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In-flight WiFi raises etiquette questions
With more and more airlines offering their passengers wireless internet access, some interesting issues arise about proper in-flight internet etiquette. In addition, airlines must decide if they want to give their patrons full access to the internet, with all the risks and concerns that brings about.
A recent AP article paints a nightmarish scenario that may arise unless airlines are willing to restrict their passengers' internet access: "Seat 17D is yapping endlessly on an Internet phone call. Seat 16F is flaming Seat 16D with expletive-laden chats. Seat 16E is too busy surfing porn sites to care. Seat 17C just wants to sleep."
It seems reasonable to me that no phone calls should be allowed (annoying) and pornography should be filtered (disgusting). But while airlines like American, Alaskan, and Virgin have banned internet phone services like Skype, they "have no plans to filter sites based on their content. At most, [they] may manage traffic and delay large downloads."
Said one exec of a company in charge of installing WiFi on airplanes: "We think decency and good sense and normal behavior" will prevail. Sure it will.
Filed under: United States, Airlines, Internet Tools
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
aawil Dec 28th 2007 5:31PM
I would think just a few common sense rules are all that's needed. We all can go a flight without porn. No internet calls, so your neighbor isn't disturbed. Hmm actually that's all I can think of.......
Eva Dec 28th 2007 6:25PM
I hadn't even thought of internet phone calls! Yikes. Now we can add the oh-so-fascinating "yeah.... I'm on the plane..." to "yeah.... I'm on the bus now..." and "yeah.... I'm on the train now..."
I almost wouldn't mind the ubiquitous public cell phone conversation as much if people would actually say something interesting...
Jacqueline Dec 28th 2007 6:55PM
Yeah, you'd think all we need is a few simple rules...but there will probably always be inconsiderate people who break them.
That said, I've taken Amtrak trains where most people have their laptops out and everyone seems capable of laying off the porn for the duration of the ride. Not so much on the phone calls, though, but I guess that is what a good pair of noise-canceling headphones (http://www.3luxe.com/category/Portable_Electronics/Headphones) are for! Definitely worth the investment if you travel a lot.
Brooks Dec 29th 2007 1:49AM
It's a good thing there's no such thing as pornographic magazines. Because, clearly, if such magazines did exist, all sorts of travelers would bring them on planes and make their seatmates uncomfortable.
It would be such a huge problem that airlines would have to go through everyone's carry-ons checking to make sure that any magazines they brought on board were acceptable.
Wow, this "internets" thing really is totally different and without precedent!
Jacqueline Dec 29th 2007 11:20PM
Brooks, you have a point.