New cell phone regulations on planes?

[sestoppelman]

I may have missed where this might have been covered already but if it hasn't...I know we have a number of travel types on here so here's my question.

What will the impact be if the TSA begins allowing passengers to use cell phones to blab all the way across the country? Will it only apply to domestic flights? I don't imagine there is a lot of cell service at 50,000 ft over the Atlantic ocean is there? Will it be left to each airline to set their own rules?
I for one feel its a bad move and will cause at least some problems on flights, how much remains to be seen. I am not above telling some rude boob to tone it down or make a fuss about loud talking on a stupid cell phone. Will the flight attendants have much say about it?

A while back TSA also considered allowing knives back on planes. I remember being able to carry a pocket knife on the plane but I was glad when they backtracked on it this time. They had said that "the pilots are protected" so not to worry! Not to worry?! All it takes is for some loon to wait till the lights go out and reach over the seat in front of him and drive his knife into someones chest! Before all of the "recent unpleasantness" I never worried about such things. Times have changed. NO KNIVES on the plane and for me NO CELL PHONES! What say the members?

 

[BRICKBURN]

There is an entire network of towers being installed across North America designed solely to allow people to access internet on planes.

Gogo Inflight Internet

Attendants have all the power in the world they need. Endanger a plane by not following their instructions and you are up the creek.

There are many instances of planes landing and the offender being offloaded and charged. With associated costs as well.

I have already been on planes that have phones in the seats. Most people are respectful when they use them.
The cost also limits usage.

Booze is on the planes. Is it more likely to alter behaviour or a cell phone? More obnoxious drunks than cell phone users in my experience.

People already have personal devices, they are everywhere and they are not going away.

 

[Spooksar]

I don't know you see people going through security yapping on a phone and holding people up. If they where sitting beside me on a plane talking, I may tend to a real a$$hole. There is to many rude people when it comes to cell phones.

 

[sestoppelman]

Good points Wayne. I am a freedom loving buy, but unfortunately as you point out, booze is the usual culprit. Combine that with a rude personality and a cell phone..Oh Boy! Worst flight I was ever on was a 2 hr flight to Vegas for the SHOT show a few years back. Happened to be Super Bowl time as well and I wound on a plane with a bunch of partiers headed for Super Bowl weekend in Vegas. It was just awful on the plane, the rudest bunch of half drunk a-holes I have ever come across. The flight attendants just threw their hands up in hopeless disgust.

 

[Cliffy]

As a retired airline pilot I foresee problems with cell phones and booze. I always had the rule that I didn't take a problem into flight. I held the record on my airline for throwing the most folks off a flight ( to standing ovation by the other passengers) and tossing the youngest ever off the airline (3 yrs old). Long stories each but I'm glad I'm gone. Won't be a problem over water as there are no towers in range over the Atlantic at this time

 

[Diamondhitch]

Yup cell phones are annoying, when did it become polite to answer a text or look at a facebook post that just blipped in while involved in a REAL conversation! I could see it being very annoying sitting next to someone gabbing incessantly on a cell phone while crammed in a plane seat but as long as it doesn't affect the instruments of the plane who am I to say what people can and cannot do.

 

[sestoppelman]

As I see it the problem is the closeness and inability to get away from the annoyance. On a plane we are somewhat trapped or at least limited to how far we can get away from the source. Not like sitting in a coffee shop somewhere. You just get up and leave. On the plane, no can do. People can do whatever they want to right up until the point where others are affected. Its about respect for other people. In this me me me me me world that is often lost. Rude cell phone usage is a symptom of this lack of respect for others.

 

[enysse]

As I see it the problem is the closeness and inability to get away from the annoyance. On a plane we are somewhat trapped or at least limited to how far we can get away from the source. Not like sitting in a coffee shop somewhere. You just get up and leave. On the plane, no can do. People can do whatever they want to right up until the point where others are affected. Its about respect for other people. In this me me me me me world that is often lost. Rude cell phone usage is a symptom of this lack of respect for others.

Personally, I think the booze and cell phones should go. I don't mind people drinking, but some people can't handle liquor. And I hate cell phones and texting with a passion. I wish we could turn the clock back, and never invent the damn things. I see people driving all over the road all the time....guess what they are doing???? Talking on the phone....it is so annoying!!! i would hate to sit next to someone on the phone 24/7, it would drive me nuts.

 

[Diamondhitch]

I see people driving all over the road all the time....guess what they are doing????.

I work in an industry that demands talking on the phone while driving a lot and when done with hands free talking and dialing it is no big deal. I do see people all over the road texting, that is what really should have never been invented.

I shook my head awhile back when an exited person told me that now you could talk to the phone and it would convert your words to text and send them then when received it could read them to the receiver... ??? Hmmmm, what a novel concept, talking into a phone and having someone hear you!!! LOL sorry off topic.

 

[Diamondhitch]

As I see it the problem is the closeness and inability to get away from the annoyance. On a plane we are somewhat trapped or at least limited to how far we can get away from the source. Not like sitting in a coffee shop somewhere. You just get up and leave. On the plane, no can do. People can do whatever they want to right up until the point where others are affected. Its about respect for other people. In this me me me me me world that is often lost. Rude cell phone usage is a symptom of this lack of respect for others.

Good point, it is certainly not a matter requiring legislation but one requiring basic common (or what used to be common) courtesy.