British Airways to allow cell phone data and SMS usage on London to JFK route

By on Jan 28, 2009 at 6:40 PM
News January 28, 2009

Dispelling rumors, old wives tales, and the ever reputable “word on the street” that cell phone usage can cause serious interference with aircraft instruments, British Airways has pledged to become the second carrier (Emirates Air became the first such carrier last year) in the world to allow limited cell usage on some of its flights. At launch the service will be limited to its flights between London and JFK, and usage will be capped at texting and data, but the company is leaving open the possibility of expanding the offering to include voice calls at a later date. There has been much debate about the possible disruption caused by in-flight cell usage, and many busy fliers see the airplane as one of the last bastions of freedom, where being disconnected from the matrix for a short period of time can provide a much needed break. On the other hand, pulling down email and accessing the mobile web at 36,000 sounds mighty tasty to us, so when the chips fall you can guess what side of the argument we’ll be on. There’s no word on how much this service will cost, but if Emirates $2.80/minute voice charges are any indication, it won’t be for the faint of heart.

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  • first!!

    First!

  • jimmycinla

    Prob a flat data fee per user on the flight. Sooo one person pays, then they turn their phone into an WIFI access point and resell the data connection on the flight for a 1/2 the cost and make some money.

    Done.

  • ucfgrad93

    Oh man, this is a terrible idea. With my luck I’d be stuck next to some loud mouth yapping the entire way across the Atlantic. I see incidents of ‘Air Rage’ increasing.

  • Jeremiah

    If the flight attendants are really adamant about keeping the noise down, which I’m sure they will be, then calling shouldn’t be a problem.

    I wonder if they’ll block the ports for UMA ;-)

  • http://none steven

    Just like what the last guy said…I normally go to a hotel or a public area (starbucks) and whenever I need to get online I pay the fee and broadcast out my wifi and I don’t charge for it. I looked In the airport settings and I had 8 people connected once.

    Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone) at: Oakton VA, 22124

  • J RoadZ

    $2.49 a minute beats $4.99 a minute when on a cruise. But then again a cruise is not a small tin can where you can hear someone talking in the 5-10 rows in front of you and behind.

    I’m for the in-flight SMS and data, but voice calls- no. Or set aside a certain area near the restrooms or galley just for phone conversations only.

    Isn’t Virgin America doing in-flight SMS and data, or was that for later on?? I think seat-to-seat SMS is allowed…

  • Sevenmack

    I’m not worried at all about the calling. Most folks will be considerate and spend as little time on the phone as possible. Especially when you consider that a transatlantic flight is so long in duration that you don’t want to annoy your neighbors too much. As I’ve seen on long Amtrak rides and Greyhound trips, folks behave courteously for the most part.

    The few who behave badly, talk loudly and are otherwise pesky? The flight attendants can pretty much shut down anyone they want if they deem that person a nuisance. That, along with federal laws (in US and likely, in Britain) protecting them against assault and the ability of airlines to ban anyone they want from using their services, is enough to keep all but the most willfully and aggressively nasty at bey.

  • Sevenmack

    By the way: The average NY-to-DC Greyhound bus trip (express) is four hours long. The average Amtrak ride between New York and DC (as well as between Indianapolis and Chicago) are also in the four-to-five hour range. Essentially, the length of a good number of non-transatlantic flights.

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