Mobile Phones on planes

[oz_mark]

... and if you need IFE why aren't you capable of amusing yourself for two hours?

You want food? Why, aren't you organised enough to eat first or wait for two hours?

It's about choice. Yes, some stupid people will abuse it and annoy others but that's not a reason to just ban the technology.

Yes, it is about choice, but my point is that I hear arguments all the time that people need to have their phone on all the time. No you don't. What can be so important that it can't wait till you get on the ground?

 

[chrisb]

What can be so important that it can't wait till you get on the ground?

Welcome to the Blackberry generation.

Don't get me wrong, i agree with you that some people just go way overboard with mobile phone connectivity, but that's the way some people and businesses operate.

For me, the quiet time on the plane is great - but i really appreciate that the technology is there if I need it. (In the air it would probably be something ultra important like looking something up on wikipedia or imdb to answer some random question that popped into my head )

Bring it on - If the noise of people talking on the phone becomes an issue then hopefully the airlines will deal with it or face a customer backlash.

Chrisb.

 

[oz_mark]

Welcome to the Blackberry generation.

Don't get me wrong, i agree with you that some people just go way overboard with mobile phone connectivity, but that's the way some people and businesses operate.

For me, the quiet time on the plane is great - but i really appreciate that the technology is there if I need it. (In the air it would probably be something ultra important like looking something up on wikipedia or imdb to answer some random question that popped into my head )

Bring it on - If the noise of people talking on the phone becomes an issue then hopefully the airlines will deal with it or face a customer backlash.

Chrisb.

Well, the conversation was more about 'calls' and by this I took it as 'voice calls'. To me there is a world of difference between shooting off an email, and yabbering on the phone.

 

[simongr]

Yes, it is about choice, but my point is that I hear arguments all the time that people need to have their phone on all the time. No you don't. What can be so important that it can't wait till you get on the ground?

There are times that I would prefer to sort out anything before I hit the ground for a heap of reasons. Landing in LA when I am 18 hours adrift from my home time zone - it would be easier to call whilst on the plane and deal with anything - or say goodnight to wife and family. Onboard I can have my notebook handy to umm take notes - rather than trying to remember things as I walk to immigration. Also I get quite annoyed when trying to get through the airport quickly and people around me are rifling through their bags looking for phones or drifting as they walk whilst on the phone.

People can be annoying on phones but they can be annoying in many other ways - I just dont know why I should be a pariah because someone else might not be considerate when on the phone - If mrssimongr cant hear me when I am on the phone on the train - I hang up and wait until I get home rather than shouting at her on the phone - maybe I am special and considerate.

 

[JohnK]

Have we all got so self important that a telephone call should be allowed on flight, and it will be next.

I think mobile phones have become an addictive habit for many people, a lot like cigarettes.

I see people walking home, after getting off the train or bus, and the mobile phone glued to their ear for the whole time. What is so important that could not wait until you get home?

 

[JohnK]

There are times that I would prefer to sort out anything before I hit the ground for a heap of reasons. Landing in LA when I am 18 hours adrift from my home time zone - it would be easier to call whilst on the plane and deal with anything - or say goodnight to wife and family.

For those of us that are so naive, and have no idea how work business trips are conducted please explain to us what could possible have changed, work wise, from the time someone boards a flight to the time they are due to arrive. Was there not enough time to deal with these issues before they departed? Did some new magic idea occur during the 18 hour trip that could not possibly wait until arrving?

Do we really need to have mobile phone usage on an aircraft that badly? Even business people? Absolutely positively no. If you could not deal with it before departing then schedule your time accordingly and deal with it when you arrive.

Life should be about considering other people and majority of people do not want mobile phones used on aircraft, golf courses, cinemas, opera etc etc. Unfortunately we have stooped to the level where we could not care less about anyone other than ourselves.

 

[serfty]

... What is so important that could not wait until you get home?

"Hi Darl, could you be a dear and pop a blank tape in and record Foxtel 501; forgot to tape the footy ... yes dear, been held up, I'm on the train and just remembered ... I'll be home in 30 mins ....cheers"

 

[JohnK]

"Hi Darl, could you be a dear and pop a blank tape in and record Foxtel 501; forgot to tape the footy ... yes dear, been held up, I'm on the train and just remembered ... I'll be home in 30 mins ....cheers"

Yes I can understand that one. That is about a 30 second phone conversation.

I was referring to people walking home after getting off the train or bus and the phone glued to their ear all the way home!

 

[Evan]

For those of us that are so naive, and have no idea how work business trips are conducted please explain to us what could possible have changed, work wise, from the time someone boards a flight to the time they are due to arrive. Was there not enough time to deal with these issues before they departed? Did some new magic idea occur during the 18 hour trip that could not possibly wait until arrving?

You may be supprised, and i know i have seen all sorts of things happen when i have been in the air for only 8 hours, and plans have changed, but i don't need a phone, SMS or email would be great but even then i just check my mail when i arrive.

As a techie working in a worldwide company i do have atleast 3 or 4 other people around the world that can do my job ! if i couldn't ask somebody else to look after my systems when i was on holiday i would go insane !

In some ways i love mobile phone, in other i really hate them ! so intrusive to our lives we forget about the people around us.... you work to live, not live to work ! (And yes i do enjoy my job but it still hold true)

Evan

 

[simongr]

For those of us that are so naive, and have no idea how work business trips are conducted please explain to us what could possible have changed, work wise, from the time someone boards a flight to the time they are due to arrive. Was there not enough time to deal with these issues before they departed? Did some new magic idea occur during the 18 hour trip that could not possibly wait until arrving?.

Conference cancelled whilst someone was in flight to the US - to the conference...

Mid business transaction, advising boss that documents have been sent to counterparts - if not boss needs to call counterparts to advise of delays. Status update on project that you are going to be dealigng with on landing.

Again - to reiterate - you find phones annoying - I find the slowness of o other people annoying - and many other things that I have to suffer through when travelling.

 

[serfty]

I often refer to my mobile as my "Umbilical Cord".

I'm sure Qantas suerveyed PAX in regard to this technology and received a resounding no to Voice Calls from those surveyed.

I am guessing this messaging facility that is to be introduced is 'plan B'.

 

[NM]

I was referring to people walking home after getting off the train or bus and the phone glued to their ear all the way home!

Easy. In my roll, I am on-call all the time to join a "Service Restoration Team" (SRT) when there are severity-1 outages affecting our customers. Such issues are not scheduleed to occur inside normal work hours and often end up being at times when I am "out and about". If I had just got off a train and was called to join an SRT, I could very well be glued to the phone for the rest of the walk home, until I got to a land-line to call back into the SRT conference bridge to continue my roll.

On several occasions, I have been sitting on SRT bridges for 10+ hours at a time. I think my record was 22 hours continuous (thankfully I don't see the phone bills).

I only get called into an SRT when the issue is directly relating to my specific area of expertise. So it does not happen all that often for me. But there are people in the organisation that are required to join all SRTs for their specific customer, or they must delegate to an alternate. Now if the responsible person was on a plane and uncontactible, then their alternate delegate is called in. But if he was walking home from the train, he would be expected to on the SRT bridge. I have joined SRT bridges from the sideline of a soccer field while watching my son play, and while out shopping with my family on a weekend. Its part of my job responsibility that if I can take the call then I will. But if I'm on a plane or in a cinema or theatre or such where my phone is off, then one of my staff will be called to assist until I am available again.

Now, would I join an SRT from an aircraft mid-flight? No, I would not. But if informed of a severity-1 outage by SMS, I would respond (with an SMS) and nominate an alternate person to join in my place, and request a regular update (say every 30 mins) so that when I land I can join and assist.

 

[JohnK]

Conference cancelled whilst someone was in flight to the US - to the conference...

Too late! You are already on the way and you can't turn the aircraft around. Make all necessary phone calls at your destination. The person that cancelled the conference can also inform your boss and all other conference delegates.

Again - to reiterate - you find phones annoying - I find the slowness of o other people annoying - and many other things that I have to suffer through when travelling.

Simon, I find a lot of things annoying. Have patience. Someone slower than others is unfortunate and part of life. Mobile phones are not. There is an overwhelming objection to mobile phone use on aircraft. For a change I hope the majority, and not the loud minority, have their way on this one.

 

[JohnK]

Easy. In my roll, I am on-call all the time to join a "Service Restoration Team" (SRT) when there are severity-1 outages affecting our customers. Such issues are not scheduleed to occur inside normal work hours and often end up being at times when I am "out and about". If I had just got off a train and was called to join an SRT, I could very well be glued to the phone for the rest of the walk home, until I got to a land-line to call back into the SRT conference bridge to continue my roll.

OK so you have a valid excuse for the odd occassion you are required to be on the mobile phone walking home from the train.

I know most of the people I have described. They are addicted to mobile phones and cannot do without them. They are bored with their 10 minute walk home and talk to friends/family to pass the time. I also know people who spend around $300 a month on mobile phone bills. Not business. Just personal/social. This is a sickness. It needs a cure.

 

[Dave Noble]

OK so you have a valid excuse for the odd occassion you are required to be on the mobile phone walking home from the train.

I know most of the people I have described. They are addicted to mobile phones and cannot do without them. They are bored with their 10 minute walk home and talk to friends/family to pass the time. I also know people who spend around $300 a month on mobile phone bills. Not business. Just personal/social. This is a sickness. It needs a cure.

It's not a sickness. A 10 minute walk from a station is a perfect time to hold calls. When I have to pop to the office, I can make productive use of the time. Some people not liking mobile phones does not make it a sickness nor does it need a cure.

Dave

 

[shillard]

Look to the past for the solution - instead of "smoking" and "non-smoking" seats, have "mobile" and "non-mobile" seats.

I use my mobile - a lot, like most here who do work demands it. However, if I can't get on a 14hr flight without taking a mobile call I either...

a) Don't have my s__t together enough to warrant being in my job, or

b) Sholdn't be getting on a flight in the first place.

 

[straitman]

A 10 minute walk from a station is a perfect time to hold calls. When I have to pop to the office, I can make productive use of the time. Some people not liking mobile phones does not make it a sickness nor does it need a cure.

Dave

Absolutely :!:

It's not a sickness.

Unfortunately for some people it is a sickness though :!: Their whole life revolves around that little piece of electronic wizardry surrounded in plastic and they aren't able to function without it. They are the ones who would be the problem on flights if allowed to use their phones. Not to mention those who then can't pay their bills and still come back for more. :evil:

 

[shillard]

Absolutely :!:



Unfortunately for some people it is a sickness though :!: Their whole life revolves around that little piece of electronic wizardry surrounded in plastic and they aren't able to function without it. They are the ones who would be the problem on flights if allowed to use their phones. Not to mention those who then can't pay their bills and still come back for more. :evil:

Who cares?

Social Darwinism in action, refuse like that will always sink to the bottom.

The only shame is that we don't have debtors prisons to supply labour gangs anymore.

 

[straitman]

Who cares?

Social Darwinism in action, refuse like that will always sink to the bottom.

The only shame is that we don't have debtors prisons to supply labour gangs anymore.

I hear you :!: :mrgreen:

 

[bigjobs]

Who cares?

Social Darwinism in action, refuse like that will always sink to the bottom.

The only shame is that we don't have debtors prisons to supply labour gangs anymore.

you're funny