Mobile phone usage aboard.
 

This old nugget rears it's head again…..:* I was on 2 flights in the last week and witnessed problems with passengers ignoring lawful requests from both cabin crew and flight deck. First one was a simple standard request for all on board to switch off all electronic devices for taxy/takeoff. One passenger ignored this continuing to text/facebook/whatever, it was spotted by CC and they momentarily complied, but then whipped out their phone once they felt safe. This happened 3 more times, even after the captain announced that ALL phones were to be switched off. The offender only turned off said phone as the engines spooled up to begin the takeoff……I was 5 seats away across the aisle and did the typical thing of doing nothing, but simply because I felt that I had no right to do anything. However, It makes me wonder why there isn't a hardcore policy with zero tolerance if there are safety concerns which are debated.

Second incident, having landed yesterday, once clear of the runway someone 2 rows behind started talking very loudly into their phone until we came to the gate but strangely stopped once the aircraft did so :rolleyes: Why do certain people feel this is ok and perhaps more interestingly why is this tolerated by airlines and their employees if there are good reasons not to allow such behaviour ?



SHJ

We will never know why they think this way. The only point, I suggest, is how are they made to comply?

Because they are selfish pricks who believe it is their right to do whatever they want and it is their right never to experience adversity in life.
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Poor excuse, and it is just an excuse. You saw something that was wrong, you knew it was wrong but didn't have the fortitude to do what was right. Instead you rationalize your way out of it.
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You have every right to speak up when you see something wrong, in fact you have an obligation to do so. You failed miserably.

I would agree if it were a transgression of magnitude, e.g someone being violent/lighting a fire/attempting to hijack or some such, but a texting/talking phone user that appears to be tolerated by the responsible company employees, I cannot agree with your feelings of obligation. These days any unusual request/demand is more often met with a zero tolerance and a threat by CC of real consequences if one doesn't pipe down quickly as to deter one from doing much outside sit/eat/pee during the flight.

Remember mr outsider, to fail one has to try in the first instance and I and the other passengers didn't try. In fact, most didn't seem to care less.



SHJ

More excuses and rationalizations, and seeking shelter in the herd.

Depending upon the airline, this is of course allowable. Emirates announcement says that 'now we have cleared the runway, you may use your phones' and many do.

Well I certainly can't condone the second example, however loudmouths are usually loudmouths regardless of if they have a device in their hand, or not. However don't some airlines (BA I think) now allow telephone use once the aircraft has left the runway?

For the first, do we actually know he was connected to a telephone network? Or was he just playing a game, or some other activity that doesn't require a network?

AFAIK many aviation authorities now allow airlines to let their passengers use their electronics gate-to-gate however not all airlines have decided to allow it.

So, again, we have a situation that is perfectly OK on DL, for example, but not on the airline SHJ was flying on. Yes I know that passengers must follow the instructions of the crew, it is the law. But why do we still have two different standards. Those airlines that have decided not to allow gate-to-gate should include in their briefing more that just a request to turn things off. They should clearly state that use is NOT permitted on their airline until …

And can someone please tell me why I am not allowed to check my voice-mails inflight? How does this disturb you?

I bet you're a barrel of laughs on a night out with the boys.

Found it … (Effective 1 July 2013) British Airways Relaxes Mobile Phone Usage Policy

So he is still a loudmouth, but he isn't breaking rules if he's on BA.

And this is the root of the problem. The airlines need to get tougher with a zero tolerance. Offloading the offender, or having plod meet and greet them at the destination. Once this starts happening the deterrent will soon be enough to stop the morons from disregarding their obligations.

About 7 years ago, I was on an internal USA flight from St Louis to Chicago.
I was sat at the back in the last seat, isle, next to the flight attendants who were sat behind me.
Just before pushback, announcement to turn all electronic devices off.

Old guy next to me chose to ignore the instruction, then he put his head between his legs,then proceeded to dial out on his cell phone! Then talks quietly hoping not to be heard by the flight attendants.

I reached behind me to catch the flight attendants attention, to which he(the flight attendant) unstrapped himself, as we were taxiing to the hold by the runway, he then told the passenger next to me to turn off his device twice after being ignored! The passenger did so after the third request after the flight attendant threatened to ask the captain to turn back to the gate to remove him!
The guys wife was sat two rows in front of us, she told her husband off but wanted to know if he had got in contact with whoever they were trying to!

The flight attendant, discreetly thanked me as the guy didn't know it was me who bought it to the flight attendants attention.

When the beverages came down the aircraft, the flight attendant gave me two free beers which cost $5.00 each as a thank you.

As we were coming into land the guy got his phone out & switched it on again to make a call, doesn't learn from before! Again I alerted the flight attendant who took his phone off him, I heard him talking to the captain via intercom as we taxied in.

Needless to say the police were waiting for him at the gate!

Very sorry but if you are told to do something, you do it!

I won't hesitate to grass someone up if I see them not complying with what they are told! Arrogant idiots as far as I am concerned!

First the carriers did not want to tell the Pax truth about cabin baggage - because they are afraid of losing some of the idiots.

Now the carriers do not want to tell the Pax truth about electronics - because the are afraid of losing some of the idiots.

With any luck, a carrier will start telling the truth to Pax - and advertise it and DO IT and advertise their zero tolerance. Interesting marketing opportunity.

But they won't - because the shareholders must be appeased. Right up to the moment when something really nasty happens because of the idiots ...

The airline should invest in cell phone jammers!

Paxboy, do spare us for your homespun incessant nonsense. It is getting really tedious to listen to.

I wasn't aware that that was the case, perhaps it was the case with the airline that I used ? If it was, they certainly didn't advertise this and/or mention it in the pre-flight announcement. Personally I would prefer if there was a total ban on all mobile devices until the cruise and only then if there was wifi onboard as is the case with Norwegian throughout their fleet as an example. It certainly shouldn't be for the individual to interpret what are the rules, as most who do are of the variety that grate.

Mr outsider, you seem to have very high standards of behaviour, I only hope that you live up to them yourself :hmm: Perhaps the pprune adage of 'play the ball, not the man' would be worth mentioning ?



SHJ

Posted by One Outsider (appropriate name btw)

What do you do with the hand not holding the mobile when on board?

People no longer care. The same ones who un-buckle and jump up to retrieve their carry on while the aircraft is still taxing. Unless airlines can fine pax for talking on phones or getting out of their seat prematurely, this will continue to happen.

Hi Jonno_aus, welcome aboard the PPRuNe machine. We're a mixed lot in this cabin as we're all mixed in - no spearate cabins here. ;)

I agree with your comment.

It shouldn't difficult. Either allow it or disallow it, but everybody should follow the same rules.

… and I still would like to be able to check my voice-mail, text or even talk on my phone while onboard. No, I don't shout on my phone. I speak at the same level as when talking to friends and colleagues. But some airlines allow some of all of the above, and others don't

But rarely is it the device, it's the person. On a recent overnight trip the three guys in the seats behind us talked for the entire flight. Mostly at a normal volume, sometimes a bit loud. It did disturb my peace, but I didn't think my right to quiet overruled their right to converse. I had forgotten my earplugs (good ones, not the ones the airlines give out). There are solutions.

Others using a mobile doesn't bother me as long as they don't make me party to their conversation. What I detest at airports, and would on aircraft, are the inconsiderate self-important imbeciles who think the entire airport/aircraft need to hear their boring (one-sided) conversation!