Mobile Phones on Airlines

Merry Christmas everyone!

Emirates Airlines has announced that in January, they will launch mobile phone usage in its planes. Thus, they will be the first to allow passengers to make mobile phone calls on its flights.

Australian carrier Qantas has also started evaluating technology that will let fliers use their mobile phones and PDAs during flight yearly next year.

In the United States, air carriers do not allow in-flight mobile phone calls, although the FAA is reviewing the safety concerns associated with mobile calls made in the air.

Enforcement varies. On my flight to Las Vegas from Newark, the female passenger on my left did not turn her Blackberry off. Throughout the flight, she took quick checks for incoming emails and text messages. The possibility of mobile phones and other units interfering with airplane electronics seems less remote. I would not be surprised if there was an emergency on the plane, passengers would use their mobile phones.

The technology that will allow the use of mobile phones in mid-flight at international roaming rates is coming soon. Its addition on U.S. carriers is all but certain, it's just a matter of when. It would definitely be quite cheaper than the current inflight phones which can be upwards of $10 a minute, plus a connection fee.

But will people be anxious in using their mobile phone? A majority of business travelers (61 percent) oppose the idea of being able to use their phones in the sky, according to a global survey conducted by travel management company Carlson Wagonlit Travel early this year. The plane is pretty much the only "quiet" place left while it is in flight. Discretion must be used obviously.

Could you imagine mobile phone ringing throughout a long-haul flight? Think of a loved one calling every hour to make sure his son or daughter is safe on the flight? Yes, you want to make sure they are safe and sound, but you can find out their flight status on the airline's website.

I could think of business travelers more likely using their blackberry or PDA since the company pays the bill, but I think they would also appreciate the peace and quiet while the plane is in mid-flight. Plus instead of talking, use email or text messaging.

It is not about having the right to talk on your mobile, it's about giving some due courtesy to your fellow passengers that are flying on the same plane.