CCNnorthcali
join:2004-03-07
Tempe, AZ
clubs:
| reply to jc100
Re: that sucks
It's funny that Mythbusters disproved this because not all aircraft are the same. Some are more prone to interference than others. For example, the 737-400 series is pretty well known for sometimes getting interference from cell phones. So there are some situations where problems can be caused. |
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BPPATROL101a
@cox.net
| If a cell phone could cause a major safety concern for an aircraft, they'd be banned (and the ban enforced) from being taken onboard same as guns, knives, etc - you'd be searched for them. Do you really think everyone follows the rules? I mean, I would think that if they were that huge of a concern, safety wise, you'd not be given the opportunity to do such harm. Especially important if a cell phone is bad enough to bring down an aircraft, terrorists would have already done it, considering the ease of hidden use among several passengers. |
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scooby
Premium
join:2001-05-01
Schaumburg, IL
1 edit | I have to agree. In April 2008 the EU gave approval for in flight cell phone use. Obviously they are going to need some type of air to ground relay equipment before cell phones are going to work at 35,000 ft but they approved it all around and not just on certain aircraft.
If the EU approves then its safe in my eyes. They do much more stringent testing then the FAA and FCC. |
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Tweak
Premium
join:2002-06-08
Oklahoma City, OK
 ·Cox HSI
| reply to CCNnorthcali
I remember reading some where that this originally did not start with an FAA ban but an FCC ban. The FCC placed the ban because cell phone phone usage in aircraft resulted in heavier strain on cell phone networks. The cell phone provider had to keep handing off the call to different towers. I know many private pilots that use their personal cell phones. Plus business executives use cell phones in private jets. I support the ban on cell phone usage in commercial aviation . The reason being is I don't want to sit next to some one yapping on their cell phone. I don't believe for a second that cell phones interfere with aircraft navigation. |
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jc100
join:2002-04-10 | reply to scooby
Agreed. |
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jc100
join:2002-04-10
1 edit | reply to Tweak
Same. I don't want to hear some lady yapping away. It's already bad enough on the ground. The air is the last travel of refuge. Still, I don't think paying 10-13 bucks for wifi is worth it. I can see giving this free to first class fliers. However, anyone flying coach most likely isn't going to use this service unless it's a long flight. Maybe New York to Hawaii or Alaska which is probably a 5 or 6 hour light. Otherwise, in this economy, it's way too much of an expensive luxury. Kick it down to around 5 dollars and people might bite. However, charging the cost of 1 month of high speed (DSL) for a few hours of usage is a no go in my books. |
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nitzan
Premium,VIP
join:2008-02-27
 ·ViaTalk
·Comcast
| You have to remember business customers.
1. If I can work on an airplane, it'll give me a couple of hours I didn't have before. It's not a linear comparison - but an hour of my time is worth far more than $10. 
2. It's deductible.
3. I already pay $10 or so to connect for half an hour while waiting at the airport. I'd rather spend those $10 for 2+ hours on the plane instead. 
Don't get me wrong- I'd rather see lower prices too. But keep in mind that it costs far more to provide broadband on an airplane than it does to provide you signal over DSL - not to mention only a small percentage of users will use it. If airlines were selling it for a few bucks then not only would they not be making enough money to support the service - connection speed would suck.
--
Nitzan Kon, CEO
Future Nine Corporation |
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jc100
join:2002-04-10
| Well I have to disagree a bit.
1) Business Class Travelers should get it free anyway. They are paying mega bucks for first class. Most of those guys fly that way to begin with, so this would be something to give them as a perk / added luxury for doing so.
2) Airports offer FREE wifi. At least every airport I've been to has it. If you are leary about using an open wifi, then get like an EVDO card or use your phone. It's what I do.
3) Airplane connection costs about the same as normal EVDO. Instead of the signal pointing down, it points up. No real added costs as the EVDO network working all the same, just needing a bit more of a stronger signal. |
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58483323
Gurt me
join:2003-06-23
Normal, IL | Any of the airports I've been to charge for wifi... |
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jc100
join:2002-04-10
| Ive been to Atlanta (ATL), Hobby (HOU), Intercontinental (IAH), among others and never once paid for wifi. There were always free wifi signals in the airport. However, I preferred t use my EVDO most times unless I was getting a spotty signal. Yet, never once paid for airport wifi and I never did anything illegal to get it either. It merely said free public wifi and I connected. |
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nitzan
Premium,VIP
join:2008-02-27
·ViaTalk
·Comcast
| I have never seen free Wi-Fi in any airport I've been to - and I've been to quite a few. Flying to Las Vegas tomorrow, actually!
Let me rephrase: by "business customers" I didn't mean "customers in business class". I meant customers traveling in economy, who would benefit from doing business aboard a plane.
I think the point I'm trying to make is that personally I don't care what the cost is as long as it's affordable - if it's available I'll use it - just make it available on all flights!
--
Nitzan Kon, CEO
Future Nine Corporation |
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jc100
join:2002-04-10
1 edit | You flying out of Po-Dunk (Back water) airports and not major hubs? Most Major Airports I've visited have free wifi, at least in and around the flights I've taken. Maybe it's the local starbucks offering a signal or the airport itself. I don't know. All I know is I get the free public wifi and I get the net. Maybe you are using smaller airports (which tend to be cheaper), but lack such amenities? You ever been to ATL (Atlanta), HOU( Hobby), IAH (Intercontinental), DWI among others? Those all had wifi when I visited. Lately, I've flown more times in the past year, then in my entire life. The tally stands at 4 trips in a year so far. Flown several times in the past, but never this much in one given period. I'm not a business traveler, just had stuff to get done I guess this year. |
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nitzan
Premium,VIP
join:2008-02-27
·ViaTalk
·Comcast
| I've been to all of those in the past. My most frequented airports lately have been ATL, LGA, EWR, JFK, DFW. I haven't counted exactly, but last year I must have taken more than 20 flights. I have never encountered free Wi-Fi in any of those airports, sorry.
--
Nitzan Kon, CEO
Future Nine Corporation |
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jc100
join:2002-04-10 | Odd. I've gotten it with no trouble. Maybe you flights are in a different area. Everytime I've flown out of these guys, I got a signal to use. |
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