Michael O’Leary was recently interviewed regarding Ryanair passengers’ ability to use their mobile devices during flight. According to the Bloomberg article, passengers will be asked not to use their mobile phones during takeoff and landing, but once the planes reach 10,000 feet calls, text messages, voicemail, and email will be allowed. In the article, Mr. O’Leary was quoted:
For additional information regarding U.S. regulation of mobile services in-flight, see this comment by GlennF below.
So what’s your take, should air travel remain a bastion of solitude in the U.S.?
Katie
February 23rd, 2009 at 5:24 pm
Air travel is far from solitude, but PLEASE do not allow voice calls on Delta! I just cringe at some of the conversations I have heard while awaiting pushback or after landing. The idea of having to endure that for an entire trip would makes my skin crawl.
February 23rd, 2009 at 6:16 pm
Hi AdamATL, Not to worry, there are no current plans for voice calls on Delta. We’re focusing on providing our customers in-flight internet. Thanks for your feedback!
February 23rd, 2009 at 6:20 pm
I’ve been following this blog for a while and have considered leaving a comment before but always was deterred by the requirement to register.
I’m passionate enough about this issue however to follow through.
In Japan, it’s considered rude to use your cell phone even on the subway. The reason why is because when you have that many people in that small a space, there’s no way to have a phone conversation without forcing a dozen or more people to listen in.
I’m with AdamATL, it would be intolerable to be trapped with people on the phone that long.
On a more prosaic note, it’s kind of nice to have an excuse to unplug from the world for a few hours at a time. Couldn’t we all do with more chance to turn off the phone?
February 23rd, 2009 at 6:31 pm
I can’t think of anything worse than at 2AM on a redeye flight “I’m on the plane” being bellowed across the cabin of a Delta airplane. I think this is one more nail in the coffin of my fantasies about travel being a experience to enjoy.
February 23rd, 2009 at 6:43 pm
I really don’t think it is absolutely necessary to talk on a cell phone during a flight. I see it as an annoyance to say the least!
I, also, wouldn’t be taking tips from the CEO of Ryanair. He tries to cover up all the airline’s stupid charges and initiatives. I’m still in shock that they are eliminating check-in desks. It just goes to show how far Ryanair will go without ever thinking about customer service!
Bottom line, it’s simply an annoyance. If you have to make a phone call, wait until you land or don’t fly at all
.
February 23rd, 2009 at 7:01 pm
RyanAir said way back in 2006 that they would equip its fleet with OnAir’s satellite-based mobile call/data system. It’s rather stunning that it hasn’t yet occurred. (I wrote about this for The Economist back in 2006, and follow in-flight Internet at my Wi-Fi Networking News blog.)
There are two issues in the U.S. First, the FAA hasn’t developed airworthiness certifications standards for the use of mobile phones in flight.
There’s a whole committee at the industry/government RTCA association that’s spent years examining airworthiness guidelines for all kinds of “PEDs” (personal electronic devices), which includes gaming systems, Wi-Fi, and mobile phones.
The second part is that the FCC has a ban on the use of 850 MHz PCS phones in flight. I can’t recall which cellular providers use that band; I know AT&T does. There’s no per-se band on the higher frequencies, which include 1700, 1900, and 2100 MHz, but because there’s no airworthiness certification, an airline would be unable to get approval to allow phones locked to those frequencies to work.
What’s likely to happen in the U.S. is that Aircell (Delta’s provider) could offer on-board data-only picocells, if the FCC and FAA approved, and airlines were interested. A picocell would allow any cell phone on board to associate, but could entirely block all voice calling. Instead, it could allow all data to pass: BlackBerry messages, text (SMS) and multimedia (MMS), and any 3G data via a laptop card.
February 23rd, 2009 at 7:49 pm
Hi gt1646b, Thanks for your first comment! I think you might not be alone in your passion for this topic. Appreciate your participation!
Hi sailingby, I agree. Hopefully everyone would be kind to their fellow passengers and whisper? Maybe they could make some Planeguage videos to help.
Hi golich17, Re: “…or don’t fly at all”… gasp!!!
Hi GlennF, Fantastic feedback, thanks! I have updated the post to reflect a link to your information regarding U.S. regulations. Thank you again for your help!
February 23rd, 2009 at 8:45 pm
Oh man if Delta allows calling during a flight, I’ll cash in my miles for iTunes songs and go back with Unitied and fly on their old planes with no seat cushions.
February 24th, 2009 at 12:22 am
Go ahead and allow it, just make it expensive so people think twice or three times (just like with the gte airfones very few people will use it). But I definitely want to be able to use my cell to retrieve email and text messages.
February 24th, 2009 at 12:46 am
I’m one of those people who, like the Japanese, think it’s rude to talk on the phone in tight confined spaces… I don’t even use it on the bus! If crying babies is fodder for television comedies, surely cell phone use would be a similar annoyance.
It certainly does beg the question of data/texts in the future. GlennF presented some great information but there might be a day in the future when data may pass FAA/FCC approval. How can an airline govern this use during take off and landing (like now!)?
In any case, with this phone discussion where’s the quiet cabin?
February 24th, 2009 at 10:59 am
Hi HWGeek, We wouldn’t want that. Thanks for your feedback!
Hi bryn, That might be the way that Ryanair is thinking as well. I wonder if pricing of text messages and emails to your phone works along the same pay structure? Three euros might be a lot for a few texts…
Hi hyperionblue, Great feedback! Anyone have insight into whether any airlines have tried out a quiet cabin? Personally I’d be concerned about the annoyance of “loud talkers”, but also about passengers inadvertently overhearing each others’ private conversations. Sometimes in close proximity people forget how many people are listening to them, willingly or not.
February 24th, 2009 at 11:00 am
I think I’m with most of the other posters here… please don’t allow cell phone use during flights; for the same reason many restaurants, theaters, etc. have also banned/discouraged their use, it can be very distracting. I appreciate flight time to get some work done, catch up on some reading, or catch a nap. With inflight internet, people can IM, txt msg, etc. if they really need to communicate with someone.
Of course, this does bring up the question… what about VoIP (e.g. Skype) on WiFi in the Air?
February 24th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
I also agree with the others that the use of cell phones during flights would be very annoying. I wouldn’t mind if someone were using it for sending/receiving text messages.
Talking on the phones should remain forbidden and if usage for texting were allowed then people should be encouraged to switch off not only ringtones but also sound effects used for notification about received text messages.
pmcary is right. WiFi is great for those who need internet access but please not for skype etc.
February 25th, 2009 at 4:23 am
I can understand why some people would want to be able to use cell phones on aircraft. If it helps get business done, then they would want to do it. However, others may enjoy flying as a break from contact; that’s not to mention leisure travelers who want to sleep or relax on the flight.
Here’s one idea that I don’t see here yet: the Delta Shuttle. It was created for business travelers who need to get around the northeast quickly and efficiently. Since it’s such a short flight, nobody should be trying to sleep (perhaps excluding the first and last flights of the day). Would separate hardware (other than the Aircell technology currently installed) be necessary? Perhaps it would be worth bringing back dedicated Delta Shuttle aircraft (the MD-88s, and the new E175s I guess; I miss the legroom on the Mad Dog!!!).
The Delta Shuttle has very little legitimate competition; its biggest rival is the US Airways Shuttle (which doesn’t have half the amenities or benefits); other services to consider are American Airlines’ service (its largest aircraft on this route is the ERJ-145, so forget that), and Continental Airlines’ service (which is out of Newark – and not the Marine Air Terminal). JetBlue has a service out of JFK on E190 aircraft; while they have a number of amenities and benefits, including easy access via the AirTrain, they still don’t have open seating and the Marine Air Terminal, a dedicated Shuttle-only facility. And don’t they go to Dulles? Adding cell phone service would just take the cake.
By the way, yesterday morning on my way to school, I saw a MD-88 in the new colors on approach to LGA. With the orange sky as a backdrop, it looked like it was a dream. Only would have been better if I was on it
February 25th, 2009 at 5:16 pm
I am sure I could drown out call-making passengers with a noise cancelling headset. But I would rather have Delta to not allow calls at all.
I fly international mostly and I value my time on board for work and relaxation. On overnight flights I eat and sleep. On day flights I eat and work. Eight or more hours in my “office in the sky” with no calls, no interruptions from people walking into my office, is extremely valuable to me and is a time I am usually most productive. It is one of the few places I am totally uninterrupted (apart from the usually excellent in-flight service). So… no to calls, yes to internet access. Short but sweet.
February 25th, 2009 at 10:01 pm
I would LOVE to use my phone onboard, but when when will it start? or will it?
February 27th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
This dude is crazy, he wants to charge $1.40 to use the potty on the plane
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,501780,00.html
February 28th, 2009 at 8:56 pm
Wow… this guy really does seem crazy. Almost as bad as SkyBus (okay maybe even worse), where their “Boston” airport was really somewhere in New Hampshire! But I’ll always favor Boeing (or anything for that matter) over an A320-family jet, though this situation makes me almost not care. Go figure.
March 4th, 2009 at 9:13 pm
O’Leary has always been good for a good, honest laugh. And while I usually appreciate his brutal honesty, I think he is missing the point on this one.
Nobody expects their plane ride to be a bastion of solitude to contemplate life, but most would like it to be as peaceful as possible. And when those of us in coach are sitting within inches of our seatmate, listening to their phone call would not be fun.
I LOVE the fact Delta is adding internet to their planes – that was a smart move. Voice calls on the other hand, don’t seem to be necessary and will only provide chaos and annoyance on board.
March 10th, 2009 at 6:43 am
yeah… i agree that voice calls on a plane will probably lead to more air-rage, where grown men will strangle lovebirds who play ‘no, you hang up! no I love YOU!’ game for 10 minutes…
i would love to have texting / email capabilities though on a plane.. i hope that the internet option is fairly priced… unlike most airport WiFi access…
August 10th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
Hi,this is a nice post.Good Now we can use our cell phone during flight.This is a brilliant effort.Thanks
August 16th, 2009 at 12:25 am
I have been NWA Platinum since the program began. I look forward to being Delta Diamond next year. If cell phone calling is allowed on Delta flights, I will quit flying Delta unless every other airline makes the same silly mistake of allowing calls while in the air. I want to fly Delta but I cannot think of any change of policy that would make me more likely to apply for status matching elsewhere and switch my revenue to that other airline. Please, please, please, do not allow this. With WiFi, people can stay in touch as much as they need. Voice is simply not needed. Thanks!