Mobile phones on LH

[an-124]

From 31 October, when their winter timetable goes into effect, Lufthansa plans to permit the unrestricted use of mobile telephones on board.

[Rainboe]

Maybe I'm missing something, but my mobile cuts off at liftoff and comes alive again on the ground. I think the networks isolate your phone if too many base stations pick it up- somehow they seem to know you are airborne and flooding their system so you get disengaged.

*this is from unofficial experimentation

[USER0005]

If LH permits the use of mobile phones during flight then I'm voting with my feet - away from Lufthansa.

The thought of sharing a row of seats with one of those cretins who believes his/her entire business will collapse around them if they are out of contact for a couple of hours is horrendous.

I feel very sorry for the crews having to contend with so much pointless babble.

[catchup]

@an-124

Where did you find that?

regards

[Load Toad]

Flying very regularly in Asia I will wail and gnash my teeth if the unrestricted use of mobile phones is allowed in aircraft. And if this is true of LH then it'll be a simple case of not using them when I fly to Europe.
The only people who want to use a phone in flight are the people who have no thought for others comfort, they are invariably the w*****s that leave their phones on in the cinema or theatre.

Just one question - why do the airlines feel the need to allow phone use on their planes? Who is asking for it? I haven't met a passenger yet who wants to have such a service.

[airborne_artist]

Rainboe

The solution is to install a mini-base station on the aircraft, and then to relay the comms to earth (poss via satellite).

Pax will have to pay LH's charges (at least $3/min I'd expect), prob charged to their CC after some kind of reg. process.

I agree - a flight is about the only place on earth now free of "Hello, it's me" @rseholes.

[Rainboe]

I can just hear the conversation! (Shouted) " HELLO! HELLO! IT'S ME! I'M ON THE TR/PLANE! YES! LOVELY FLIGHT- VERY QUIET! EVERYBODY ASLEEP...WELL THEY WERE! DON"T KNOW WHERE WE ARE BUT WE'RE VERY HIGH!" Multiply that by 40 people all shouting down their phones in an economy cabin.......

[BOAC]

Maybe I'm missing something, but my mobile cuts off at liftoff and comes alive again on the ground. I think the networks isolate your phone if too many base stations pick it up- somehow they seem to know you are airborne and flooding their system so you get disengaged.

For Rainboe - I can assure you that is not correct - again, from 'unofficial' experimentation (known as I forgot to turn it off) we heard a puzzling ... --- ... ... --- ... over Athens. Eventually the brain cell woke up and when I looked it said 'Welcome to Vodafone Greece'.......................................

[Rainboe]

I know Virgin positively disconnects you almost the moment you get airborne until touchdown. It must be a network thing.

[simfly]

BOAC, I hope you weren't too alarmed, though I would be if I heard ---, especially as every mobile I've heard gives out ...--... (SMS).

[eal401]

from 'unofficial' experimentation (known as I forgot to turn it off)

What? And the aircraft didn't spiral into the ground? Gosh I am shocked.



Of course the worst mobile phone users are those who can't understand they've got a duff connection, i.e.

HELLO? IT'S ME! HELLO? HELLO? CAN YOU HEAR ME? HELLO?....HELLO?....HELLO?....HELLO?....HELLO?....HELLO?.... HELLO?CAN YOU HEAR ME? HELLO?....HELLO?....HELLO?....HELLO?....HELLO?....HELLO?.... HELLO?
Arrrgh, SHUT UP!!!

[catchup]

Virgin positively disconnects you

Idon't hope so

[BOAC]

Simfly - thanks for the correction - Morse code never was a strong point

eal - yes, amazingly we survived!

[Captain104]

No need to panic gentlemen. Just google around a bit.

http://www.newswireless.net/index.cfm/article/1882
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4092019.stm

Regards

[RevMan2]

You could always do VOIP via LH's FlyNet....

[sirwa69]

Emirates are doing the same in April or May.
There will be a cell in the aircraft and it will cost you $3 a minute


Guess I need to invest in an iPod


On On

[Konkordski]

Let's have some facts:

LH is only permitting mobile phone use on the GROUND until the last passenger door is shut. And even then only at the skipper's discretion.

[an-124]

Konkordski, LH currently allows you to speak on your mobile on the ground.

[Konkordski]

Yes - but I understand that the only change in policy is to do with using mobiles on the ground. Using them in the air will still be a no-no...at least that's what LH says.

[Momo]

Phones do work at altitude

Coming back from Mauritius a couple of weeks ago, I heard a number of SMS messages arrive on nearby phones while we were over Africa at 39,000 ft., and one lady nearby answered her phone when it rang.

Momo