4 ms·

Can't wait until the day I get to overhear everyone's phone calls on the plane. It will really break up the monotony of crying babies.

by funkah 15y ago

artursapek 15y ago
People used to complain about that actually. I remember hearing a radio debate on why phones should be allowed back in like 2005, and the counter arguments I can recall were: • People hate having to listen to 1-sided conversations • The phones were confusing the network - they would switch to a new cell tower every 15-30 seconds. Both valid arguments if you ask me. Not sure if these complaints were drawn from reality or hypothetical problems - was there a period of time when you could actually use your phone on a plane? I'm pretty young so I don't remember back to the first cell phones.
- excuse-me 15y ago
  Would it be overly cynical of me to suspect that the original ban had something to do with the $5 charge for the seat back phone and the new policy has something to do with the $5 seat back wifi?
  - spa942 15y ago
    How about acknowledging that the rules may be overreaching, yet be thankful that the airline industry likes to err on the side of safety?
    - mikeash 15y ago
      The risk of dying in an airliner crash in the US is now literally too small to measure. I think we can afford to loosen up a bit.
    - excuse-me 15y ago
      I would love the airlines to err on safety. By making the seats out of a fire resistant non-toxic foam, before they were made to after a series of accidents. By fitting smoke hoods nearly 50 years after is they were first recommended. And by the FAA spending a 0.1% of what the TSA costs on weather radar at small airports .....
- kooshball 15y ago
  >was there a period of time when you could actually use your phone on a plane? I'm pretty young so I don't remember back to the first cell phones. There used to these cord phones in the seat in front of you above the food tray where you can pay $10 or whatever to make a call. I have never seen anyone use it though.

Can't wait until the day I get to overhear everyone's phone calls on the plane. It will really break up the monotony of crying babies.

by funkah 15y ago

Can't wait until the day I get to overhear everyone's phone calls on the plane. It will really break up the monotony of crying babies.

artursapek 15y ago

People used to complain about that actually. I remember hearing a radio debate on why phones should be allowed back in like 2005, and the counter arguments I can recall were: • People hate having to listen to 1-sided conversations • The phones were confusing the network - they would switch to a new cell tower every 15-30 seconds. Both valid arguments if you ask me. Not sure if these complaints were drawn from reality or hypothetical problems - was there a period of time when you could actually use your phone on a plane? I'm pretty young so I don't remember back to the first cell phones.

excuse-me 15y ago
Would it be overly cynical of me to suspect that the original ban had something to do with the $5 charge for the seat back phone and the new policy has something to do with the $5 seat back wifi?
- spa942 15y ago
  How about acknowledging that the rules may be overreaching, yet be thankful that the airline industry likes to err on the side of safety?
  - mikeash 15y ago
    The risk of dying in an airliner crash in the US is now literally too small to measure. I think we can afford to loosen up a bit.
  - excuse-me 15y ago
    I would love the airlines to err on safety. By making the seats out of a fire resistant non-toxic foam, before they were made to after a series of accidents. By fitting smoke hoods nearly 50 years after is they were first recommended. And by the FAA spending a 0.1% of what the TSA costs on weather radar at small airports .....
kooshball 15y ago
>was there a period of time when you could actually use your phone on a plane? I'm pretty young so I don't remember back to the first cell phones. There used to these cord phones in the seat in front of you above the food tray where you can pay $10 or whatever to make a call. I have never seen anyone use it though.