How will airlines deal with iPhone in flight?

[GGD]

Since cell phones must be off, and iPods can be on during flights, how do you think the airlines will deal with the iPhone? I suspect that a lot of people will want to use it for music or videos during a long flight.

I suspect that someone will find out on Friday evening.

[vision63]

They'll let you exchange one for a meal. Many cell phones have "airplane" mode.

[d0e]

if you watch the iphone videos they have a airplane setting.

[macphanatic]

Another neat feature of the iPhone is airplane mode. Shuts off all wireless communication - cell, bluetooth and wi-fi. On the blackberry, it only shuts of wireless (cell) service. Technically, you are supposed to shut off anything that transmits or receives.

[MacMagus]

The voice of experience:

Airline flight attendants don't give a damn about flight mode. At least not in the U.S.

My cell phone plays music, videos, games, etc. It has a flight mode that allows it to operate with the SIM card removed. When flight mode is on, it says so in big, bold letters across the top of the screen.

The only occasions where I've made it through a flight without being asked to put away my phone are occasions where I've hidden the phone. Trying to engage a flight attendant for long enough to explain flight mode is an exercise in futility. Your phone's flight mode doesn't matter to them.

If a flight attendant sees you with a cell phone, s/he'll ask you to turn it off and put it away. They can and will use force if necessary. Flight attendants have strict instructions from their bosses about cell phones and seldom have the time (or discretion) for your explanations about flight mode.

OTOH, it's not a hopeless situation with an iPhone. Maybe you can show off the iPhone as an opening gambit to chat up a flight attendant for a date... before she makes you put the phone away.

[TheTominator]

Are the flight attendants going to recognize it as a phone? You can simply say that it is an iPod and leave it in airplane mode. To me from its outward appearance it looks more like an entertainment device than a phone.

[GGD]

> before she makes you put the phone away.

You mean, before she confiscates it.


Thanks for the replies, I didn't know about the built-in airline mode.

[GGD]

[quote TheTominator]Are the flight attendants going to recognize it as a phone? You can simply say that it is an iPod and leave it in airplane mode. To me from its outward appearance it looks more like an entertainment device than a phone.
Unless the flight attendent has been in a coma since January, I think it will be recognized as an iPhone.

[Seacrest]

There is no technical reason that cell phones cannot be used or switched 'on' on aeroplanes.
There is no evidence that they would interfere with the planes' instruments.
The reason for the cellphone ban is social, not technical.
I am not going to speculate on what the FCC, FAA and airlines' policy toward the iPhone will be, however I suspect it will be the same as their attitudes toward all electronic devices.

[macphanatic]

Cellphones won't be approved for use on commercial flights until/unless the manufacturer's submit them for testing and approval to confirm that they don't interfere with airplane systems. Mythbusters, among others, has shown that there isn't an issue in modern aircraft, but no one will be willing to accept the responsibility without individual certification.

I have never had problems using my blackberry while in flight as long as it is in airplane mode. Flight attendents have seen me use it and have never said anything. Not sure which airlines you have flown MacMagnus, but I've used the blackberry on USAir, United, Continental, and Northwest.