Phones on flights

[JoePublic]

Dull question I'm afraid, but does anyone know if I'll be able to listen to MP3s on my phone during a transatlantic flight? I presume not, but wasn't sure... It's only 9 hours or so, but my boredom threshold is about 30 seconds.

[redtwin]

Use airline/offline mode if your phone has it. If not, just remove the SIM card.

[johnnywgk]

Worst i'm going on holiday thread i've heard today.

[jhfozzy]

Completely off during take-off and landing and offline mode (if you've got it) when airborne are the instructions by the cabin crew on every flight I've been on.

Edited by jhfozzy on Thursday 12th November 16:53

[JoePublic]

johnnywgk said:

Worst I'm sat in the office thinking about going on holiday in a few weeks comment I've heard today.

EFA

Actually finally got a replacement mobile after using an ancient one with no MP3 capability for ages. Just bought a large memory card for it to start transfering huge numbers of tunes (partly for the trips over the next couple of months...) and wondered if I'd actually be able to use it.

Removing the sim sounds like a good idea as this one doesn't have a flight mode. I'm not going to argue with the cabin crew - will turn it off if they object - but I guess it will at least be safe to find out this way. Not that I believe a mobile will ever really bring down an airliner any more than it'll cause a petrol station to go up in flames...

[johnnywgk]

As long as the sim is out can't you just keep it out of sight, then show them the sim if they ask.

[Puggit]

I don't believe taking the SIM out will make the phone compliant.

The phone will still be capable of making emergency calls, and so presumably will still be finding and locking in to a network - ie using it's wireless capability.

I can't believe a modern phone doesn't have a flight mode either? For instance my Nokia 5800 doesn't have a flight mode setting as such, but you can simply change the profile to 'offline' instead.

[jhfozzy]

JoePublic said:

Removing the sim sounds like a good idea as this one doesn't have a flight mode.

Some phones still allow you to make emergency phonecalls after taking the sim out.

As mentioned, most modern phones have a flight / offline mode, what model have you got?

Hold down the power off button temporarily and see what options it gives you.