While in-flight calls using cellular networks remain off-limits, carriers may set their own policy concerning Wi-Fi enabled calls through mediums like Skype or FaceTime. The DOT is considering whether airlines must disclose at time of purchase whether or not these types of calls are allowed, similar to mandatory baggage fee disclosures. It requested feedback from the public, including airlines, and now United Airlines has weighed in.
United Says It Has No Plans to Allow In-Flight Calls, Even if Legal
Citing both customer and employee feedback, United has no plans to back away from its voluntary ban on Wi-Fi enabled voice calls. Further, even if in-flight calls via cellular networks are one day made legal, United still will not allow them.
In keeping with the spirit of the DOT’s interest in disclosure, United wishes to make clear that it has no current plans to allow passenger voice calls using personal devices while airborne, even if future regulatory activity allows for inflight cellular communication…United believes that prohibiting passenger voice calls while airborne is the right thing to do for our employees and our customers, making the United inflight experience more pleasant for everyone aboard.
Customers and employees opposed to the potential nuisance of in-flight calls will breath a sigh of relief over this news. View from the Wing shared a story yesterday in which airline employee unions are arguing in-flight voice calls would make travel unsafe because other passengers would not be able to hear safety announcements.
That’s ridiculous. In-flight calling exists on flights around the world and passengers are simply asked to pause conversations — including telephone calls — during safety briefings. A simple solution…
I support the introduction in-flight calling and made my case for why here. Put simply, I believe fears are overblown and unreasonable: they are not borne out by evidence. On the contrary to critics, I believe in-flight calling may lead to diminished air rage rather than exacerbating it.
> Read More: Here’s Why I Support In-Flight Cell Phone Calls
CONCLUSION
For now, I believe we will see most airlines take a position similar to United. Public opinion generally and flight attendants particularly vehemently oppose in-flight calling and it will take either a test case (perhaps Spirit Airlines?) or a way to truly monetize in-flight calls in order to modify this trend. Still, United did not say it would NEVER allow in-flight calls, only that it has no “current plans” to do so…
Here is some “evidence” – nobody wants to hear others shout into their phone/computer. Going through TSA lines, wading through “gate lice”, ensuring overhead space, deplaning – all are stressful, so let’s not add to the issue by allowing inane phone calls from people with no self-awareness.
I agree with you Robert. Dealing with this issue on buses and trains is bad enough – People are so self-unaware, the constant yelling into your phone (so you can make sure you are heard) drives me nuts and would make air travel unbearable. At least with buses or subways you can move to another seat or another car to escape from this annoyance. Not so much on a plane. Let’s keep planes phone call free!
TURN OFF THE CELLPHONE SO THAT IT WILL NOT CREATE STATICS REACTION ON THE AIR
FOR PROTECTION AND SECURED FLIGHT…..
Loud Cell Phone Talker Syndrome has reached catastrophic levels. So many are now afflicted that we have to look to eliminate it in all public areas. If we could just block the DYKWIA’s from talking while planes are still at the gate and inside airline clubs as well .
After listening to the lady sitting across from me on the DART speak at full volume about her hemorrhoids, I can tell you I want no part of that on an airplane.
Never mind the current trend for some folks to use their phone in speaker phone mode… More for everyone!
Also, I’ve been on a recent United flight where the person behind me held an hour and a half conference call via wifi. The FAs were loathe to say or do anything about it.