In a landmark decision yesterday by CASA, Qantas and Virgin Australia now both allow mobile phones, iPads, e-Readers – anything under a KG, to be used ‘gate-to-gate’ when flying on domestic services.
For the time-being, the use of mobile technology on flights is limited to “flight-mode” after take-off, which is fine, because there’s no point in keeping cellular services on – there’s no services 30,000 feet in the air in Australia .
However, what if that was to change with new accessibility and moreover, Government permission. Would passengers want to be surrounded by the excited chattering of holidaymakers or business folk cutting deals or berating staff for hours on end?
Research* by lastminute.com.au shows the majority of Australians are actually “opposed to a future of mobile phone use on planes for making phone calls while flying”.
In a survey of over 5700 Australians, 79% of travellers said they would not like a future where mobile phones were allowed to be used on flights, and 87% of travellers said they believed mobile phone use on flights would be disrespectful to others.
“The strong figures against mobile phone usage on flights highlight that – although we live in a 24/7 digital world – many people like the idea of the freedom of ‘switching off’ their phone while in the air and don’t necessarily want to have the temptation to switch on,” Lastminute spokesperson, Louise Ryan said.
It will be interesting to see if the same Aussies will resist temptation on switching off if (or more likely, when) mobile technology includes cellular services when in the air.
It’s actually surprising that only 89% of those surveyed admitted they travel with their mobile phones – which makes us wonder – do the other 11% not have a mobile phone at all?
From this lot, almost one-third (28%) admitted to being human in a digital world and said they feel anxious if they travelled without their phone.