Winging It

Last year, after our plane landed, we had to wait 20 minutes for a gate. A woman talked on her phone for 20 minutes about all sort of nonsense.

Loud talking to your seatmate is bad enough. If cell phones are permitted on flights, I will jump out of the window.

How about a sound-proofed booth in the back?

For godsakes, no cellphone usage on planes. It's bad enough that the airlines permit it before takeoff. If it were permitted in-flight, I would surely be arrested for mayhem or murder on some loud-mouthed self-important fool who thinks it is his or her constitutional right to blather on about personal matters I have no wish to hear.

I have already passed along my comments on cell phones on planes to the government.

Between the airport (especially Philly), the airlines and TSA, everything possible has been done to make flying most unpleasant. At least, once the cabin door is closed, one is not forced to listen to loud dribble shouted into a cell phone. And I say dribble, since that is often what I hear once the plane is landed and so many pull out their cell phones. Thankfully, most of those conversations then are quite short.

I do realize that there are people who are convinced that their own importance is such that no one can possibly survive without them being in constant contact. They really need to get over that.

Several years ago, upon the landing approach, a young person behind me pulled out his cell phone (illegally, of course, since we were in the process of landing), and proceeded to call a friend, and in a very loud voice, used the F* word very liberally. No one should be subjected to that. Apparently, using the F* word was simply a part of his normal conversation.

One would hope that by now people would understand cell phone manners and etiquette, but that, sadly, still seems to be only a dream.

Last year, I was on a commuter AMTRAK train, and they had a quiet car where cell phones were not permitted. I had not totally understood from the announcement, so I was not in that car and had the 'enjoyment' of having to hear a totally nonsense conversation from the person behind me talking at length about nothing of the slightest importance. However, in that case, I would have had the opportunity to get up and change cars.

On a plane, you are truly stuck. Stuck in an uncomfortable seat for a hopefully defined amount of time. But at least so far one is not hearing intrusions of nonsense noise from someone who thinks they are the most important person in the world. However, if passengers on planes who did not want to hear cell phone conversations could be provided with a Taser, I might be able to go along with cell phones on planes. Of course, the airline would probably have to provide recharging stations in-flight.

Cell phones on planes . . . four words that strike fear in my heart. Who hasn't experienced the blowhard whose loud end of the conversation can be heard from 100 feet away? Wouldn't you just love to be sitting near him (or her) on a plane? And even a conversation at a reasonable decibel would be annoying multiplied by the 150-200 or so other passengers. You'd have bedlam! Oh, and then there are those ever-so-clever ring tones, again multiplied by the number of passengers on board.

I'm platinum level on US Air (I know, I have your condolences) and it is already very difficult to try to get some sleep or even some peace on those long flights. You just about doze off and the captain comes on to tell you he turned off the seat belt sign! So what? Leave it on! Then the flight attendants are on the speaker trying to get you to buy from SKyMall or open a credit card account, and on and on.

The thought of allowing cell phone use on planes terrifies me. I just read that several carriers in Europe are allowing them. If it happens in the US, that will be the final straw. If I can't get there by car or train, I ain't goin'!!!

Talking on cell phones is invasive to the other passengers. I can't imagine why the airlines would want to make flying less pleasant than it already is. Don

Cell phones during flights: Absolutely not! Keep the ban.

Air Quality Rating site: Requires too much personal information to view ratings. Disappointing.

Keep the cell phone ban; there's too much potential for confrontation over a hot button issue. Mayhem in the aisle anyone?

Cell phones during flights: Absolutely not! Keep the ban.

Air Quality Rating site: Requires too much personal information to view ratings. Disappointing.

That idea could become as scary as Snakes on a Plane (the movie).

I can’t think of a place in my life where I’m seated or situated closer to another human for the length of time as my average airplane flight.

Being in such close proximity to humans; seated next to, in front of, or behind is so grueling that only limited activity and or silence makes it tolerable for me.

‘Limited’ cell use for emergencies for short durations (with permission from the stewardess) is naturally acceptable. Extended gabfest, personal, or work related calls will only cause problems.

Airlines may need to retrofit lavatories (making them signal resistant) so people won’t be tempted to spend time in them talking away while others are in the isle waiting their turn to relieve themselves.

NO, no, no! Except for moderate and major emergencies.

I would definitely like the ban on cell phones on planes to stay in effect. Just the thought of being stuck next to one of the inconsiderate phone users for hours with no way of escape is appalling. It's a shame so many people do not consider their chatter objectionable. Jean

"I dread the thought of being trapped on a plane within earshot of a cell phone user. Any airline that continues to prohibit cell phone use in the air would be my 1st choice for air travel."

Unless the airlines will be offering free major tranquilizers on all flights where cell phone use during flight is permitted, I have to concur with the flight attendants in thinking that this is a very bad idea. Alternatively, maybe the airlines can come up with the technology that will enable them to isolate the cell phone users in the sound proofed "Dante's Inferno" section of the plane. And while we're on the subject, the same goes for Septa Regional Rail, and Amtrak should make all the train cars "quiet cars", except for the one "Dante's Inferno" car located at the far, far end of the train.

Suzanne Fluhr

DEFINITELY - don't lift the ban. One of the few places that's quiet any longer is a plane. I hate cell phone talkers on trains

We've all gone to the movies, where they provide a few gentle "reminders" to turn off the cell phones, and even do a cute commercial with a director to reinforce it. Yet EVERY movie, you can see at least two people flip the phone open and either send a text message or start a conversation.

This cell phone reversal is dependent upon people being civil. WON'T HAPPEN.

There are about 13 entries before me voicing opposition. There are none in favor.

Just leave it alone!

Our world is too noisy already without cell phone talking on planes. Please, airlines, don't do it!

Just weighing in on the use of cell phones in flight. I think the ban should be kept. It's bad enough to have to listen to people's private, often inane, conversations in just about every public place I can think of. I can't imagine being stuck on a plane having to listen to it.

Thanks.

Susan Bramson

I strongly oppose cell phones on planes. Listening to the idle chatter on SEPTA for half an hour is bad enough. Planes are quieter so the chatter would be more irritating.

If cell phones are allowed, users should at least be limited to say 5-10 min/hr, although this would lead to confrontations because some many people don't think rules should apply to them.

I am taking you up on your invitation to contact you regarding the possible approval of the use of cellphones on airplanes. I am vigorously opposed. People with cell phones talk too loud and too often, and often talk about confidential things they shouldn't which can be embarrassing. (I once had a woman behind me on the Paoli Local talking about the plans to fire a person I knew the next morning.) Airplanes are a great place to read, doze or do quiet work, and cellphone use by a babbling person in the neighboring seat would be unpleasantly disruptive. You may have experienced the pleasure of riding in the Quiet Cars on Amtrak, which have made train travel much more pleasant. Please register a forceful "No" to this idea.

Thanks for asking but I think cell phones on planes is a TERRIBLE IDEA.

But I also don't think the airlines should continue use interferance with aircraft navigational equipment as a reason if that is not so.

Tell customers the truth. "our policy is no cell phone use on flights because it is unpopular. But you can use your email or text message on flights because the signals do not interfere with navigational equipment."

I HATE cell phone chatter. But I also dislike being given a bogus reason for not using cell phones and thinks that undermines my ability to trust the airline on other things they say. For example, US passengers are told they must remove their shoes becasue it is a safety hazard but you can travel in Canada and Europe with shoes on. Also nail scissors are a hazard in Canada but not in US.

I really don't mind following common sense restrictions but want to know the reasons and want to be able to trust that those reasons are the truth.

I agree with the flight attendants that there will be more air rage incidents if people are allowed to talk on phones during flights. However, it seems to me that an acceptable middle ground might be to permit passengers to send e-mails or text messages from portable devices. This would allow those who feel they absolutely have to communicate under any possible circumstances to do so without disrupting their fellow passengers.
I might also mention that in many many years of flying on airplanes equipped with airfones, I've seen them used less than a handful of times, so I have some doubts about the real necessity of making calls from airplanes.

"Phones on a Plane" would be an ideal name for a true Horror movie. (and scarier than snakes) The mere thought that this insane idea is actually being contemplated in certain circles is mind boggling and strains credulity. For God's sake, who is the mentally challenged author of this proposal? Let them sit next to a chatty Cathy/Kevin for a few hours who is not armed (with a phone) and dangerous, have them envision him/her and a handful of the quiet challenged brotherhood, picture a weapon of mass communication in each of their hands, and that ridiculous idea would float away on the jet stream. Before the plane even left the gate. Madness. Sheer Madness

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Reminds me of the movie last summer...Snakes on Planes. I'm not sure which would be worse, but my vote goes to NO CELL PHONES! At least with the snakes, they are quiet but can only bite and kill you....

You are right on the money with what it would cause. Fights would be common and maybe worse. Unlike other societies, we can't be civil when in public. It's bad enough now, when you are in a restaurant or wherever and have to listen to people's ringing phones. I try my best to put mine on vibrate, but forget sometimes too.

Love what you do as our Advocate... I have spoken to you on the phone a while back.
Keep up the good work.

There are so many reasons not to allow cell phones in flight.

1. Disturb everyone around you. When I take the train whether a commute to Center City or to New York City, so many people are letting me know all about their lives and/or business as they talk usually in loud voices on their cell phones. Same would happen on the plane.
When flying for any amount of time many people would like to sleep, read quietly (People no longer read very much) or simply enjoy a quiet conversation.

2. Our daughter flies to Europe for business and she likes the fact that she is unable to be reached by phone or internet and can therefore not feel obligated to work while on the plane.

The world around us is becoming so intrusive everywhere we go. There are beeps from all sorts of machines, people constantly talking/texting, scanning blackberries etc. We need some relief from this intrusive gadget world. This relief is needed for those of us who constantly use these machines as well as those of us who do not.

Having recently endured 35 minutes in an airport shuttle van in which two passengers were talking incessantly on their cell phones, (one even detailing why they would not take a shower the next morning,) I can assure you that I am AGAINST allowing the use of cell phones during flights. Much worse than a fussy, crying baby!
So glad you asked for my opinion!
I enjoy your column and heed your advice.