Phone Calls in Flight over Wi-Fi -- Just Say No?

USA Today reports that some airline travelers in the U.S. are making phone calls in flight.

Case in point: Roger Flessing, who says he talked to his son recently on his iPhone while in the skies. Flessing told USA Today he used Truphone, an iPhone VoIP app, which was connected to the Internet over the American Airlines aircraft's wireless broadband service.

If that weren't enough, Flessing fired up his laptop and had a video chat with his brother over Skype during the flight.

I'm all for using your tech toys in the clouds. But the thought of sitting next to a chatterbox on a packed plane during a cross-country flight gives me a sinking feeling. There's only so much noise you can block out with noise-canceling headphones. And I don't think a 'talking' zone on an airplane is the answer, either, just as no-smoking zones in restaurants don't keep the smoke from drifting.

Already some airlines outside the U.S. are allowing cell phone conversations. My hope is that the U.S. carriers will continue to ban cell phone chats in the sky, and that VoIP conversations will be verboten as well. Do you agree?

 

Comments

[chuck]

I absolutely agree with you, Jim! Isn't this one of Dante's descriptions of Hell? For the life of me, I cannot imagine which situation would be worse: being seated next to a compulsive talker on a plane or being seated in front of a youngster who is kicking the back of my seat throughout the trip--both arrangements are equally bloodcurdling!

[James A. Martin]

And inevitably, we will be seated next to a phone gabber and in front of a
twitchy, screeching child. At that point, it's time to open the emergency
door!

On Wed, Sep 30, 2009 at 11:31 AM, wrote:

[Aftab]

Jasm yes i do agree as well one has its own reasons. And my reason is we should play with techs but you know there should be some piece of mind. i mean these thing suck our mind energy atleast we should stay away from thing like Computer devices and TV for a while. Its been a while i thrown up my TV i feel relax in my home. I know it sounds stupid, i spare time with my kids and twach them stuff they need and m also a technology hunger thats why i am here even i leave my note book in office if i dont have to homework. i dont know how you guys take my view but i do agree with others too. please do visit my blog aftab03.blogger.com to comment and advice thanks and regards