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Mike Elgan's picture
Mike Elgan

The World Is My Office

Airline allows cell phone calls in-flight

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Rated +11
311 Votes

SANTA BARBARA, CALIF. -- The Dubai-base Emirates airline has announced a policy of allowing passengers to make cell phone calls during flight, and is reportedly the first airline in the world to do so.

The airline's Airbus A340 has been modified to prevent calls from interfering with aviation electronics.

Calls are allowed only at cruising altitude during the day, and passengers are encouraged to use "silent mode" so other passengers aren't disturbed by ringtones.

Meanwhile, the Australian airline Quantas has announced plans to allow the use of cell phones for text messaging and e-mail, but not voice calls, during flights.

Is this the way all airlines should go -- combining convenience with common sense? Or should airlines, the FCC and FAA just maintain a comprehensive ban?

What People Are Saying

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Rated 0
172 Votes

airline allows cell phone calls in-flight

Maintain the ban, have you ever tried to read a book or take a short nap with someone next to you talking on the phone. Some people are very rude and don't give a dame how loud they are.

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Rated +6
212 Votes

Ever ride on a subway full

Ever ride on a subway full of people conducting business with their phones at the top of their lungs? Ever try to read or think in the middle of the racket? How about a soundproof booth at the back of the plane for the cell phone blabbers?

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Rated -2
208 Votes

Maintain the ban, americans

Maintain the ban, americans are rude with each other and it is only a matter of time before iritated callers become violent with each other.

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Rated 0
252 Votes

great plan!

If they make the prices high enough no one will talk too long - so no one will be bothered too much!