ATA Airlines detains passenger for using iPhone in 'airplane mode'

[RamboLiberal]

Apparently putting your iPhone in airplane mode is not the digital equivalent of returning your seatback to the upright position.

A flight attendant for ATA Airlines recently asked a flier watching a movie midflight on the way to Hawaii to shut off his iPhone, not for the perfectly reasonable reason that the man was watching the inane Jennifer-Love Hewitt vehicle I Know What You Did Last Summer, but because you're not allowed to use cell phones inflight. Casey, the iPhone user, told Consumerist that he tried several times to explain to the flight attendant that the iPhone was in "airplane mode," with all the radios disabled. But the flight attendants did not accept that explanation, and continued to insist that FAA regulations prohibit talking on cell phones when the cabin door is closed, despite the fact that Casey wasn't actually talking and the fact they were over the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

As happens with these things, people got huffy, tempers flared, and Casey eventually found himself talking to a few bemused policemen in Hawaii. He reported that the flight attendant changed his story several times, first telling police that the airplane wasn't shielded for any type of electronic device (although apparently everybody else's MP3 players were fine), then telling police the plane wasn't shielded for "ONLY (emphasis his) phones in airplane mode." Casey was allowed to go, and apparently was not sentenced to watch Heartbreakers in its entirety to get a better sense of what might have provoked the flight attendant.

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First of all, "airplane mode" doesn't appear to be a universally defined state of being by the FCC, FAA, the airlines or the mobile phone industry, and perhaps it should. Apple's Web page on the iPhone's airplane mode clearly states, "If you turn on airplane mode, the wireless features of iPhone are disabled, and if allowed by the aircraft operator and applicable laws and regulations (emphasis mine), you can continue to use the non-wireless features after takeoff.

http://www.news.com/8301-13579_3-9796512-37.html

Looks like Apple needs to educate the airlines who need to educate their FA's. Hey at least they didn't kill him.

[PDJane]

1. Oh, for crying out loud...........

These folks need less to do, or more to do, or less authority, or something.

[mondo joe]

2. How idiotic. I use my iPhone in Airplane mode on fligts - never a problem. But look at the laptops

open, with - presumably - their WiFi turned off. There are SO many potential WiFi devices in use on airplanes, it's stupid to pick on the iPhone.

[bullwinkle428]

3. I'm sure Apple will do something, as it will be seen as "bad publicity"

for the iPhone, but it all stems from the ignorance of the airlines/TSA regulations. Their new marketing campaign centers around the fact that the all-in-one capability allows you to leave everything else at home. I'd love to get one, but restrictions like this would make me, the average consumer, think twice about it.

[mondo joe]

6. It shouldn't be a real restriction. An iPhone in Airplane mode is just as compliant as a

laptop with is WiFi deactivated. In fact it's even easier to see that the iPhone has the WiFi deactivated.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

4. ahh, an airline asshole gets put in his place, warms my heart.

They need to start pressing charges against the storm trooper stewardesses of America who waste the time of the police with their power-tripping temper tantrums.

The thing I find the most stupid about the cell phone rule is I know a pilot, and she has phoned me from the cockpit while she is flying on her cell phone!

"Where are you?"
"About 20,000 feet a little east of Palm Springs, want to get together for dinner? I'm landing in about half an hour"

[MrCoffee]

5. "the storm trooper stewardesses of America"

:rofl:

[Spangle]

7. new tech, making people look stupid

Most likely she never paid attention to what these new phones can or can not do. I personally never thought about it, so I didn't realize those phones could do all that. It's a good think the phone makers planned ahead and made a off butten for the cell phone part of it.

She just went by the rule "no cell phone" and didn't use a bit of thought. With the cell phone turned off, it's a mph3 player, etc. And it's those rules that apply. But after she told him to turn it off, she does what it seems to be the norm for those in 'control' these days. Not back down, never back down, no matter what. The 'underling' must admit to their power in all things at that momment, or else.

If she has a stun gun, wanta bet she would have felt justified in using it? Talking back is no longer tollerated. Discussing your side of the story is always seen as talking back.

Soooo, she ended up looking even more stupid.