Virgin and QF to allow gate to gate use of handheld devices from tomorrow

[markis10]

As tweeted:

@VirginAustralia: From tomorrow, you will be allowed to use your hand-held electronic device on most flights at any point during your journey with us.

Qantas have gone further:

From tomorrow afternoon Qantas customers will be able to use their personal electronic devices such as smart phones, tablets and music players in flight mode, for the duration of each flight, providing uninterrupted access to work and entertainment.


Qantas was approved to revise its personal electronic device policy by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority today following new guidance on the safe use of personal electronic devices inflight.


Qantas Domestic Chief Executive Officer Lyell Strambi said the new changes were an exciting development in customer experience for the airline.


“We’re delighted to give Qantas customers the freedom and flexibility to use their personal electronic devices from the moment they board the plane until they disembark,” said Mr Strambi.


“Whether customers choose to listen to music, read their e-books or review work documents the introduction of gate-to-gate electronic access on Qantas flights is an exciting development to an already exceptional inflight entertainment service.


“Qantas was the first Australian airline to introduce Inflight Entertainment and provide wireless devices on board so it’s great to be able to capitalise on these features for our customers.


“Qantas has conducted rigorous testing to assess the impacts of electronic devices on the safe operation of aircraft. We are confident that these devices are safe to be turned on, but in flight mode, for the duration of each flight.”

 

[Ausbt]

As tweeted:

@VirginAustralia: From tomorrow, you will be allowed to use your hand-held electronic device on ”

Chap in 3B on my 0700 SYD-MEL appeared to get in early on that today. For myself I elected not to power off on descent, pushing the envelope just a little bit I suppose. Prediction: in 10 years with the advent of 'hologram technology' the quaint notion of a Platinum Shadow will be long gone. Instead there'll be a hologram sitting in 3B having a long, loud & tedious conversation with the goose in 3C.

 

[smit0847]

Obvious questions:
- how will crew know pax have placed their devices into flight mode? I doubt most will bother.
- I imagine people will chuck on their headphones and start a movie the second they sit down meaning the don't hear a single thing the crew or pilot says the whole flight. How will any messages get through to pax?

While I love having the option of not listening to all the announcements (I can recite the VA safety presentation from memory) this is really going to 'disconnect' pax and crew as it's now possible to take a flight without hearing or speaking to anyone.

 

[markis10]

While I love having the option of not listening to all the announcements (I can recite the VA safety presentation from memory) this is really going to 'disconnect' pax and crew as it's now possible to take a flight without hearing or speaking to anyone.

Another step closer to public transport , or maybe it's just an admission that most passengers give lip service to the safety briefings anyway, and have done so for years, as evidenced by recent disasters like Asiana.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

excellent, im actually flying VA tomorrow morning so I'll make use of this.

 

[Himeno]

QF said from 3pm tomorrow. Did VA give a time?

 

[suze2000]

For a nervy flyer like myself, the first few flights I take are going to be fraught every time something seemingly unusual happens.

I bet bunches of people don't put their phones in flight mode too. The sound of text messages arriving when I'm on a plane makes my blood boil. And this already happens far too often.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

For a nervy flyer like myself, the first few flights I take are going to be fraught every time something seemingly unusual happens.

I bet bunches of people don't put their phones in flight mode too. The sound of text messages arriving when I'm on a plane makes my blood boil. And this already happens far too often.

yes it happens on every flight every day every where on earth.

 

[PLANT]

So now we can legally snap the take off and landing pick

 

[otchi]

Phones, Laptops on from gate to gate

From 3pm tomorrow you will be able to use your devices from gate to gate on all Qantas flights!

QANTAS CUSTOMERS CAN KEEP THEIR PHONES, LAPTOPS ON FROM GATE TO GATE

 

[Mattg]

Re: Phones, Laptops on from gate to gate

Woohoo! Great news.

Before we know it, all airlines will adopt a similar policy. I know that British Airways and various other airlines already allow the use of electronic devices in flight mode throughout takeoff and landing.

They'll have to update their safety video. When British Airways implemented the change, they had to make an announcement after the video was played that the information on the use of electronic devices was no longer correct and the new procedure was read out. It was a bit confusing.

 

[JessicaTam]

May I suggest the thread title* be altered to reflect that it is not 'full' use, but 'limited' use, due to the device needing to be in flight mode.

*I must be in title fixing mode tonight.

 

[ashleyn]

Re: Phones, Laptops on from gate to gate

Woohoo! Great news.

Before we know it, all airlines will adopt a similar policy. I know that British Airways and various other airlines already allow the use of electronic devices in flight mode throughout takeoff and landing.

They'll have to update their safety video. When British Airways implemented the change, they had to make an announcement after the video was played that the information on the use of electronic devices was no longer correct and the new procedure was read out. It was a bit confusing.

I'm just a bit confused as to how that is a good thing, not as if you have connectivity so does it mean you can continue to play freecell ? I'm sure I'll be enlightened.

 

[Mattg]

Re: Phones, Laptops on from gate to gate

I'm just a bit confused as to how that is a good thing, not as if you have connectivity so does it mean you can continue to play freecell ? I'm sure I'll be enlightened.

I've found it to be a good thing on flights I've taken in the past where this was offered.

Some things I've been able to do during taxi, takeoff and landing which I wouldn't have normally been able to do include: listening to music on my iPod, watching a movie on my iPad, taking photos of the view out the window, reading an E-book and writing on my iPad. I'm not a fan of freecell, but have played solitaire during landing.

On a short flight like CBR-SYD, by the time the seat belt sign goes off, I turn on my iPod, plug my headphones in and start listening to music, the cabin crew usually have to start preparing the cabin for landing 2 or 3 songs in... It's the same deal for the iPad entertainment on the 717s. You can't even watch a full episode of The Simpsons.

 

[TomVexille]

So now we can legally snap the take off and landing pick

Exactly

 

[opusman]

Re: Phones, Laptops on from gate to gate

All I can say is, about time!

 

[RooFlyer]

The heading to the Qantas announcement is a bit misleading.

QANTAS CUSTOMERS CAN KEEP THEIR PHONES, LAPTOPS ON FROM GATE TO GATE

Laptops will need to be stowed during take-off and landing, meaning in the overhead locker or in the seat pocket in front of you if you can get away with it. I guess they can be 'on', but you can't use them (because of their size, not because of any electronic issue). This would be in line with practice in the US and elsewhere.

On both my flights in the US a few days ago, every person with a phone in their hand I could see was texting or actively hitting keys during take-off (and the ones I could see directly were texting, not playing games).

Interestingly Canada still required devices to be off for take off and landing.

 

[farstar]

Re: Phones, Laptops on from gate to gate

Large items like laptops still need to be stowed for take off and landing according to the article, so not quite gate to gate for them.

 

[BD1959]

Good luck to the cabin crew now policing Flight Mode!

Regards,

BD

 

[JessicaTam]

Good luck to the cabin crew now policing Flight Mode!

Regards,

BD

I guess that has formed part of the decision to allow their use. It would be nigh on impossible to check, so maybe there is an acceptance that not putting them in flight mode is ok, just not advertised as such.