Flight mode on mobile phones

Tom Dunne

I'm an avid user of technology, especially mp3 players/iPhones etc and am always careful to switch the latter into Flight mode when on a plane.

One the return leg of a flight last week on Aer Lingus, what can only be described as a crusty, bitter older cabin manager insisted on all mobile phones being switched off - Flight Mode was not acceptable, they had to be firmly switched off.

And this was on the return leg, on the outward journey there was no such nonsense from her co-workers.

Was there any grounds for her insisting Flight Mode on a mobile phone wasn't good enough? On all the flights I have been on over the past number of years, I have never heard an announcement saying Flight Mode was not good enough.

faceman

I'd say she was just having a bad day.

Darwin

I think it's a common enough request - on a recent trip across the Atlantic a friend of mine was watching a video on his phone and was asked to switch it off by cabin crew. She couldn't care less that it was in flight mode. My own phone (Palm Treo) doesn't even have an off button - you have to take the battery out!

wittymoniker

you can't expect everyone to be familiar with every mode/function on every phone. off is off and it's the only way she could be sure she had a secure cabin.
bugs me sometimes why prople can't last a flight without their mobile fix, get an i pod.

Tom Dunne

Darwin wrote: »

I think it's a common enough request - on a recent trip across the Atlantic a friend of mine was watching a video on his phone and was asked to switch it off by cabin crew. She couldn't care less that it was in flight mode. My own phone (Palm Treo) doesn't even have an off button - you have to take the battery out!

And this is part of it - where do they draw the line?

My iPhone looks like an iPod, so do they tell all iPod owners to switch them off in case they are iPhones?

If I was watching a video on my iPhone, would I be told switch it off?

And if I was using the mp3 feature of my regular mobile phone, in flight mode, in my pocket, with only the earphones visible, would they ask to see it?

The lack of consistency is annoying. Don't get me started on the ignorance of technology.

*Kol*

I was on a flight recently where they asked for every electronic device to be switched off on approach and they specified ipods too during the announcement. I have seen a couple of times in inflight magazines that phones are not allowed on in flight mode too.

They shouldn't really have to go around checking anybody. If they ask for phones etc to be swithed off regardless of flight mode or not then people should be sensible enough to do it. Why get stressed over watching a video on a phone?

wittymoniker

i think they probably rely on people to have a bit of sense. if you have a phone then you know it's a phone... switch it off. the rule usually goes to as far as switching off all electronic devices for take off, approach and landing, it's not hard to do. but then i guess some people can't even seem to figure out how the seatbelt sign works but that's another rant for another day.

Davidth88

Possibly the reason they specified iPods as well is because they didn't want people listening to them on approach/landing

The reason for this is because if things went pear shaped and they had to order an evacuation you could be listening to the latest music and slow things up.

diverdriver

Hi Tom,
Aer Lingus are known to be particularly fussy about phones in flight mode. Though it isn't always enforced, as you found. Unfortunately if you are asked to stop using it you can only comply. An airline flight is a dictatorship not a democracy. You can't really argue. Imagine the headlines? 'TOM DUNNE IN AIR RAGE DRAMA. "When Something Happens like this we have no choice" said an Aer Lingus spokesperson'.

The problem with all the electronic devices around is that no one really knows what effect they may or may not have on aircraft avionics. Neither are they prepared to spend the money to research it. So the shotgun method is used.

You might be surprised to learn what may or may not interfere with electronics on aircraft. I sometimes use a handheld airband radio. Surprisingly my digital camera causes significant feedback on that radio and I'm always irritating myself when I forget to switch off my phone while flying. The chirp chirp in the headphones is quite distracting.

BTW, I enjoy your radio show, often I time my long drives in the evening to coincide with it.

Mythago

Tom Dunne wrote: »

I'm an avid user of technology, especially mp3 players/iPhones etc and am always careful to switch the latter into Flight mode when on a plane.

One the return leg of a flight last week on Aer Lingus, what can only be described as a crusty, bitter older cabin manager insisted on all mobile phones being switched off - Flight Mode was not acceptable, they had to be firmly switched off.

And this was on the return leg, on the outward journey there was no such nonsense from her co-workers.

Was there any grounds for her insisting Flight Mode on a mobile phone wasn't good enough? On all the flights I have been on over the past number of years, I have never heard an announcement saying Flight Mode was not good enough.

It's pretty much at the discretion of the crew; how many phones have a flight mode? And how many people would claim their phone has a flight mode? You'd end up with 100 twats claiming their phone has a flight mode. Then on approach they all get their "Welcome to blahblah network, for cheapest roaming...." messages.

I do agree that flight mode should be acceptable but it's based on the customers honesty and the crews consumer tech knowledge. So, for the crew everything off is easiest.

Tenger

Tom Dunne wrote: »

One the return leg of a flight last week on Aer Lingus, what can only be described as a crusty, bitter older cabin manager insisted on all mobile phones being switched off - Flight Mode was not acceptable, they had to be firmly switched off.

And this was on the return leg, on the outward journey there was no such nonsense from her co-workers.

Was there any grounds for her insisting Flight Mode on a mobile phone wasn't good enough? On all the flights I have been on over the past number of years, I have never heard an announcement saying Flight Mode was not good enough.

Official EI policy is that ALL electronic devices must be turned off for take-off and landing. Mobile phones and wireless internet devices may not be used AT ANY stage of the flight operating IN ANY MODE. Laptops,ipods,MP3 DVD players may be used inflight when the aircraft has reached its cruising level. You can find this information on page 114 of the inflight magazine Cara. This is announced as part of the safety demonstration preflight,during boarding the announcements also state that mobile phones must be switched off.

On the outward flight the crew may not have seen or recognised the phone/device you were using. There are a multitude of gadgets out there.

To be honest you should have been ASKED to switch your phone off. Then when you responded that it was in flight mode it should have been politely and patiently pointed out to you that EI have a policy of not allowing the use of 'flight mode'.

As an above poster stated an airline is not a democracy. It is in your conditions of carriage that you must follow all instructions from te crew onbaord the flight.(These are in the small print of your printed ticket info or can be found here http://www.aerlingus.com/cgi-bin/obel01im1/Support/conds_of_carriage.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@0237556542.1218137618@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccchadeelegeddicefecfigdffgdfki.0&C_OID=536879916&P_OID=-8092&Category=2#11)

While this may not be satisfactory to you I hope it at least explains the reason behind the mature lady giving out to you.

Fabio

Happened me going to Boston with EI.

I attempted to explain it to air stewardess but she just repleid with "we really have to have them all off" despite me even showing her it was in flight mode. I found it tough but fair after all we were over the big pond and anyhting that minimises risk is good I suppose.

Still my phone has a 4gb memory stick for music so I haven't ever bought an MP3 player cos I just use my phone and a good pair of headphones.

5 hours with no music....you just gotta pick up a book!

Tom Dunne

Bramble wrote: »

Official EI policy is that ALL electronic devices must be turned off for take-off and landing. Mobile phones and wireless internet devices may not be used AT ANY stage of the flight operating IN ANY MODE.

Getting pedantic here, I fully accept mobile phones may not be used, but the implication is the wireless features may not be used. Does it categorically state that a phone may not be used IN ANY MODE?

Bramble wrote: »

On the outward flight the crew may not have seen or recognised the phone/device you were using. There are a multitude of gadgets out there.

To be honest you should have been ASKED to switch your phone off. Then when you responded that it was in flight mode it should have been politely and patiently pointed out to you that EI have a policy of not allowing the use of 'flight mode'.

Just to clarify, there was no conversation between myself and any member of the cabin crew. I just found it surprising how insistent the cabin manager was on no flight mode.

Bramble wrote: »

While this may not be satisfactory to you I hope it at least explains the reason behind the mature lady giving out to you.

I would never, ever for a minute give any hassle/lip to any member of a flight crew, they get enough grief as it is with drunks and rowdy passengers. I always 100% fully comply with any direction, without question.

I just miss my music.

Tenger

Tom Dunne wrote: »

Getting pedantic here, I fully accept mobile phones may not be used, but the implication is the wireless features may not be used. Does it categorically state that a phone may not be used IN ANY MODE? ..............................................................................................

Just to clarify, there was no conversation between myself and any member of the cabin crew. I just found it surprising how insistent the cabin manager was on no flight mode
.......................................................................................................I would never, ever for a minute give any hassle/lip to any member of a flight crew, they get enough grief as it is with drunks and rowdy passengers. I always 100% fully comply with any direction, without question.

I just miss my music.

Officially the policy is that mobiles phones 'may not be used in any way', they must be switched off. As most airlines allow flight mode the majority of pax do assume that EI means that the phone function must not be used. EI has always erred on the side of caution in these matters. I can remember several years ago when EI did not allow CD players (or any laser controlled device) when most other carriers did.

In terms of how you were told, the crew member involved should have been more polite/diplomatic to you (Save the drill sarge act for the pax who are causing problems) The person involved may not have been fully aware of what flight mode means. There is a way to insist someone obeys your instructions and being aggressive is counter-productive.

And this policy has come up on the boards before. I personally think EI are being too strict but agree with the theory behind. I however must enforce the policy even though I don't fully agree with it.

In terms of your music,I sympathise greatly with your plight,and indeed have had to do that to people on board. I love books and would hate to be told I could not use my ebook reader on a flight. Soon i hope EI will udate/review their policy,i have asked for this several times.

Our man in Havana

Maybe if EI had decent audio channels on it's long haul flights this would not be a problem?

Tenger

Bond-007 wrote: »

Maybe if EI had decent audio channels on it's long haul flights this would not be a problem?

No arguement here with that statement. EI will commence upgrading their cabin in 2 months. The plan is for 7/9 longhaul aircraft to have the new IFE system by next summer. (This is the new Panasonic EX2 system,originally designed to be launched on the A380,till it was dead late!) This new system has the capacity for up to 90 channels,however at the moment EI only use 12-15. This is to prevent the older IFE systems being completely outclassed. When all aircraft are standardised the plan is to utilise the full potential of te EX2 system.

Fabio

Sounds cool!

GeturGun

I see EI are allowing passengers to use mobiles in flight mode now???
This morning's DUB-EDI "If you are going to use your mobile phone in flight mode, please ensure it is switched to flight mode before you turn it off"
Never heard that before.

Mint Sauce

at the end of the day, the stewards and stewardesses are primaraly responsible for passenger comfort and safety, technology on phones is quickly changing, with some of us holding on to our trusty nokia that we have had for years, and some changing it every 6 months, you cant expect cabin crew to keep up with all the lastest models and features on phones so i dont you think you can blame them when they ask you to switch it off

was recently on a easy jet flight, where they specified flight mode being allowed in flight, now although mine has flight mode, a decent camera and half decent MP3 player, still used my regular MP3 player and played on my DS, mobile phone stayed where it was, in my pocket, fully switched off, and if asked to switch off my MP3/DS inflight would still comply

they need to err on the side of caution, and if that means me having to flick through a crappy inflight magazine for a little while to pass the time, then i dont have a proplem with it

Tenger

GeturGun wrote: »

I see EI are allowing passengers to use mobiles in flight mode now???..........................Never heard that before.

New procedure onboard for about 3 weeks now. Flight mode allowed but all electronics must still be off for takeoff and landing....so put it in flight mode before you switch it back on after takeoff.

GeturGun

Doesn't affect me personally - i've never used my phone for radio or mp3 ever, i'm more of an ipod girl, me.
I just noticed the 'different' announcement and remembered the conversation here so posted back wondering if it was a new 'across the board' rule. Just out of sheer curiosity.
Hey, I'm a good passenger. I do what I'm told on flights without question