Using Phones on Flight Annoys Passengers, According to Survey

15th Jun 2012

Majority of the respondents, according to the survey, said they get quite annoyed being compelled to listen to others having conversations on their phones.

The survey came in the heels of the decision of the Virgin Atlantic to allow its passengers on its New York-London service to make phone calls through their mobile phones. Thus, it became the pioneer in the air travel industry to allow such activity on an aircraft while airborne.

While an overwhelming majority of the people welcome the technological advancements in mobile communication, there seem to be many of us don't like to hear or listen to people having a phone conversation, especially in confined public places.

The survey also showed that a considerable percentage of people would really want to take or even make a call if permitted - that's 6 percent of the respondents. Most of those surveyed preferred texting at 48 percent and 35 percent of them would surf the web if the service were available. Ten percent of the respondents said they will send emails.

Moreover, one percent of the respondents said that they wouldn't mind paying extra to fly with an airline who offers mobile calls.

Dave Boyte, marketing development manager of Skyscanner for Australia said that the only time our phones are tuned off is when the plane is airborne. The introduction of in-flight phone calls by Virgin Atlantic and the wi-fi services on board flights in Australia will lead to a future when we are just a phone call away even at high altitude aboard a plane.