"In January, Emirates airline plans to launch mobile phone usage in its planes, making it the first airline to allow passengers to make cell phone calls on its flights." The full article is at the link I provided
I don't know about you but I hate this concept. I knew it was coming but kept hoping against it. My only remaining hope will be when I ticket I will be asked: "Will that be Quiet or Annoying Chatter, sir?" (as an online mouse click option of course).
Tug
[Edited 2006-12-21 16:57:17]
[Edited 2006-12-21 16:57:59]
I don’t know that I am unafraid to be myself, but it is hard to be somebody else. -W. Shatner
Airfoilsguy From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 1, posted (6 years 5 months 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 2346 times:
Do what I have done for years to block out annoying babies, wear ear plugs. It helps immensely. Be sure to buy the Orange ones, they help indicate to talkative travelers that you wish not to be bothered. This should work well for the phoney phoners
Tugger From United States of America, joined Apr 2006, 4631 posts, RR: 7 Reply 4, posted (6 years 5 months 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 2259 times:
Texting I could deal with. Of course the Crackberry users will be grateful for that! (You just can't stop, can you? And you know who I'm talking too!) And I can see allowing internet etc for laptops.
I also agree that earplugs are great! Even better than the noise cancelling headphones. I can't sleep easily with them on.
Tug
I don’t know that I am unafraid to be myself, but it is hard to be somebody else. -W. Shatner
N231YE From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 5, posted (6 years 5 months 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 2242 times:
Quoting USAirPlatinum (Reply 2): The price is going to be something like $5 to $10 per minute, so I doubt there will be many people talking for long periods.
Good. I'm glad to see some discouragement for annoying, loud, and long talkers.
DeltaGator From United States of America, joined Sep 2005, 6341 posts, RR: 16 Reply 6, posted (6 years 5 months 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 2218 times:
Quoting USAirPlatinum (Reply 2): The price is going to be something like $5 to $10 per minute, so I doubt there will be many people talking for long periods.
There will be plenty of takers. Some folks just don't know how to shut the Hell up even on a plane.
Quoting Tugger (Reply 4): the Crackberry users will be grateful for that! (You just can't stop, can you?
I know you're not talking about me but I can put mine down anytime. I'm not addicted to it and have it mainly because getting work email outside of the office is a chore and the Blackberry makes it easier. We aren't all weaklings in need of rehab.
"If you can't delight in the misery of others then you don't deserve to be a college football fan."
AirScoot From United States of America, joined May 2005, 688 posts, RR: 2 Reply 7, posted (6 years 5 months 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 2211 times:
Quoting N231YE (Reply 5): Quoting USAirPlatinum (Reply 2):
The price is going to be something like $5 to $10 per minute, so I doubt there will be many people talking for long periods.
Good. I'm glad to see some discouragement for annoying, loud, and long talkers.
Very likely not. Some people will spend the $10 per minute and call it a "legitimate business call" then charge it back to whoever signs their expense report.
How about asking for "cell phone or no cell phone" when taking seat assignments.. a 'la "smoking or non-smoking".. then put all the cell users in the back near the lavs and galleys..
USAirPlatinum From United Kingdom, joined Jul 2006, 244 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (6 years 5 months 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 2200 times:
Assuming a 1/2 hour conversation at $5 per minute, you're looking at a $150 bill. People aren't going to do that any more than they were willing to yack on the old Verizon AirFones for the same price.
Remember how everyone predicted nonstop yacking when those went in, too?
"Hey guys, Delta is OUR Delta right now." -- Unpaid Creditors
AirScoot From United States of America, joined May 2005, 688 posts, RR: 2 Reply 9, posted (6 years 5 months 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 2184 times:
Quoting USAirPlatinum (Reply 8): Assuming a 1/2 hour conversation at $5 per minute, you're looking at a $150 bill. People aren't going to do that any more than they were willing to yack on the old Verizon AirFones for the same price.
Remember how everyone predicted nonstop yacking when those went in, too?
I've seen far worse come through expense reports.. and those expenses got paid. For example.. satellite phone expenses in Hong Kong. Really.
The question will be in reception quality. The old AirFones sucked rock when it came to reception. I have a feeling that an inflight cell network would give something a little better.. though I would certainly pray not.
N231YE From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 10, posted (6 years 5 months 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 2178 times:
Quoting DeltaGator (Reply 6): There will be plenty of takers. Some folks just don't know how to shut the Hell up even on a plane.
Quoting AirScoot (Reply 7): Very likely not. Some people will spend the $10 per minute and call it a "legitimate business call" then charge it back to whoever signs their expense report.
But didn't the USD$3.99 per-minute Verizon/GTE AirFone bring them down? If we are talking about an even higher cost ($5-10/min), then it is possible the cell phone system will hit the same fork in the road.
AirScoot From United States of America, joined May 2005, 688 posts, RR: 2 Reply 11, posted (6 years 5 months 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 2146 times:
Quoting N231YE (Reply 10): But didn't the USD$3.99 per-minute Verizon/GTE AirFone bring them down? If we are talking about an even higher cost ($5-10/min), then it is possible the cell phone system will hit the same fork in the road
My understanding is the inflight phones internationally were the $10 per minute plus $15 connection charge or something in that ballpark. The $3.99-$4.99 rate was for domestic. I went to check and since the service has been discontinued, neither Verizon nor wikipedia mentions call type.
AirframeAS From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 14150 posts, RR: 26 Reply 13, posted (6 years 5 months 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 2130 times:
I take it that some of you have NOT read the article. This does NOT apply to U.S. carriers, its international airlines. The thread title is very misleading....
Quote: U.S. carriers don't allow in-flight cell phone calls, although the FAA is reviewing the safety concerns associated with mobile calls made in the air.
The chances of this passing with the F.A.A. is pretty slim at this time. I wouldnt get my hopes up if I were you. Im against this cell-phone usage in-flight. Just wait till the captain complains...let alone pax committing air rage!
Also, the article says....
Quote: For one, Boeing's system was expensive -- it cost about $1 million to outfit a single plane. In contrast, airlines can equip a plane with AirCell's technology for about one-tenth of that cost, Blumenstein said.
Do you really think the U.S. air carriers will spend approx $1M to outfit EACH aircraft? This would put airlines out of business. WN couldnt afford it themselves, come to think of it. Like I said, bad idea!
A Safe Flight Begins With Quality Maintenance On The Ground.
AirframeAS From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 14150 posts, RR: 26 Reply 14, posted (6 years 5 months 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 2085 times:
Quoting USAirPlatinum (Reply 14): Note that the solution being discussed is "1/10th Boeing's cost" or about $100,000. Even carriers on the brink of collapse, like Delta, could afford that.
I dont see that mentioned in the article, where does it say that?
A Safe Flight Begins With Quality Maintenance On The Ground.
Tugger From United States of America, joined Apr 2006, 4631 posts, RR: 7 Reply 15, posted (6 years 5 months 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 2076 times:
Quoting AirframeAS (Reply 13):
I take it that some of you have NOT read the article. This does NOT apply to U.S. carriers, its international airlines. The thread title is very misleading....
Ummmm, Sorry. Wasn't being mis-leading or meaning to do so. I kept it simple and included who was going to allow it in the Threadstarter specifically because I didn't want to mislead.
But the truth is that Carriers are now start to allow this.
And this isn't a "US only" board. It is very international.
Tug
[Edited 2006-12-21 18:03:42]
I don’t know that I am unafraid to be myself, but it is hard to be somebody else. -W. Shatner
USAirPlatinum From United Kingdom, joined Jul 2006, 244 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (6 years 5 months 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 2053 times:
Quoting AirframeAS (Reply 15): I dont see that mentioned in the article, where does it say that?
It's in your prior post!
Quote: Boeing's system was expensive -- it cost about $1 million to outfit a single plane. In contrast, airlines can equip a plane with AirCell's technology for about one-tenth of that cost
"Hey guys, Delta is OUR Delta right now." -- Unpaid Creditors
Gh123 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 17, posted (6 years 5 months 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 2016 times:
I hate the idea.
I mean if you are a businessman it is nice to be 'unreachable' while you are on a longhaul flight. If you need to make a phone call then you can but there's not really much point. I once made a call when flying from Dubai to Singapore (Emirates), somewhere over the Indian Ocean - a complete waste of time - crackles, drops in and out and definately not cheap.
AirframeAS From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 14150 posts, RR: 26 Reply 19, posted (6 years 5 months 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 1994 times:
Ctbarnes From United States of America, joined Mar 2000, 3491 posts, RR: 52 Reply 20, posted (6 years 5 months 3 days 9 hours ago) and read 1823 times:
Quoting Evan767 (Reply 3): Didn't VS say that they were enforcing a text-only deal? NO talking, texting only? Sounds good to me.
Good luck enforcing it...
EK, IMHO, have done something shrewd here. They've priced it so people will think twice before switching on, and this ultimately will cut down on the idle chatter.
Charles, SJ
The customer isn't a moron, she is your wife -David Ogilvy
ExFATboy From United States of America, joined Jul 2003, 2974 posts, RR: 9 Reply 21, posted (6 years 5 months 3 days 4 hours ago) and read 1630 times:
If voice service ever catches on, my solution to this will be the same as my solution to the loud kid problem - noise-cancelling headphones and an iPod.
Sponsor Message: 
From United States of America, joined Apr 2006, 4631 posts, 
From United Kingdom, joined Jul 2006, 244 posts, 
Some people will spend the $10 per minute and call it a "legitimate business call" then charge it back to whoever signs their expense report.
Printer friendly format 
