A Delta Air Lines passenger experienced everyone’s worst nightmare on a delayed late night flight.
I doze off and then wake up to my seat mate straight up on a video conference call. Full volume. Talking like he’s sitting in a conference room, everyone on video, clearly talking about highly confidential material too.
To the [flight attendant]’s credit, they came over and told him to stop. He didn’t. He just talked less and started using headphones.
Listen, I get that everyone is grinding right now, and I love that, but if it’s Friday and midnight on a delayed flight, it’s like some people have no idea they’re in public and being rude
There should be quiet hours! I know you think that wifi calling itself should be banned, but you’re wrong.
Wifi calling was made illegal in the U.S. in 2018, because it’s unpopular (not because of any safety-related reason). The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 directed the Department of Transportation to issue regulations prohibiting passengers from engaging in voice communications using a mobile communications device during a flight in scheduled passenger service with exemptions for crew and federal law enforcement officers. This is codified at 49 U.S.C. § 41725.
Separately, the FCC bans use of cellular radios while airborne (47 C.F.R. §22.925) which is why you’re supposed to keep your phone in “airplane mode” but this does not cover wifi calling.
However, numerous airlines around the world allow inflight cell phone use on board. And there really aren’t any problems or conflicts from it. Planes outfit with AeroMobile or SITAONAIR/OnAir. Emirates has literally offered this for 17 years. Qatar has allowed it and has even promoted Zoom and Facetime calls with their roll out of Starlink wifi. Calling is also allowed on carriers including Etihad, SWISS, Turkish Airlines, Asiana, Malaysia Airlines, ITA Airways, EgyptAir, and Biman Bangladesh.
People talk to each other on planes now and those around them hear it! Amtrak lets people use cell phones with passengers confined closely together. Planes used to have Airfones. The parade of horribles many worry about never happened.
And calls can be really important! Sometimes the conversations you hear are even interesting. Carriers could impose rules to manage the annoyances, restrict listening to calls with headsets only, time of day or ”quiet hours”, length of call limits, and quiet zones like Amtrak quiet cars. Airlines could monetize seats that allow, or ban, these calls.
Meanwhile conversations can be truly important for instance the woman who might have been able to stop a suicide if she could have used her phone inflight. In other words, someone actually died because of the inflight calling ban. No one has ever died because someone made a call inflight. Calling would be really helpful during irregular operations where you’re going to miss a connection, too.
Years of live service abroad have not produced evidence of endemic disorder. Policy should follow real issues and activities shouldn’t be illegal because we think we might not like them.
Luckily with UA, AA, & DL hawking cheap upgrades I can afford to get away from this mess. If I can work on the plane in first or sleep so I can work when I get where I’m going, instead of merely surviving in economy, then I come out ahead.
Are you kidding?!?! It’s bad enough on public transit being forced to listen to everyone’s calls. Many Americans are rude and obnoxious. I can’t imagine being squeezed into a metal tube and forced to listen to someone’s personal call without any way to escape.
For the sake of humanity, keep the cell phone ban on airlines.
If someone’s time is that valuable that they need to be on a call while in transit, why are they wasting their time by traveling in the first place?
Take that Zoom call at home or your office. Like a professional.
They should be banned. It’s rude and can lead to someone being stabbed with a butter knife.
If there is a zoom meeting going on. Stick your head into the cam and say
“Since this is broadcasted in public I can quote all of you on this for my newspaper article”
If you really need to make a call go to the toilet. And make it quick
I don’t want to sit near anyone who yaps on their phone while flying.
Two things are true at the same time
1) it’s rude in the US to take a call on public transport, even on the regular (non-quiet) cars on Amtrak.
2) we don’t know what emergency the caller on this flight was having.
Okay, a third thing
3) most Americans still adhere to a religious edict not to judge other people.
I personally am not religious, but I don’t judge others. If you’re taking a call on public transport, that’s rude prima facie, I don’t know what’s going on in your life though. Maybe this call will close a deal that earns you $10 million.
Just start playing spotify loudly next to their laptop and they will get the hint
Simple solution:
Use headphones, Camera off AND
Don’t talk during your session, use the chat function to communicate with others on the call.
No calls on planes. It’s bad enough having to hear peoples’ life stories at the movies, in the gym, or in line at the grocery store. I don’t need to be auditorally assaulted by a yawker at 30,000 feet for five hours. People can text if there is something important or interesting to pass on.
As far as the suicide example, I’m sure an airline could allow a carve out for true emergencies. But that’s just it, true emergencies. Most people yucking it up on the cell phones are just blabbering on about things that actually aren’t mission critical in the least.
ARE YOU NUTS??? The LAST thing I want to endure for more than 30 seconds is some airhead YELLING into the mobile phone, with the speaker ON! Ban it…keep it banned…fine the hell out of those that don’t comply. It’s bad enough sitting in the waiting area listening to people YELLING into the phone and the speaker turned up FULL BLAST. I wrote down some, what seemed to be confidential information, and took a photograph of the person and sent it to the CEO of his company…along with the transcript! I am a stockholder in that company, too!
Oh, as far as talking in the toilet, many of us at my office will make gross noises when encountering those yelling into their cellphones while sitting or standing at the toilet. Let the recipient of the call know “how important” the call is by listening to gross noises.
@PENILE — “most Americans still adhere to a religious edict not to judge other people…” Bah! Good one!
“I don’t judge others.” ROFL.
@1990 – to answer your question of how long I have been on this blog. Since 2012-2013. Back when the Starwood American Express (red card) was a thing.
I need to create a new username though, this one is auto-sent to moderation.
Allowing people to yap on their phones, on full flights with everyone jammed together? Are you nuts?
Working on a Friday at midnight is just sad. What a miserable existance.
@PENILE — I appreciate your clarification. Will the new name be of the same genre? Like, something genital, and, more specifically, phallic? Perhaps, if you’ve run out of English synonyms, you could pull from other languages. Hadn’t you done so already on DoC? I believe it was 3x in Mandarin. Points for creativity!
Gary: “…the woman who might have been able to stop a suicide if she could have used her phone inflight. In other words, someone actually died because of the inflight calling ban.”
@Gary, bad logic: “Might” have been able to stop a suicide does not equate to “someone actually died because of the inflight calling ban.”
Once the doors shut, Zoom or call someone while you’re sitting next to me and I’m joining the conversation.
I support a full ban because I don’t want to ever have to take a call in the air. I want the excuse.
@1990 – the genitalia are my specialty, and to be sure, many of my names have referenced the female counterparts. But, there have been some comments from phallic names that were not me. The phallus is a common point of inspiration, is all that I can conclude. I am fluent in Chinese (to be pedantic, Mandarin is spoken, not written) as well as other languages so I may draw on my multilingual abilities. I’m a cunning linguist.
More than likely, to evade Gary Leff’s suspicion, I’ll just start a persona with an innocuous name like Rick or Bob.
All these comments, and no one mentioned the obvious solution . . . . . The Cone of Silence from Get Smart!!!
Totally against people ranting and raving on cell phones while in flight. Most people have noticed that even when using headphones, the typical cell phone user in public can’t help but screaming at the top of their lungs when using their phone.
One exception: I would be willing to steal a great idea from Mel Brooks and that great tv show “Get Smart”. If the airlines want to install a limited number of “Cones of Silence” seats (at an inflated price, of course) we could allow the privileged few to talk in complete silence. Unlike in “Get Smart” these privileged few would not be permitted to remove their shoes!!
@PENILE — You wouldn’t happen to be any of the resident bigots, would ya? (Like, @Walter Barry, @Andy S, etc.) I mean, if you’re seeking ‘engagement,’ nothing riles people up like the hate, outrage, and overt racism they push.
*(Calls In-Flight Wifi calling ban absurd)
*(Cites being seated next to someone on a call as “everyone’s worst nightmare”)
Ridiculous position Gary. I do not need to be subjected to someone’s phone calls on a flight where I am trapped for hours. It’s bad enough that carriers don’t enforce their own headset required rules.
The inflight ban on voice over cell phone use is also due to security concerns in addition to it being noise pollution in the cabin.
No way.
No way.
I don’t care what other countries do with this.
Just live everyday life in America.
Restaurants, trains, hotel lobby, coffee shop,etc.
We aren’t polite enough as a society.
Wake up.
@Peter — It’s hit and miss. I’d say, for the most part, the American public is just fine, yes, even on public transit. Sure, there are outliers of misbehavior, which is a real shame, and we should do better. However, if there is distrust, it’s probably due to algorithms benefiting from outrage, much of which is manufactured for engagement. Oh, also, systemic inequities, and the extreme wealth disparity, that, too, probably. I’d rather live in 2025 than 1975, though, even so. And hopefully 2050 is better yet, even with its own issues. Or we digress into oblivion. Meh. It goes down better with cacio e pepe, I’ll tell ya…
@1990 – to be clear I am not Walter Barry or Andy S, nor am I Amy Fischer (remember her?) – these are vile ignorant scumbags. I am categorically NOT bigoted, I did once post the full N word and was summarily banned however there is a lengthier explanation for that and I repeat, I am NOT a bigot.
As to your response to @Peter, I agree, the American public is generally fine when it comes to intrusive disruptions. There is no prohibition on yapping on your phone on the Chicago L or the NYC subway (even its elevated outdoor parts where you can get reception between stations). Yet, riding either of these metro systems is generally not intolerable.
@penile,
I’m a cunning linguist.
another good play on words
I have been across the aisle from a passenger on Swiss Air who spent two straight hours on the phone. OMG it was awful hearing her prattle on. I will never again fly Swiss. It was horrid even with a noise cancelling headset on as her voice was shrill and got through.
I am a hard pass on allowing in flight calling. I would think US flight attendants would be as well.
@PENILE — Eh, Verizon is pretty decent, even underground, in NYC. I thought you were out in Flushing, or was that an alter-ego. Either way, be safe out there. Fun times…
Voice or video calls are strictly prohibited. Not sure how they were able to conduct a Zoom meeting.
Disagree with phones in planes. There’s a reason Amtrak has quiet cars. No one needs to hear two family members petty discussion about their dying father and how they are going to handle logolistics when the whole car can hear the sorid and disgusting narcissist discussion. That’s why there are quiet cars and US airlines have correctly decided to NOT allow phones. Imagine the acrimony due to the cacophony of “oh, what shall we do after you pick me up…” etc.
Disagree with you on this one Gary.
Anyone who wishes to make a call should step outside.
“No one has ever died because someone made a call inflight.”
Oh they will, and I’ll be one of the first ones to commit the offense should an azzhole attempt it whilst seated near me.
Come on folks, technology cures all.
Require 3D VR headset, with headphones, & a court stenographer muzzle.
Who wouldn’t want to sit next to Darth?
Everyone wanted free wifi on planes. Be careful of what you wish for.
I’ve often thought about the hilarity that we could all make airfone calls at $4 a minute when the airline got a cut of the revenue and the government got sales tax on that but free calling over WiFi is verboten.
Gary sometimes has takes on things (“the middle person gets both arm rests”) which other humans respectfully think are insane takes. This is another insane – or, perhaps just inane – take, at least for Americans.
Imagine in these highly charged times someone who is on the phone (speaking to share the whole conversation with the entire plane) and says the words “Charlie Kirk” while trapped in a tube at 35,000 feet…there will be some sort of fight. The upside is that some enterprising plaintiff’s attorney might find a way to sue the person on the call for inciting a riot.
I would not be surprised if the flight attendants union members are not the strongest and most forcefully opposed to this ridiculous suggestion of everyone who flies. Gary, on this one, as with many others, you do not have the pulse of the populace.
@Stephen. Airfone use didn’t cause trouble because it was so expensive. Calls were always kept short and limited to urgent matters. Free calling on Wi-Fi removes those inhibitions.
@Not Phallic Or Otherwise Name Challenged – “Gary, on this one, as with many others, you do not have the pulse of the populace.”
https://youtu.be/QFgcqB8-AxE?feature=shared
Um just no to calls on the planes folks are good and trifling and use their convention center voices when on planes, in Dr offices etc. In short too many folks are uncouth!!
Nice rage bait, Gary 😉
No phone calls, please. Bad enough that people don’t use headphones when watching a video, I can imagine the rage of being stuck beside some self important jerk who can’t wait until landing to make the call. Businesses continue to operate and life goes on. But, if you have to talk about your latest deal, don’t be surprised if I pull out a legal pad and begin taking notes. Could be a hot stock tip!
Gary, nice video. I’ll be using that elsewhere.
There was a saying in the 70’s after the Watergate Scandal.
“America needed a Lincoln (like the words in your video!). Unfortunately, they got a Ford (like your idea!).”
A little late but fantastic reference, @Lucky Larry! That movie is underrated.
@L737 — Do you recall Professor Farnsworth’s “Chamber of Understanding” (kinda similar to the cone of silence, but better music and a disco ball.)
Also, I liked @tvjames joke above.
@Matthew- yes, urgent calls like, “Guess where I’m calling from? No the plane! Yes, really, I’m calling from the airplane!”…
I gotta say Gary, I’ve read this blog off and on for years, usually putting it down for a while when the hyperbole becomes too much. BUT this is off the damn charts!
“In other words, someone actually died because of the inflight calling ban”
It’s soo egregious and hyperbolic that it’s hard to even take you seriously. I’m done.
I listen to folks who are on the phone in public (because they force me to) and they always talk about the most inane things. My job never required me to be on the phone out of the office. I can text or email folks, we don’t need to talk while one of us is in public. I’ll make/take phone calls away from others if the call is “necessary.” Yet, others think it’s just fine to carry on silliness because the doors haven’t shut.
I agree and support calls, zoom meetings and FaceTime, it can be a critical call. And while we are at it, we should be able to watch porn on full volume because my time is valuable and this flight might be the only time today I have the time to enjoy it. Also, bonus: your business zoom call gets to listen to porn. And no one has died listening to porn, so let’s open it up on planes!
Oh no… we lost @Wyatt, who rarely if ever has engaged on here… whatever will we do without him… I know, I’ll make a call on-board my next flight to whine about it…
Nice rage bait, Gary. What’s next? Promoting the use of external amplifiers for Zoom calls and death metal in the lounge?
You are right, it is a ridiculous ban, and it’s only in place because the AFA lobbied politicians who were able to get the prohibition written into a bill in which wifi calling bans were completely irrelevant.When I fly on Virgin Atlantic, which doesn’t have the ban, there is no loud talking on phones – at least no more than there is loud talking between passengers sitting near each other. And who uses the phone for calls these days anyway? The main use for wifi calling would be to participate in Teams or Zoom calls, for which headsets should be worn and any talking in the plane should be done quietly as if you were speaking to the person sitting next to you.
Also you hit the nail on the head with “Activities shouldn’t be illegal because we think we might not like them.”