Professor Bainbridge...on law, politics, religion, culture & food

Phones on Planes? Just Say No

In news that really sucks, the Economist reports:

LIKE many flights, the use of mobile phones on aircraft has been subject to unexpected delays. But some passengers, at least, are now sending text messages and e-mails, and soon an Air France plane will go further. Once it has reached its cruising altitude, its “fasten seatbelt” sign will be switched off—and so will a new “no phones” light alongside it. Passengers will then be able to switch on their handsets and make and receive calls.

What a gawd awful prospect. Flying is already a form of low grade torture. Demeaning (and, I suspect, feckless) security procedures. Delays. Service that ranges from impresonal to indifferent to affirmatively hostile. Customer service that would be laughable if it were not so infuriating (have you tried talking to a person at an airline lately?). Cramped seats. Lousy food. Lost luggage. The litany of woes goes on and on. To which they now want to add the prospect of sitting next to some nonstop yakker?

Fortunately, the Economist goes on to report that:

“We will give a questionnaire to every passenger to see what they think before we make a decision to equip more aircraft,” says Marina Tymen of Air France. “If people say they want data but no calls, that will not be a problem.”

I vote a resounding no. I’ve been forced to overhear countless cell phone calls over the years by people sitting near me in restaurants, bars, hotels, buses, airline waiting lobbies, and virtually every other public place. Few have seemed either consequential or necessary. Face it. Most of us just aren’t that important. Indeed, most cell phone use seems to reflect the noise addled nature of our times, in which silence simply cannot be borne - let alone enjoyed. Unable to face their inner self, the cell phone yakker must be diverted by incessant inane chatter.

It is claimed that “About 72% of Americans agree that users’ worst cell phone habit is having loud conversations in public.” (One suspects that many of those folks are themselves guilty of the crime, of course.) So perhaps we can carve out an airplane as a cell phone free zone? Or shall we continue turning the airplane into a modern version of one of the lower levels of Dante’s Inferno?