Didn't overwhelming consumer outrage shoot this concept down a couple years ago? So where is the drum beat to allow airline passengers to make calls during flight coming from?
The Department of Transportation is accepting public comment on its new recommendation that in-flight calls made through the plane's Wi-Fi be allowed. What's new this time around is that permitting self-absorbed assholes to call all of their friends from the air would only be allowed if airlines tell all customers about the policy when they buy their tickets. That way, customers could make other travel arrangements if they feared sitting next to passengers that would be chatting for hours on their phones.
Other travel arrangements...like what? For many of us, flight is the only option. If it wasn't, we wouldn't be flying in the first place, given the cattle-car mentality that is so rampant in the American airline industry.
"Today's proposal will ensure that air travelers are not unwillingly exposed to voice calls, as many of them are troubled over the idea of passengers talking on cell phones in flight," said Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx.
Again, if "so many are troubled" by the idea, WTF is behind this new attempt to further anger already angry travelers?
It's bad enough that Air Law 14 is so flagrently ignored in the terminal...
Luckily, most of the domestic carriers are siding with their customers and saying that, even if in-flight phoning gets the green light, they won't allow it.
Consumers don't want it. Airlines don't want it. Air Law 17 already dealt with it. I guess the folks in the Department of Transportation have nothing better to do with their time. Thus, they are obviously over staffed or poorly managed, because there are a ton of transportation issues facing this country that are significantly more important...and more likely to succeed.
NO No NO calls on airplanes. Its bad enough sitting in the gate area while some jerk conducts business so loudly the entire gate area hears him/her. I will sign any petition that allows calls on airplanes. Nothing is that important. I'd rather hear a baby cry the entire time on the plane from their ears hurting than hear one phone call on the plane. Please don't let the transportation board allow this.
Posted by: Janie Lawson | January 19, 2017 at 10:24