One of my travel rants is mobile phone users who refuse to turn off their phones when the flight attendant says so. To be honest, I am not sure that it even matters. Supposedly, mobile phones and electronics interfere with navigation. I have have read that the airlines and telecommunication companies propagate this lie about mobile phones interfering with navigation, because telecommunication companies cannot track minutes 30,000 ft/9200m in the air. I occasionally believe in conspiracies, but not sure about this one.
What’s funny but very annoying is that all passengers know, of course, that they should turn off their phones once the flight attendant closes the cabin door. There does not seem to be any particular group that is more of an offender than another. I was on a flight not long ago where a young attractive woman was having a dispute about nothing with a “boyfriend.” Knowing that she should not be talking on the phone, the young woman slumped over and stopped talking when the flight attendant walked by her row. By the way, the flight attendant was absolutely worthless. So, I thought, surely, she will stop talking before take-off … I was wrong! I eventually turned around and sternly told her that she should turn off her phone … to my surprise she did.
That case was blatant. Usually, mobile users are checking those critical emails. On two separate flights that I will call a man, a woman, and two Blackberries a man and woman in business attire could not turn off their phones for a 30 minute flight. Each time the flight attendant walked by they would cover their phones like primary school children passing notes in class.
On another flight … literally a school boy was compelled to keep texting someone about a school project, I am sure. Each time I guess his phone vibrated, he would “sneak” the phone out of his pocket and check his messages. Other times he kept his phone clasped in his hand.
I have learned that even if you do not say anything, If you stare long and hard, most people will discontinue their inappropriate mobile phone use.
So, why can’t we really use mobile phone? Maybe because of mobile phone obsession … there would be a capacity load of obnoxious passengers all talking and checking their email. How did we ever survive without mobile phones. I am sure that every conversation would be absolutely necessary and every email would be life saving! Lets continue the ban on mobile phones.
