Cell Phones in the Stratosphere

On recent flights between NYC and Chicago, I soaked up the few fleeting hours of being out-of-touch with the world below. No internet. No cell phone. No Twitter or Facebook. I caught up on work, did some reading, attempted a couple crossword puzzles, slept, and thoroughly enjoyed the gentle hum of the engines and soft conversations among fellow passengers.

Flying this past weekend made me reflect on a recent article I came across in the Times two weeks ago; the possibility of in-flight cell-phone usage. Already, some foreign carriers have permitted passengers to use cellular and other personal devices to make and receive calls at 37,000 feet, (so far, there have been surprisingly few complaints). However, it doesn't seem as if domestic flights will hop on the bandwagon anytime soon. On-board domestic flight surveys regularly show that the majority of passengers would be opposed to in-flight cell phone calls. Likewise, legislation is currently pending in Congress that would ban voice communication using wireless devices on commercial flights. Domestic carriers ARE, however, rapidly installing on-board WiFi (usage available for a nominal fee).

As someone who witnesses poor cell phone etiquette on a daily basis, I'd rather not spend 5 hours flying cross-country being forced to listen to Joe Schmo in the seat behind me, joining in on his office's hour-long conference call. I'm an optimistic individual and believe in the genuine empathy of the human race, but a plane provides one with very limited personal space...and with that, limited ways of shielding oneself from unwanted disturbances. Sometimes, it's hard enough as is.

I do believe the majority of passengers would take the extra effort to be quiet and respectful. However, phones will undoubtedly ring out because they weren't initially turned to "silent," and that select few, whether due to poor hearing, aggression, or lack of manners, will conduct their personal conversations without consideration of the person helplessly trapped next to them. That's enough to make this frequent flyer perfectly content with being off-the-grid for a while when in the Stratosphere.