Approaches for dealing with 'electronic devices off'

[Blackadder]

It is a simple lack of courtesy in society, if someone tells you to do something (that is lawful), then you do it.
Would love to see those ignoring the FA instructions charged with ignoring a order of the flight crew.

 

[SeatBackForward]

I've seen people do this. On a recent flight the middle-aged woman across the aisle from me had her white iPhone earphones in her ears and her iPhone tucked in beside her on the seat and she was listening to something right through the safety briefing. I could see that her phone was on for a little while before the screen blanked so, as the FA walked past, I told her that "the pax in 2C has her phone on"..

My noise cancelling earphones are white and almost everytime I'm using them to listen to the audio programme, I have to show the FA that it's plugged into the armrest socket. Sorry just throwing the spanner into the works

 

[wingspan]

E.g. If someone doesn't turn their device off, my approach is usually:
1. Let it go unnoticed during pushback
2. Politely ask/say that I noticed their device is still on during taxi, which usually prompts them to turn off
3. Haven't seen anyone with their device on during takeoff/landing, but next step would likely be to call an FA (not sure how this can be done discreetly)

I think that it's a good idea to politely ask/say. I'm usually very compliant with turning off my phone (I relish being uncontactable while flying, thank you very much!) but there has been the odd time when I've gone to turn my phone back on after a flight and I've found that it's been on and sending and receiving data the whole time. So sometimes it's not necessarily been left on intentionally!

I've only ever come across it once (that I've noticed), and the flight crew where on it pretty quick. That said they did ask this DYKWIA 3 times to end his "very important phone call", each time he simply ignored them.

Last week I had this on a Dash. The guy in the front row (so presumably a frequent flyer who you would imagine would know better) had been on a handsfree call while lining up to board, and was still on the phone crossing the tarmac, getting in his seat, and sitting there for a while before the FA noticed he was on his phone and told him it needed to be turned off. He still kept chatting for a while as he wrapped up the call.

I completely understand flight mode to turn radios off, mind you you can use bluetooth and wifi once the seat belt sign is off..its the "turn off" part that I think is the questionable grey area.

I was surprised on a couple of recent CX flights that they said bluetooth and wifi were not permitted during the flight. I don't think I'd ever noticed any other airline safety briefing mentioning that before.

I could see that the phone hadn't been turned off - she had just locked the screen - and I told her so. I then offered to show her how to turn it off and she became a bit cranky with me and went ahead and turned it off properly herself.

I like that approach! I particularly like the CSMs with attitude that say over the speaker that they are more than happy to come down the aisles and show you how to turn off the devices if necessary.

 

[Homer]

My noise cancelling earphones are white and almost everytime I'm using them to listen to the audio programme, I have to show the FA that it's plugged into the armrest socket. Sorry just throwing the spanner into the works

Yeah I've done that too. But these were plugged into her phone. And regardless of the earphones, her phone was on because I saw the screen before she locked it. I'm pleased to hear that some FAs check that you are plugged into the onboard audio and not your phone though. The FAs on this particular flight were not so diligent.

 

[tt7]

As for the turning off question. I'm sorry but what part of off don't people understand. Standby on iThings is not off. Pure and simple. iThings can be turned off and just putting them into standby is not turning them off.

What is the point of turning it off, as opposed to putting it in flight mode?

 

[LittleFokker]

I just stare at their device, particularly good on iPads and other Tablets.. Doesn't normally work, but when I learn to transmit power by thought alone, then they'll be shocked.

Of course, thought-power-transmit has to be turned off during take off and landing.

I was asked, for the first time last week, to plug my Bose noise cancelling headphones into the audio socket during take off. I assume it was to be able to hear the safety announcement.

If there was the slightest chance that electronic devices cause problems then they'd be making us take the batteries out. 32000 aircraft movements a day in the US and not one causal link.*


* according to statistics I may have made up

 

[significance]

My noise cancelling earphones are white and almost everytime I'm using them to listen to the audio programme, I have to show the FA that it's plugged into the armrest socket. Sorry just throwing the spanner into the works

But your noise cancelling headphones are an electronic device in their own right, even plugged into the armrest or plugged into nothing at all. I had a flight attendant point this out to me once.

 

[medhead]

What is the point of turning it off, as opposed to putting it in flight mode?

I don't know. All I know is I've been given a lawful instruction to turn it off not put it in standby mode.


Sent from the Throne

 

[SeatBackForward]

I don't know. All I know is I've been given a lawful instruction to turn it off not put it in standby mode.


Sent from the Throne

But this is where I believe the greay area exists. They say "turn off" but do they simply mean "put into stand by"..if you have to turn it off, why have instructions about flight mode at all?

 

[significance]

Personally, if a fellow passenger is using a phone to talk during taxi or takeoff, I'd probably go so far as to give them a dirty look.

If they are using some other electronic device, I'll ignore it as I don't believe it does any harm.

If they are my immediate neighbour and I'm in the window seat, I'll take it as permission to bring out my Kindle (with wifi off), because they are clearly not going to be upset by it and no-one else will see. If there's any electronic device that is unlikely to cause interference, it's a e-ink reader. But I do understand that the airlines can't make different rules for each individual electronic device on the market.

 

[anat0l]

But this is where I believe the greay area exists. They say "turn off" but do they simply mean "put into stand by"..if you have to turn it off, why have instructions about flight mode at all?

Flight mode turns off the key communicable components of the device before you turn it off. This allows you to use your device later in flight when allowed to do so.

That's why they tell you to do it whilst still on the ground, so you don't do it whilst in the air (and thus at no point in flight should a device capable of communication / transmission be active in that functionality).


Turning off vs. stand by is just like your TV, which also has said two modes. Stand by is pretty much on except in a low power mode, so when they say to turn off a device, turn it off. Not hard, people.

 

[tt7]

.... so when they say to turn off a device, turn it off. Not hard, people.

You still don't explain why.

 

[serfty]

You still don't explain why.

This thread is not about that. To quote the OP:

... So I'm hoping not to open a debate about whether they should or should not be allowed on. ...

Those who wish to debate the why's please see discussions in these threads:

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....onic-devices-order-getting-earlier-26959.html

http://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/your-questions/the-dilemma-35476.html

 

[medhead]

But this is where I believe the greay area exists. They say "turn off" but do they simply mean "put into stand by"..if you have to turn it off, why have instructions about flight mode at all?

I'm sorry but if they simply mean put into standby then they would say that. They don't they say "turn off". There is nothing grey about it. What part of turn off is unclear?

The second part of your question has been well and truly answered. You put it into flight mode before you turn it off because you are allowed to turn it on once the seat belt sign is turned off (note not put into standby mode) provided it is in flight mode. If it isn't in flight mode already then it can't really be turned on, and if people do turn them on in flight then their device will be transmitting before they get it switched to flight mode.


Sent from the Throne

 

[medhead]

You still don't explain why.

Why is irrelevant. The airline tells you to turn it off that is why!


Sent from the Throne

 

[2impulsiv]

My noise cancelling earphones are white and almost everytime I'm using them to listen to the audio programme, I have to show the FA that it's plugged into the armrest socket. Sorry just throwing the spanner into the works

I have been asked to turn off my Bose noise cancelling headphones a few times when on Qantas link 717's. Not sure why as I've never been asked on bigger planes...

 

[bodog]

Slightly off-topic...

The other day the FA touched my thing.....

Well she actually picked up my iPad and phone (which were turned off) and put them in the seat pocket (I was in 1A so got that extra attention) - I was a bit surprised actually as she didnt ask me to do it and the way she put the phone in the pocket it could have potentially scratched the screen (it didn't)
I wasnt impressed but didnt make a fuss about it (I appreciate she was trying to be helpful) - but I think they should ask you to move it rather than unilaterlally touching it

 

[munitalP]

my response to a tool not turning off his BB



http://www.australianfrequentflyer....trip-photos/usa-eur-uk-hkg-bring-16211-2.html

 

[drron]

The best I have had was a DYKWIA talking on his phone right through the safety briefing after he had been told to turn it off 3 times by the FA.It was on a Dash 8 from DPO.After the safety briefing and on the way to the runway the male FA made another announcement-I'm sorry Ladies and gentlemen but take off will be delayed until the person in 3C has switched off his mobile phone.It Worked.I was in 3B and the glare had failed.

 

[serfty]

[MOD HAT]

Some posts have been move because they were discussing the why's of these rules.

As posted earlier:

Why is irrelevant. The airline tells you to turn it off that is why!
...

This thread is for discussing approaches for dealing with fellow passengers who you observe disobeying the rules.

It is not for discussing the merits of them.
​

[/MOD HAT]