"As British Airways launches high-speed Starlink internet across the entirety of its fleet, the airline has announced that it will allow passengers to make and receive video and phone calls aboard their planes. The disappointment here is twofold: one, that we are willingly giving up the sanctity of the temporary isolation that flights offer, and allowing phones into them just like everywhere else; and two, that British Airways thinks all of its passengers can be trusted to enjoy this new privilege without foisting their voices and the tinny din of their devices upon those with whom they're sharing space."
"Think, dear reader, of the actor Matthew Rhys, who just this week gave an interview to the Wall Street Journal decrying, quite rightly, the lack of headphone use running rampant among video watchers in public spaces the world over. Even in the quiet car of the Amtrak Northeast Regional, from within which I write this rant, a person was watching America's Funniest Home Video-style highlights on Youtube at full volume, nary an earbud in use, until approached by the conductor and ordered to stop. On Mother's Day, on the Metro North, I sat inches from a woman playing slots on her phone, the jangling coin sound effects blaring."
"British Airways, for their part, make a plea on their website while outlining how they hope this will work: "Please be considerate." Guidance for potential video callers asks them to use headphones and speak in a low voice: "Please always use headphones when watching or listening to content on your device," they request, and so do I."
British Airways is rolling out high-speed Starlink internet across its fleet and allowing passengers to make and receive video and phone calls during flights. The change reduces the temporary isolation flights provide and increases the chance of audio disruption from devices. The concern centers on whether passengers will follow etiquette, especially headphone use and low-volume speaking. Examples of poor device behavior in public spaces include people watching videos at full volume without earbuds and others playing phone games with loud sound effects. British Airways asks passengers to be considerate, use headphones for any watching or listening, and speak in a low voice when making calls. The policy aims to manage shared cabin noise while enabling connectivity.
Read at Conde Nast Traveler
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