Virgin Atlantic to all cell phone use over the Pond

[Ned]

Virgin Atlantic has announced that it’s letting customers make voice calls with their own cellphones, provided they’re on the VA's new Airbus A330 flying between London and New York.

According to London's Daily Mail, the service will expand to about 20 planes in Virgin Atlantic’s fleet by the end of 2012.

Phones will still have to be turned off during take-off and landing, plus, due to US regulations, phones must be turned off within 250 miles of US airspace.

The calls won't come cheap, however. Calls will be charged at the current going international roaming call of about $1.60/minute, and it will only be compatible with an O2 or Vodafone handset (GSM like AT&T and T-Mobile in the US).

Moreover, if you want to make a phone call, you might get a busy signal. Virgin Atlantic says that due to limited bandwidth, only 10 people will be able to make calls at the same time.

As for me, this knocks VA off my list of acceptable airlines. I have no interest in listen to cell phone users prattle on while I try to sleep, read, watch a movie, listen to music, look out the window, work, or merely day dream. It's bad enough on the train (I go to the quiet car if available.). I'm not going to sit captive on an airplane, couped up for hours and hours, having to listen to business or drivel on the phone.

[bodega]

It will be interesting to see how this takes hold for other US cities Virgina Atlantic fly from. I, too, don't want to listen to people on their cell phones and can only imagine how this would work during 'sleep' time on long haul flights. We were at the pool the other day in Hawaii and had to listen to a man, whose kids were in the pool, conduct work from his lounge chair. His kids were ignored, his business that should be priviate was heard by strangers and our down time was made stressful by this rudeness. Put the damn phones, computers, IPOD's away when you are outside!

[Ned]

Originally Posted by bodega

It will be interesting to see how this takes hold for other US cities Virgina Atlantic fly from. I, too, don't want to listen to people on their cell phones and can only imagine how this would work during 'sleep' time on long haul flights. We were at the pool the other day in Hawaii and had to listen to a man, whose kids were in the pool, conduct work from his lounge chair. His kids were ignored, his business that should be priviate was heard by strangers and our down time was made stressful by this rudeness. Put the damn phones, computers, IPOD's away when you are outside!

If you want to work on your computer while your on the lawn overlooking the ocean, instead of couped up in your room, or listen to music on your iPod, via a headset or earbuds, when poolside in the lounge chair, or read on your Kindle or iPad in between dips, why not. Those activities shouldn't bother or annoy anyone, except perhaps someone with whom you're traveling.

Sometimes you can't put the phones aside when outside.

I was walking into a castle in Scotland when I got a call of desperation from a client who's network lost Internet access. I excused myself from fellow travelers and found a nice private corner outside the castle walls. Five minutes later my client was happily connected and I was back touring the castle.

All too often, people seem to shout into their cell phones when traveling, as if we're back in the days of fuzzy connections via the under the ocean cable. I don't know why. Sometimes, I catch myself doing that too. In planes we are captive audiences, prey for the loudmouth drunk, the couple who talk at the top of their lungs so that everyone knows Aunt Minnie caught them in the boathouse, the 4 year old who screeches at the top of his lungs, the teen gossiping with her girl friend all the way across the continent, or the busybody who just won't leave you alone.

We don't need the prattle of telephone talk for hours on end to add to that din.

Now if Virgin Air and other airlines want to install a phone booth(s) in the back of the plane, so that passengers aren't subjected to the "private" phone foolishness of some passengers, then okay. Of course, VA and the other airlines aren't going to do that, because it would take up seats, and reduce ticket and fee revenue.

The way I see it, if voice calls are going to be permitted in airplanes there is only one fair way to permit it, that wouldn't remove seats from the plane.

Get "Professor Cone" to finally perfect his device and the "Chief" to authorize its installation in the ceiling of every airplane, over each seat. Then whenever anyone on the plane wants to make or receive a phone call, all they have to do is lower the "Cone of Silence" over their seat and we're all protected from their unwanted business or personal drivel, that somehow can't want until landing.

[Loonbeam]

I'm not a fan of this idea, at all,but I don't think it will be as bad as it could be given the pricing ($96 per hour - some plans may be more) especially in coach.

I'm more concerned about the executive in first class who's company pays the bill.

That said, it looks like the number of handsets that can use it will be limited.

[jimtbay]

There must be demand if an airline is willing to make this happen. I certainly see heavy use in business class and first class. Perhaps instituting "quiet hours" between 11p-7a would reduce issues. I certainly would let my employer find out on their own my cell phone would work while in the air!!

[Ned]

Originally Posted by jimtbay

There must be demand if an airline is willing to make this happen. I certainly see heavy use in business class and first class. Perhaps instituting "quiet hours" between 11p-7a would reduce issues. I certainly would let my employer find out on their own my cell phone would work while in the air!!

Jim, survey results about cell phone use on airplanes which I've seen are vastly different according to which side of the pond you're located. In the Middle East and Europe, the majority want cell phone use, but in the US, the majority still want no voice calling use via cell phone, but do want text and data use permitted.

[bodega]

A phone booth on the plane isn't a bad idea. Then only one person could be on their phone and be in a confined, soundproof area. Sadly, people don't have manners any longer and unless the FA's are trained in dealing with rude eletronic users, this isn't going to a pleasant experience onboard. Cell phones ring at the theatre, at the ball games, on the bus, in the restaurant even though signs are posted to turn them off. People are so selfish when it comes to their electronic needs!

[Ned]

Originally Posted by bodega

A phone booth on the plane isn't a bad idea. Then only one person could be on their phone and be in a confined, soundproof area. Sadly, people don't have manners any longer and unless the FA's are trained in dealing with rude eletronic users, this isn't going to a pleasant experience onboard. Cell phones ring at the theatre, at the ball games, on the bus, in the restaurant even though signs are posted to turn them off. People are so selfish when it comes to their electronic needs!

I agree. At the Metropolitan Opera, if your cell phone goes off during the performance you are quickly escorted out. You can't do that while inflight ... no parachutes. Seriously, despite the price, I think it would eventually be a free for all. especially in business and first class, where men and women on expensive accounts, and corporate cell phones.

[Loonbeam]

It turns out the installation was subsidized by the system operator, so other than added weight there is almost no cost to VA, thus demand may not be an issue.

Also, the system only supports UP to six calls at a time, still too many but should help a bit.

I'm not happy with it but until we see how it goes not putting VA on my do not fly list yet...