Time to reopen this can of worms – cell phones on planes.
And for that we can thank the Inflight Passenger Communications Coalition (IPCC) which believes fliers in the United States want the right to use cell phones on planes without the government telling them “no”.
The IPCC is hardly a disinterested party – it is funded by mobile phone manufacturers and service providers – but it does point out quite rightly that more than a million passengers a month use cell phones on airlines that fly from four different continents. And so far, no cases of “cell rage” have been reported – or at least, that I’m aware of.
However, Tom Belden writing for Philly.com. asks the big-big question: “Do we have the inalienable right to not be trapped for hours next to someone chattering on the phone?”
Some say the ambient sound of an aircraft in flight would relegate most cell chats to non-invasive background noise (hmmm – this, I’d have to hear for myself).
Others say, sometimes there are life-and-death calls that simply have to be made (Life and death? Really? Then why are you flying?).
Believe me, I get it – it’s great for emergencies, and great for work. But not so great on your wallet, since as Mr. Belden points out, we may be seeing prices like $5 a minute at international roaming rates.
So, what do you think? Are you coming around to the idea of cell phones on planes? Why – or why not?
