Mobile phones on flights 'unbearable'

NOT IMPRESSED: The majority of readers believed the use of mobile phones on flights would be

Allowing passengers to use mobile phones on flights will be "unbearable", the majority of respondents to the latest ArabianBusiness.com spot poll have said.

Concerned about being constantly distracted by annoying ringtones and people endlessly chatting away, just over half of those surveyed said the use of mobile phones on planes was a giant leap backwards for airlines, one of the few places left in society where the devices are banned.

But not any more. Dubai-owned airline Emirates last week became the first carrier in the world to launch an inflight mobile telephone service, and plans to fit its entire fleet with the system.

Emirates said passengers would be restricted to making a maximum of five or six calls during a flight, and cabin crew were able to control the system and block voice calls at certain times, such as during night flights.

This may ease some fears over the prospect of a 14 hours flight from Dubai to New York in a plane along with 300 other passengers, all armed with mobile phones.

Not everyone thought the use of mobile phones on planes was a bad idea. Almost half of those surveyed welcomed the move, stating that it would be good for the airline industry and passengers.

Just under 30% said airlines should allow passengers to use mobile phones, but cautioned that usage should be kept to specific areas of a plane and made expensive to limit use.

Nearly 20% whole-heartedly backed the move, stating that air travel was part of modern business life and people should be reachable wherever they are.

The results of the ArabianBusiness.com poll contrast to findings from a survey conducted in November by market research firm YouGovSiraj.

YouGovSiraj found that nearly half of all regional business (47%) and leisure (43%) travellers wanted the freedom to use their mobile phones on board, with less than 20% preferring to keep them turned off.

Emirates calls in era of mobiles on planes
First authorised mobile phone call on commercial flight made on Emirates Airbus A340-300.

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READERS' COMMENTS

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In Flight Use Of Mobile Phones
Posted by Andy, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Tuesday 29 April 2008 at 15:15 UAE time


It is absolute madness to allow mobiles to be used in flight, unless an outside standing area on the wing is arranged.
Despite having made a good living by building and operating mobile networks I hate mobiles. Allowing mobiles to be used in the cramped confines of a plane will simply lead to more and more air rage.

Airborne mobile phone use
Posted by Syd on Saturday 26 April 2008 at 01:07 UAE time

You folks at Emirates Airline have over the years built up quite a reputation for your service, let's not ruin it by doing this.

If you all had an overwhelming request and approval for this ...fine then go ahead...but this will be a negative against you (Emirates) for doing this.

Computer internet access might be the way to go.

Conversation Privatizer
Posted by Mark Snedecor, Granite Bay, CA, USA on Wednesday 16 April 2008 at 04:02 UAE time


Business travelers and others want to make calls during flight, and airlines and wireless companies want to make revenue from this service, but most people onboard don’t want to be bothered by people yapping while they fly. So, why not have the airlines pass a rule that says you can use your cell phone during fight, but only if you use a Conversation Privatizer like device? See www.ZipItInc.com. This makes a Win-Win-Win situation for ALL!

Mobile phones
Posted by Richard, Dubai, UAE on Thursday 27 March 2008 at 10:03 UAE time


Bad decision. Calls restricted to five or six per flight - that's six hours of jabber from the ones you don't want to sit next to.

What's wrong with the present system of using the phone in the entertainment controller. It's inconvenient and expensive and thius only important calls get made.

Unles EK segregate into moble and non mobile sections (like used to happen with smoking) like the others who commented I'll be boycotting them too.

MOBILE PHONES
Posted by PAUL ABRAHAM, NAGPUR, INDIA on Thursday 27 March 2008 at 07:00 UAE time

Emirates Airlines - please do not do this to your passengers.You are the first for lots of the "Best Things" in Aviation. But you don't have to be first or even last in the attempt to steal away the peace even while flying. There are so many other "silent modes" of communication which you can make more effective. Please don't allow mobile phones on your flights and make an otherwise pleasurable experience into a nightmare.

Mobiles on Emirates Flights
Posted by Andy, Dubai, UAE on Wednesday 26 March 2008 at 14:37 UAE time


If Emirates allow the use of mobiles on 'planes there will be a huge amount of disgruntled passengers, including me. I can, and will, use alternative flight companies. If a 'phone went off beside me in the middle of a 8 or 9 hour flight whilst sleeping or relaxing, I would be non too impressed. The airline crew will have their hands full with complaints with this one! The airline is taking one large step back in a weak attempt to go forward.

Mobile Phones
Posted by Bob, Doha, Qatar on Wednesday 26 March 2008 at 13:07 UAE time

Bad, bad decision Emirates. There are far more important things to worry about then alienating more then half your passengers by allowing mobile phones. One thing is certain, if it happens I will never fly on Emirates again.
Think about it, at a minimum without phones you keep your current passengers, with phones you keep people that can't live without yacking on a phone and lose a lot of passengers you would have otherwise kept.

Emirates and MObile Phones
Posted by C.Osborne, London, UK on Wednesday 26 March 2008 at 11:50 UAE time


If Emirates installs mobile phones it is simple. I will never fly with them again. I am a member of the British Guild of Travel Writers
and specialise in Gulf tourism.

A cover up.
Posted by S Richards on Wednesday 26 March 2008 at 10:06 UAE time


I have no idea why Emirates wants to introduce this service instead of improving the current in-flight services, the once awarded airline has become "just another airline" and this is a false attempt to recover.

Ban Mobile Phones on Airlines
Posted by Ayesha, Dubai, UAE on Wednesday 26 March 2008 at 10:05 UAE time


Travelling by air was the only place left on this planet where we could live without mobile phones. I personally hate the gadget and given that mankind is not even safe from them in the restrooms, I loved the fact that at least those few hours on an airplane can save me from their respite. We were surviving without it for all these 10000 years and we can for a couple of more hours. I request Emirates Airlines to review this 'Great Service' because I dont think it is.

Yet another irritation
Posted by Rainigade, Dubai, UAE on Wednesday 26 March 2008 at 09:35 UAE time

Great... add this annoyance to the list when traveling on planes! Not only do we have to contend with crying babies, annoying toddlers, body odour, fat occupants in the seat next to you hogging all the arm rest space and invading your personal bubble - now we add that all-too-familiar irritation of being forced to hear other peoples mundane, often ulcer-inducing conversations!

No, I don't care that you made a million last month simply because you're such a genius at reading the market. And no, I don't care that little Britney just had her first teeth show. And I certainly do NOT care to hear this on an aircraft - the last bastion of mobile phone silence.

Nothing is that urgent that it can't wait until you've landed. We've managed without it so far. We can continue to do so.

In my humble opinion of course!

Mobile phones on planes
Posted by Richard Laughton on Wednesday 26 March 2008 at 09:27 UAE time

As a frequent air traveller, both long and short-haul, I am absolutely against passengers using mobile phones on aircraft. The fact that Emirates has permitted this is a major step backwards for them as far as I'm concerned. Many aircraft these days already have a phone system installed, so why do we have to be inflicted with the addition of mobile phones? And to say that the crew will monitor the number of calls any passenger might make is a joke. We all know the crew will have no control over this type of activity, especially Arab passengers, so the prospects of restful travel is diminishing fast.

USE OF MOBILE PHONE ON FLIGHTS
Posted by Sharafuddeen Saadi, Doha, Country on Wednesday 26 March 2008 at 08:22 UAE time

I agree that the use of mobile phone should not be allowed, especially half an hour after the dinner is served, as most people go to sleep and would not like to be disturbed. I think passengers may be allowed to use the cell phone 15 minutes after taking off for an hour, and an hour before landing and switching off the cell 10 minutes before touch down should be enough. This is for the obvious reasons of informing their near and dear ones that they took off comfortably and to make sure that they will be received at the airport by someone.

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