British Airways announces limited in-flight cell use, let the parties commence
By Laura June 
posted January 27th 2009 7:36AM
posted January 27th 2009 7:36AM
British Airways has announced they'll start offering limited in-flight cell phone use on flights from London to JFK. Passengers will be allowed to send text messages and use data, but not to make actual calls (thankfully -- because we all know how annoying that would be). Several other airlines have launched similar trials, including bmi and Qantas -- which has announced they will allow usage for all passengers on domestic flights --while Dubai's Emirates airline actually allows mobile voice calls on its domestic flights. The British Airways trials are set to start sometime this fall on its business-class only flights. Seriously, guys -- can you make it any more clear that you can't stand the sight of us proles?
[Via Mobile Burn]
[Via Mobile Burn]
When cellphone calls will be permitted, First and Business class will be nightmare departments where some folks will turn their seat into a cubicle making loud phone calls throughout the entire transatlantic flight. This is one of the few instances when I don't want technology to make advancements.
You think people would be calling the whole trans-Atlantic flight? I can't even get a signal in the bathroom at work, how would they get a signal hundreds of km/mi from shore?!
Typo guys! Us aussies love our beloved QANTAS!
I intend using all my cells, as usual, on a BA flight. But being able to use my mobile phone is, indeed, an innovation.
That movie is so stupid but very, very funny (with Snoop) , you can see it entirely on youtube, it's called SOUL PLANE.
If you like African American comedies you will love this one.
@Sea Urchin did you even have to bother comminting on the movie. Its a funny pic thats it.
Just remember when the flight attendant asks, park it like it's hot...
Yup. It's an acronym, not a word, so no extraneous 'u's.
...or regular ones.
Crikey!
While I look forward to texting or pairing up my laptop to my phone for some midair browsing, I wonder what the roaming charges are for "international airspace".
I would not feel at peace with Snoop behind the wheel...
Snoop is not here, only Captain Mack.
so... how exactly are they going to limit text messages to the business class only cabin? or are they changing the little drape separating the cabins from cloth to led?
Some BA flights are Business Class only as the whole flight is business class.
it's a mobile, not a cell phone, this is BA, us brits don't call them cell phones!
This here's America, speak English!
@Julio,
interesting comment coming from someone who has a less than American name.
You brits can keep on kissing my hairy a**
@Das Boot
What's an "American Name"?
A true American name would be Native American. Are you Native American? If so, I feel bad for all that have suffered by means of the genocide committed by Europeans who came here and polluted this land. But I can feel safe to assume you're not. My guess is you're some back hills person, who may or may not, be a member of some sort of militia, who thinks that anyone who is the slightest shade of brown is some sort of abomination. Well I have some shocking news for you, if you were to travel outside of whatever one stop sign town you live in, you'll realize that there are a lot of people with "less than American name's". So, fuhrer, what is an "American name"?
@Kilgore
I don't think any of us were kissing your hairy arse in the first plase, tool.
@Freestyle Kilgore there reads a few Vonnegut books and thinks he is ever so clever.
I'm pretty happy about the use of data and text on planes, but for the love of god, I hope they never allow voice calls, or else put in phone booths. That would be the start of some serious skyrage.
mad @ that "Soul Plane" picture......lol........
Thanks Captain Didn't Read the Previous Posts!
HELLO! I'M ON THE PLANE
For the love of God, pleeeeeeease don't let them start allowing cellphone calls on planes! Putting up with crying babies is bad enough, but if I had to listen to some loudmouth next to me jabbering away on his phone the whole trip, I don't think I'd be able to resist the temptation to resort to air rage. To put it another way, if you bring your cellphone with you, you'd better bring a parachute too!
Can we also ban our wives from jabbering with their friends on their phones during long car rides too?
can we Pleaaaaaaaase start banning people who don't RTFS(ummary)? Putting up with idiocy is enough, but if I have to listen to one more person blabbing about something that is mentioned in the summary, I don't think I could resist the temptation to resist to comment rage! To put it another way, if you comment on something that's already answered in the summary, you'd better bring an iShute when you get thrown out the internet
In case you didn't catch on:
"Passengers will be allowed to send text messages and use data, but not to make actual calls"
@Precurse
well maybe YOU should reread the summary, but if not heres a quote from above "... while Dubai's Emirates airline actually allows mobile voice calls on its domestic flights." so there
I think we should ban guys named Julio from posting on Engadget.
Or Matt G!
Ooooo nice comeback man!
I am totally defeated.
All hail Julio, King of the Internets.
Long live the King!
Long live the King!
Long live the King!
You got me, I can admit defeat.
But which of my comments did you find so disturbing?
No reply? So it wasn't something I said? Well since your comment said, "ban guys named Julio", and not simply "ban Julio", I guess you don't want Hispanics on Engadget. I guess that must be your reasoning, since you aren't offering any replies. I guess you're another person who doesn't think my name is "American" enough.
Yes. That's it, guilty as charged.
If only you knew what the "G" was. I promise, it doesn't sound American either. tard
So suppose your last name was gutierrez, for instance, and you are a fellow Hispanic. Why are you so upset at me? What would make you want me to be banned?
Interesting!
The safety hazard of using electronic devices in an aircraft apply only in front of the forward baggage compartment where the Nav Electronics is located. (Read: first class.) This clearly shows that, at least the Britts, have decided there is NO safety hazard for electronic devices.
HEY AIRLINES. Get off our case and shut up on "Shut off electronic devices."
You got me, I can admit defeat.
But which of my comments did you find so disturbing?
I don't know why it bothers me so much - but hearing someone called their 'loved one' to shout (its usually shouting - isn't it?) - we've just landed! .. I said, we've just LANDED! . .. We're still on the runway but we've just LANDED! I have to get my luggage and then a cab, so I'll be there in ______ minutes. Yeah, it was a NICE FLIGHT. I said a NICE FLIGHT - what's that? you've got chicken . . .blah blah blah blah.
Texting is so efficient and QUIET.
Please just text your loved one - next time. thank you
@ Julio
Yes, very easily: just put in your car alittle modern wonder called cell-B-gone (or mobile-B-gone) and your car will be protected from any incoming and outgoing cell phone frequencies.
Should you need to make or receive a call just press the button again , and lo and behold: suddenly cell phones will start to work again.
It costs between 12 and 19,95 USD depending on where you buy it and it saved my mental health and my marriage.
Awesome, Thanks!
So... What is the difference between talking to someone on the phone and someone next to you or even a few seats over? I've had and heard plenty of conversations while on flights.
The problem is people already talk loud for no reason on cell phones. Then that gets multiplied by the fact that they are now trying to talk over the noise of the jet engines. True, more modern jets are more quiet than previous generations, but they are still loud. Then your ears start popping from the pressurization changes, and you speak even louder. So, it can indeed get quite annoying if people started talking on cell phones during flights. As far as texting and data goes, I think that's a great compromise.
No reply? So it wasn't something I said? Well since your comment said, "ban guys named Julio", and not simply "ban Julio", I guess you don't want Hispanics on Engadget. I guess that must be your reasoning, since you aren't offering any replies. I guess you're another person who doesn't think my name is "American" enough.
Sorry guys that was @Matt G
Does Emirates actually have any domestic flights? The entire country is like 2 hours to drive from one end to the other.
I guess Skype is considered a data application, right?
Its cool if they only limit the use for data and sms no CONVERSATIONS ALLOWED PLEASE.
Ugh. Having personal GPS-enabled and operational devices on an plane is dangerous stuff. Think of how THAT could be exploited.
Emirates doesn't have domestic flights btw....