I love all of the internet tough guys in this thread. People like you are why these laws and rules exist and inconvenience the rest of us. Do what you're told and shut up. Flying is a privilege, respect the ones who are getting you back and forth safely.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
No iPhone on the Airplane for you!
- Thread starter The Bruce
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Manatee
Contributor
This thread has turned pretty entertaining. 🙂
I find that if I politely explain that I have the device in "no radio" mode, and quickly demonstrate how that mode is switched on and off, the FAs understand and everything is ok.
When these multi-function devices were new, it was more of a problem -- especially when they had an obvious antenna sticking out.
I also get questioned sometimes when I use a GPS unit on a commercial airplane. (I like to follow along, and get statistics.) Most FAs now know that those don't transmit, and it's ok with them.
In all cases, niceness goes a long way. 🙂
I find that if I politely explain that I have the device in "no radio" mode, and quickly demonstrate how that mode is switched on and off, the FAs understand and everything is ok.
When these multi-function devices were new, it was more of a problem -- especially when they had an obvious antenna sticking out.
I also get questioned sometimes when I use a GPS unit on a commercial airplane. (I like to follow along, and get statistics.) Most FAs now know that those don't transmit, and it's ok with them.
In all cases, niceness goes a long way. 🙂
Diode
macrumors 68020
Keep in mind Mythbusters only tested it with the equivalent of one phone too. You will have more interferience with 300+ cell phones at once.
Manatee
Contributor
That might make a difference. I used to fly a lot on a business jet that seated six. We used our phones all the time, and our pilots never noticed any problem at all. If they had, they certainly wouldn't have let us use our cell phones.
My real concern on an airliner is that different people have different standards of decorum, and I hope I never get to experience people shouting into phones on an airplane the same way they do on Earth. 🙁
And how is it a privilege? I believe I am paying for a service. That's like saying it a privilege to ride in a taxi cab.. dude a airplane doesnt =spaceship 🙄
Same for me. I travel every week for work, and have been on two northwest flights and 4 united flights with my iPhone out and in use (with video, so people, including flight attendants stare). No issues with the flight attendants at all, except one asking if she should get it for her daughter for her birthday.
The simple fact of the matter is there is no reason one shouldn't be able to use it in Airplane mode. At any given time there are 10-50 laptops with their wifi turned on (does anyone here actually turn it off, unless they're desperate to save battery life?) on the plane which would be far more likely to cause interference.
Diode
macrumors 68020
Two reasons off the top of my head:
1. Just like any other retail/taxi/private transit they have the right to refuse service and can escort you off the plane for being a jackass.
2. You don't have to fly to get anywhere. Flying just cuts time. People got along fine w/o airplanes for centuries before flying became common place in the early part of this century.
dontwalkhand
macrumors 604
If anything the flight attendants will ask if they can see your iPhone 😉. As long as you show them airplane mode is on, they will let you have it out, be nice about it.
I wonder though, on those airplanes with WiFi, I know you are still not allowed to have the phone on. Since Airplane mode also turns off WiFi without it being a seperate switch, how would one use the plane WiFi to surf on your iPhone, without having the phone on? 😉
I wonder though, on those airplanes with WiFi, I know you are still not allowed to have the phone on. Since Airplane mode also turns off WiFi without it being a seperate switch, how would one use the plane WiFi to surf on your iPhone, without having the phone on? 😉
Sobe
macrumors 68000
Try acting like an ass and violating security protocols in a taxi cab, then try it on a plane. See the difference in the reaction you get.
The main difference is that when you fly on a plane, you're entering an enclosed space with perhaps 200 or more people who don't want the security people to have to worry about you and your electronics when there are very bad people out there trying to hurt people. You are paying for a service, but you also have the obligation to honor certain requirements for this method of travel (such as a security check).
Flight being a privilege means that if you're not enough of an adult to understand those obligations, you can still travel, you'll just have to do it by car, train, boat, or moped.
Black Belt
macrumors 65816
No their job is to make my flight comfortable, not a living hell. People need to stop applying some magical ability to keep us all safe to flight attendants. Give me a break. They've already dispensed with any kind of reasonable food service, and hold passengers hostage for hours on the tarmac. How about instead of harrassing me over my iPod they at least shut up the screaming brat behind me or the morons yapping so loud the whole plane can hear their conversation, which is the reason I want the iPod in the first place.
Sobe
macrumors 68000
Black Belt
macrumors 65816
United, American, America West, Delta, US Airways, Southwest - coast to coast and in-between.
I think the problem some of you are having is you are being a bit to flashy with your iphone.
Instead of calling over the hot flight attendant who actually is a hag with to much make up on and a stick in her ass and saying "um ms. i was wondering can i use my new iPhone with airplane mode off will it be ok"
Just dont say anything. wait till you are at 10,000 feet pull that baby out. and watch a movie or listen to some tunes. theres not much more your going to do at 10,000 feet except take notes or use the camera.
unless you happen to be sitting next to am actually hottie with a fetish for technology.
o god I pray for that day!
Instead of calling over the hot flight attendant who actually is a hag with to much make up on and a stick in her ass and saying "um ms. i was wondering can i use my new iPhone with airplane mode off will it be ok"
Just dont say anything. wait till you are at 10,000 feet pull that baby out. and watch a movie or listen to some tunes. theres not much more your going to do at 10,000 feet except take notes or use the camera.
unless you happen to be sitting next to am actually hottie with a fetish for technology.
o god I pray for that day!
I fly in small private charter planes all over US and Europe, and they tell us that it's all a myth, anyway. We keep our phones on and make calls during the take off and landing. The only reason they suggest switching them off, is that they are searching for a signal the whole time, which runs down the battery.
carfac
macrumors 65816
I once heard (from no one in particular) that the reason phones in general are banned is because it was giving the phone co's fits for billing. A phone in a plane can hit 100's of cel towers, and it was the phone cos who could not figger out how to bill, not that the navigation equipment went screwy.
It sort of makes sense to me- after all, this is the only explanation I know of that shows a financial impact on using the phones. Am I being too conspiratorial?
On a personal level, I sort of like NOT having phones available "on" on a plane.
It sort of makes sense to me- after all, this is the only explanation I know of that shows a financial impact on using the phones. Am I being too conspiratorial?
On a personal level, I sort of like NOT having phones available "on" on a plane.
Last month I flew Delta from ATL to SFO and back and the flight attendant never said a word about it to me. I just set my iphone to airplane mode and that was that.
I always suspected it was a comfort thing, in that having 300 idiots yammerin' on their phones in a small enclosed space would just be unbearable for all. Also, the cabin crew would have a terrible time trying to dish out drinks etc. to people who just need to finish this call before ordering (arrogantly wagging a finger to suggest "one minute" because the person on the end of the phone is much more important than the person standing in front of you).
Plus, at 35,000' over the Atlantic, there's very few relay towers from which to get a connection. Was everyone asleep when a plane equipped with a cell phone relay was tested recently? Didn't this mean that cell phones couldn't connect before?
Personally, if they ever allow cell phone use on flights, I will have my iPhone on with the volume turned all the way up. I fly intercontinental flights a lot, many of them overnight or timed such that you need to sleep on the plane because of time differences. If some numpty wakes me up because his phone rings, he will find that the sound is suddenly going to be very muffled.
I got my iPhone on iDay. I fly a lot. No one has ever questioned me about it.
megfilmworks
macrumors 68020
I've been flying everywhere with my iPhone. US, Europe, Great Britain and have had no problems at all.
In fact the flight attendants were very interested in the iPhone and the airplane mode.
In fact the flight attendants were very interested in the iPhone and the airplane mode.
powerbook911
macrumors 601
I've heard airlines even say on the announcement that you can use approved devices in non-transmitting mode, so they even know these type of devices exist where you turn off the transmitting.
I've used it, but of course I just had it in my iPod sock with my earbuds, and I didn't flash it around.
I've used it, but of course I just had it in my iPod sock with my earbuds, and I didn't flash it around.
