no alternative but to immediately invest in the best noise-canceling headphones money can buy.
Neal Watzman says: December 21st, 2006 3:30pm
Maybe when people learn manners?
Tim Peter says: December 21st, 2006 4:37pm
No, never, nuh-uh, no way, nope, fuhgeddaboutit, abso-frickin-lutely not. I find time on the plane to be one of the few places I can engage in really deep thought without having to worry about regular interruption by colleagues, employees, and bosses. I find that I engage in some of my deepest thoughts and most interesting conversations (each often leading to new business opportunities) on airplanes. As much as it pains me to say it (and I know that I’m trying to hold back the ocean on this one), I think real benefits exist from disconnecting from time-to-time. Until we’ve got presence management, I’m against it.
Judi Sohn says: December 21st, 2006 4:48pm
I agree, Tim. However, because you or I would prefer to disconnect from the world on an airplane should it be a requirement for everyone else? I’m a web worker, which means that I can get up and walk away from my desk at any time for any reason and go take a nap or watch cartoon reruns. That’s my choice when/if to do that. So why wouldn’t I have the same choice on a plane? And if I can keep my cell phone conversations quiet and I keep my ringer off, which should I be penalized when others can’t?
I think there’s a difference between personal preference and policy. Just something to ponder…
Dickie Smathers says: December 21st, 2006 6:41pm
As a frequent traveler on the NY to DC shuttle, I would hate to see the option for people to use cell phones.
I echo Marc’s statements. I would not want to hear 20 different business transactions taking place, especially (no offense to anyone) New Yorkers making their points with ever increasing volume and colorful emphasis.
Think also of the thousands of once a year flyers (going to see Grandma with the kids) picking up their phones because they can.
“Hey Mom…yeah, we just got on the plane…nooo, nothing new…not much going on…how are you?…really?…oh, don’t worry about it, I have three hours to kill on this flight…feel free to talk to me and keep me company…”
Now, I’m all for having Internet access. People, if they want to, have the option to be productive and use their laptops, which are generally not as noisy.
And if other people needed to disconnect, they are able turn everything off and read the wonderful literature available to them…
…like the barf bags. I hear they are going to start putting advertising on them to generate a little revenue.
Tim Peter says: December 21st, 2006 9:26pm
Hence the “holding back the ocean” remark, Judi, unfortunately. I agree that it’s probably not good policy. Damn. As the world gets increasingly small and interconnected (which, in and of itself, is a Good Thing), it loses some measure of its mystery. If we’re increasingly able to connect with those already in our networks (both social and technological) what incentive exists for finding new potential members?
Separately, when did I become such a reactionary? ;-)
GigaOM » What’s On GigaOM Network says: December 22nd, 2006 12:15am
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