Comments on: Let’s Ban Things Other Than VoIP on Planes

By: PhoneBoy

PhoneBoy — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 06:19:50 +0000

I’d call my wife on my mobile phone BEFORE WE GOT IN THE AIR. I actually keep my SMS tone disabled and my ring tone is very tasteful (i.e. not a 60 second version of the macarena).

The problem is that the planes are giving out their Internet with WiFi. While you can block VoIP, clever people will figure out ways around these blocks. It’s a cat and mouse game–one that Aircell will ultimately lose.

By: Dave

Dave — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 06:12:43 +0000

They might have charged plenty, but I’ll bet they lost plenty – I have flown literally thousands of times & the only time I have ever used it was on a flight from Nigeria to London to organise a new connecting flight to Singapore. Let’s see – 500 phones sitting there unused per plane?

You are right, airlines can’t afford to turn people away and the vast majority of people don’t want flying to be any more stressful than it is already, so they have a choice of turning away platinum frequent flyers or some jerk with no phone manners who probably flies once a year. Read the trade papers and gauge the opinion for yourself. The phones can easily block VOIP – turn the off switch every time some idiot starts shouting into his phone. Otherwise there is going to be a riot. It’s bad enough now that as soon as the plane lands there are 10 people ringing their friends

If you had mobile phone access on a flight these days wouldn’t you SMS your wife to tell her you would be late instead of calling? I guess you also have a 60 second ‘Macarena’ ringtone for incoming sms messages anyway!

By: PhoneBoy

PhoneBoy — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 05:52:24 +0000

So if the airlines don’t want us talking, why did they put Airfones on the airplanes in the first place? Because they can–and did charge metric assloads of money for the privilege.

I used the Airfones a couple of times in it’s heydey. One time, I tried the modem (it was “advertised” to work, but it didn’t). Another time, I called my wife because we were delayed and I needed to tell her not to expect me until later.

They can try and try to block VoIP, it’s ultimately going to be futile. People will find ways around it. People will find other ways to be inconsiderate, VoIP or not. Airlines can’t afford to turn anyone away, given the financial trouble they are in.

By: Dave

Dave — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 05:12:13 +0000

Do you fly much? I fly 2 or 3 times a week & I can guarantee that if one airline allows phones & the other doesn’t, I’ll be on the one that doesn’t. It’s a fact that far too many people don’t comprehend that to speak to someone miles away by mobile phone doesn’t mean you have to shout so they can hear you without the phone!

And yes, they should ban screaming kids as well – at least from business class.