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Mobile Phone Use While Flying: Not All That Popular Says Survey
Just when those who would like to use their mobile phone in the air get a break, a new survey says most travelers would prefer that they keep it turned off.Not long ago, Virgin Atlantic announced it would allow mobile phone calls during flights on its London to New York route. Calls made will cost £1 a minute and a text will be 20 pence, much more than on the ground but worth it to those who need uninterrupted communications ability.
But a new survey from flight comparison site Skyscanner has revealed 86 percent of those surveyed said it would be "annoying to listen to other people's conversations" reports Caribbean News Digital.
"In a world where we are now almost always 'on call,' it seems people don't want to say good-bye to their last sanctuary of non-connectivity," says Sam Baldwin, Skyscanner Travel Editor. "Flying allows us to switch off for a few hours, both from our own calls, and other people's."
Even those who like the idea of using their mobile phone in the air are not all that excited about it. Only 1 percent of respondents said they would actually pay more to fly with an airline that offered mobile call ability – surely not enough to get airlines in the mood to offer it.
The Skyscanner survey also revealed 48 percent said they would send texts, 35 percent said they would surf the web, 10 percent would send email, but only 6 percent would actually make and take calls.
[Flickr photo by Tim Psych]
[Flickr photo by Tim Psych]
Filed under: Europe, North America, United Kingdom, United States, Airlines, Transportation
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
rk Jun 2nd 2012 12:03PM
Only 6%? That's more than enough to make a transatlantic flight unbearable. "Guess where I am?" Not to mention the fact that most businesses on the East Coast are actually closed during the hours your flying. And I just started using Virgin. Guess that'll change quickly.
Jack Jun 2nd 2012 12:22PM
No friggin thanks. I do not ever want to listen to the baffoon next to me talking on his cell for the whole flight.
Shawn Jun 2nd 2012 1:42PM
Who wants to listen to that loud arse next to them yapping it up on their phone the entire flight when your tired and just want to sleep? There is no need to allow phone calls, please don't. That's enough to make someone want to switch airlines. So is the stupid fees for sitting in a window or aisle seat. Air travel used to be luxurious. Now it's been reduced to being packed into a sausage tube and extruded out at the other end.