Survey: 74% of US Americans say NO to in-flight calling, YES to data

In a Harris Interactive survey of 2,030 US adults of whom, 1,778 have actually flown in an airplane, a full three quarters say that cellphone usage on airplanes should be restricted to "non-talking features." In other words, email, texting, and surfing the Web. That's a pretty significant majority seeing as how the EC has cleared the way for calls within European airspace. 69% of consumers agreed that if voice calls are permitted, a special "talking zone" should be established so that other passengers are not interrupted. While the survey reflects our own opinions, take note that the results benefit sites like Yahoo! Mobile, the very company which commissioned the survey. It's also worth highlighting a comment made by a certain Miss Teen, South Carolina who said, "That some US Americans should be unable to do so, because, uh, some-a people out there in our nation don't have cellphones, and such as, maps." Good point.

[Flashpoint @ May 21st 2008 9:06AM]

They say NO, because they already realize that in flight calling from cell phones is going to result in sleepless flights and arguments between passengers.

YES to Data - because we all wanna have instant access to our email and to youtube.

Of course, a tech savvy person would use the data access to use SKYPE so they could make their calls at low rates rather than even attempting to use a ceell phone - or the air phone which will cost them a small fortune.

[nDee @ May 21st 2008 9:48AM]

Actually everyone is allowed to call now
by using those silly phones.As long as they're expensive, no one would chat on them but banning is silly

[prime @ May 21st 2008 10:52AM]

Voice over IP, thats what they should offer too for the ones that dont know, and pretty much data too for the rest that have there own thing

[happy_penguin @ May 21st 2008 10:56AM]

Skype would probably be blocked and if you hacked to get through you'd probably find yourself dealing with the wrath of a pissed off flight attendant. You do not want to deal with the wrath of a pissed off flight attendant.

[Rodrigo @ May 21st 2008 11:23AM]

I HATE flying. the seats are uncomfortable, and if you decide you want to walk about the plane, a flight attendant urges you constantly to "please return to your seat". On top of that, having to be trapped next to a yapper would send me over the edge.
Movies are one thing, I can get up and walk away, I can move to another seat, I can beat the bitch to a pulp but with air marshals on the plane, and the whole 9-11 paranoia still in people's mind, it would prove a volatile situation that would end up in many flights landing early in alternate airports due to unruly passengers.

I say keep the ban on phones in place. It's not like they can't talk just about EVERYWHERE else. and if they really have the urge to flap their gums, let them pay the airplane rates.

[Kurian @ May 21st 2008 11:54AM]

A Sonicwall Pro or PIX Firewall is take care of your Skype trick and any other tricks you may have, including HTTPS/SSH allowed only to most common and known to be legit sites,

[Idlemind @ May 21st 2008 1:00PM]

I actually feel bad when I'm seconds from launching out of my seat to choke the life out of someone trying to get that extra 2 mins of gab out before the plane taxis off. Theres no way I should be able to hear someone talking over my own music and in-ear earphones

[Mazza @ May 21st 2008 2:39PM]

Would it be possible to block that port on the Airplane?

[Dragonpark @ May 21st 2008 4:45PM]

Sure everyone is able to use those stupid in flight phones right now, but they are too cost prohibitive that most people would just wait. If cell phones were allowed to be used while in flight, the use would become much more rampant as the cost factor would be completely removed.

[Luigi193 @ May 21st 2008 9:06AM]

Down with voice, up with data!!!!!

[HydePark @ May 21st 2008 9:08AM]

I believe that we should have at least one place without the annoying noise of people talking

[netwerk @ May 21st 2008 9:13AM]

My, aren't we social

[Idlemind @ May 21st 2008 9:48AM]

agreed. At first thought it seems like you would want to be able to use your phone; but isnt there always "That Guy" who doesn't know how to use his "inside voice" and drags us all into his mega-million dollar deal conversation or indirectly informs us of this impending bunion surgery.


I vote NO

[matt @ May 21st 2008 9:51AM]

@ netwerk

what exactly is 'social' about listening to someone else talk on the phone?

[Anthony @ May 21st 2008 10:02AM]

Not only is the "inside voice" difficult for some to get but once you add a jet turbine it becomes almost impossible. I fly frequently. Planes are pretty loud even w/o people talking on phones.

I honestly get this bubbling up of anger whenever I have to get around people who are chatting away very loudly & don't seem to take others into consideration. I think I'm not alone so I would be concerned about other issues arising from in-flight calling ("fight, fight..").

[kal326 @ May 21st 2008 10:16AM]

@Anthony

Well on the bright side, you could just urge the overly loud speaker to take his conversation outside. That way they wouldn't bother everyone else, well except for the temporary loss of cabin pressure.

[happy_penguin @ May 21st 2008 11:00AM]

I know that's right. People have such a sense of entitlement when it comes to cell phone usage, no manners whatsoever. I always turn off my ringer in all the expected places including restaurants and I don't answer unless I absolutely have to, which is rare. God created voice mail for a reason.

[corystal @ May 21st 2008 1:35PM]

@idlemind you got it right with people not knowing how to use their "inside voice", but I've been on planes where people were just talking to each other very loud... can't ban that. But I'd really like to know why it's so common for some people to start shouting(literally) as soon as they're on the phone.. are their phones really that crappy??!

[shamrock593 @ May 21st 2008 9:11AM]

Data provides both communication and entertainment, voice provides only communication.

+1 for data. :)

[Zach @ May 21st 2008 9:29AM]

Knock knock.
Who's there?
Lettuce.
Lettuce who?
Lettuce in, it's cold outside!

Now imagine me saying that to you. Entertainment.

[netwerk @ May 21st 2008 9:13AM]

"That some US Americans should be unable to do so, because, uh, some-a people out there in our nation don't have cellphones, and such as, maps." Good point.


hahahaha

[JAmerican @ May 21st 2008 9:11AM]

Monica Lewinsky got a new hairstyle.

[Jacqueline @ May 21st 2008 9:21AM]

Lol! And she take pics with her mouth hung open-where's the publicist?

Back to the subject, I am for the data-Yay!, voice-Nay! argument on board flights. Besides the chuckle I get from watching frantic synchronized phone dialing as SOON as the ok is given once the plane lands, I *really* don't want to hear about someone's medical history 25000 feet in the sky. Bad enough having to hear it on the train.

[Allan @ May 21st 2008 9:21AM]

Ya, and who's that girl on the left?

[Jamma @ May 21st 2008 10:14AM]

I thought it looks like that South Carolina girl that said why some Americans can't point to America on a World map:

I personally believe that U.S. Americans are unable to do so because, uh, some, people out there in our nation don't have maps and, uh, I believe that our, uh, education like such as, uh, South Africa and, uh, the Iraq, everywhere like such as, and, I believe that they should, our education over here in the U.S. should help the U.S., uh, or, uh, should help South Africa and should help the Iraq and the Asian countries, so we will be able to build up our future, for our [children]

[Jamma @ May 21st 2008 10:15AM]

Ahh, I've just READ the article- my bad

[Secret Squirrel @ May 22nd 2008 3:52PM]

Looks like a photo chopped head...

[zargon @ May 21st 2008 9:11AM]

I am guessing that the other 26% should just have their cell phone surgically attached (or super glued) to their ear.

It is bad enough that people have no curdiousy anymore in plublic, yammering loudly about crap that none one wants to know about or cares to hear.

[derek @ May 21st 2008 9:20AM]

It just proves that Americans are louder than Europeans

[MJZimmer88 @ May 21st 2008 10:01AM]

No, it just proves that Americans THINK that they are louder than Europeans.

[Josh @ May 21st 2008 9:24AM]

and calling in places like...um such as .. south africa and the iraq?

[Rik @ May 21st 2008 9:25AM]

Ah, there still is VOIP eh? :-D Just need a phone that can do it.

[NHAnimator @ May 21st 2008 9:26AM]

My biggest problems with listening to people talk on their cell phones are:

1. Hearing only one end of a conversation. If they want to put the conversation on speaker, I MIGHT want to listen in. But probably not.

2. Listening to some moron's "OMG? Really? No! Way!", etc. Uh, Yes way and really.

3. Listening to some moron's "F-this" and "F-that". Guess what? There are other words in the dictionary. A thesaurus is also a good reference. Expand your vocabulary.

4. People talk way TOO LOUD into a cell phone. What's the difference between a cell and a regular phone? Sheesh.

5. People don't pay attention to what they're doing while talking. I've had people stop right in front of me in a hallway for no reason other than reacting to their conversation. Thank god they weren't chewing gum at the same time.

Your peeves?

[Zach @ May 21st 2008 9:31AM]

In response to number 4, you can hear yourself speak on a regular phone. Cell phones do not provide the vocal feedback. As a result, people tend to yell into cell phones because it seems as if their voice is too quiet, since they do not hear it like they are accustomed to.

[The 3rd Hot Dog @ May 21st 2008 9:32AM]

"Hello?

Yeah, I'm on the plane.

Yeah!

Yeah, I know!

Yeah.

Okay.

Bye!"

[Idlemind @ May 21st 2008 9:59AM]

people are turning into addicts in NY...

/Scene

The subway doors open, and a rush of commuting lemmings rush to the only source of natural light. When all of a sudden 4 of them stop dead in their tracks to see if they are close enough to get a signal thereby creating a traffic jam and some pissed off people.

the subways in Japan have full wireless signal, but everyone uses it for text and data... you never see anyone (as of my last few trips) on the phone talking,

[iruka @ May 21st 2008 10:14PM]

I heard that it's a no-no in Japan to do voice calls in their trains. That's why they probably just use 'e-mail' instead.

[BobTurbo @ May 21st 2008 9:44AM]

Do Americans really eat pancakes for breakfast on a regular basis?

[Anthony @ May 21st 2008 10:08AM]

Yes. But pancakes have been usurped by a new french toast waffle from Eggo.

2 times the calories, 1/2 the nutrition.

I missed the cell phone on planes connection in your comment. Too busy thinking about french toast waffles.

[Andir3.0 @ May 21st 2008 12:37PM]

Can't think of the last time I had a pancake...

[TRAFFICBLOWS @ May 21st 2008 2:02PM]

Only when I go to IHOP! You *must* have heard of them- they're international...

[adriangrab @ May 21st 2008 9:46AM]

I think that the pricing for voice calls will still be fairly high, so you wouldn't see everyone talking on their cell phones.

I'm pretty sure this would mostly be used by business users who can expense the cost of the phone call, and I think that's fine.

[corystal @ May 21st 2008 2:18PM]

True, but it's successful businessmen who are the douchebags that have no problem yapping loudly on the phone in a small crowded space, making sure everyone can hear about their "big deal" in the making.

[Whynot @ May 22nd 2008 12:05AM]

Actually, most of the businessmen (the productive ones, not the ones who try to inflate their ego by letting everyone in a 1/2 mile radius know that they are very busy and important and that they have to hang up because they'll be busy doing important things) are not too happy about having voice or data available in planes, because it was the last place were they could tell their bosses "Sorry, I can't get my email, I guess I'll be able to sleep for once"

[Pasha @ May 21st 2008 9:47AM]

I could care less if someone wants to use their cell on a plane, but being stuck next to a person on a flight who will jabber endlessly will be annoying. If they establish some sort of a small, partially soundproof area then people can yak away all they want. Just don't do it next to me.

[Jon Acheson @ May 21st 2008 9:53AM]

I like your suggestion of a soundproof area for cellphone talkers.

Perhaps out on the wing...

[BobTurbo @ May 21st 2008 9:55AM]

What the hell is with this plague of 'I could care less' usage? It is 'I couldn't care less'. For God's sake, 'I could care less' makes no bloody sense. Dam kids.......

[Bevo4138 @ May 21st 2008 9:58AM]

I suggest the "Cone of Silence" that Get Smart had.

[pasha @ May 21st 2008 10:00AM]

@Jon Acheson, way to improve my idea :)

@BobTurbo, thank you for the correction, i honestly didn't know. And i am 26

[rDub @ May 21st 2008 10:46AM]

@BobTurbo, In a sense you are correct. I assume that he meant that there was no possible way to care any more, thus the "I couldnt care less" ... however it is still correct to say "I could care less" meaning it is possible to care less about the topic than you already do.

For example I could care less about the cell phone issue where I couldn't care less to hear another long iPhone, mac vs pc debate or some other topic we get so inundated with here

Just throwing out that perspective …