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Mobile phones on flights 'unbearable'
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.
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Comments 1-10 of 10
Posted by Andy, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on 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.
Posted by Syd on 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.
Posted by Mark Snedecor, Granite Bay, CA, USA on 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!
Posted by Richard, Dubai, UAE on 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.
Posted by PAUL ABRAHAM, NAGPUR, INDIA on 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.
Posted by Andy, Dubai, UAE on 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.
Posted by Bob, Doha, Qatar on 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.
Posted by C.Osborne, London, UK on 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.
Posted by S Richards on 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.
Posted by Ayesha, Dubai, UAE on 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.