Bart Jansen, USA TODAY 3:56 p.m. EDT October 31, 2013
Airline passengers will be able to use their smartphones and other portable electronic devices with fewer restrictions under federal guidelines announced Thursday.(Photo: Cameron Spencer Getty Images)
[h=3]Story Highlights[/h]
Many airline passengers can't wait to make more use of their electronic gadgets now that the Federal Aviation Administration has moved to allow that. But business travelers expect some frustration at continuing restrictions against checking Internet connections such as email.
A survey released in May found that 99% of adult airline passengers carried at least one personal electronic device with them during the previous year, according to the Airline Passenger Experience Association and the industry group Consumer Electronics Association.
The most common gadgets used during flights are smartphones (28%), laptops (25%), tablets (23%), audio players (23%) and e-readers (13%), according to the survey. The national survey of 1,629 adults was conducted by landline and cell phones in December 2012.
TRAVELERS REJOICE: Many passengers look forward to greater use of their e-devices
"Airline passengers have come to rely on their smartphones, tablets and e-readers as essential travel companions," says Doug Johnson, vice president for technology policy at the Consumer Electronics Association.
Use of personal electronics has been prohibited while planes are less than 10,000 feet in the air while taking off and landing because of concerns about interference with the plane's navigational or communications equipment.
But FAA Administrator Michael Huerta announced Thursday that airlines will be able to allow electronics use from gate to gate after demonstrating there are no safety problems for each type of aircraft.
Internet connections will still be prohibited at less than 10,000 feet. Voice calls are prohibited during the entire flight.
Scott Riggs of Lees Summit, Mo., who is a chief operating officer for a management group, said through email from a Gogo wifi connection aboard an American Airlines flight that he loves the decision.
"It will allow me to read (Kindle or iPad) from gate to gate and use my PC offline," Riggs said.
Brian Waterson of Boston, a business operations consultant, says that while he uses his laptop on flights to catch up on work, he'll use his iPad for reading because it saves room in his carryon bag.
"This was very exciting news from the FAA, and I am looking forward to hearing more from the airlines on how this will be rolled out," Waterson says.
Jamie Clary, an author from Hendersonville, Tenn., calls it a "positive decision" for business and leisure travel.
"When traveling for fun, it allows my kids to keep watching their portable DVD player with headphones," Clary says. "That will be a benefit to passengers with kids and the passengers sitting near kids."
Susan Jacobsen of Washington, D.C., president of a media and executive search consultancy, says she passes time aloft reading a Kindle or watching DVDs and would enjoy using them from gate to gate. She already checks voicemail after landing to see what she's missed while in the air.
"I'll welcome the added entertainment distraction while approaching and departing gates," Jacobsen says.
The Global Business Travel Association says business travelers will appreciate being able to keep working throughout their flights.
"These busy road warriors will take every opportunity to stay connected with their customers and partners – the key to success," says Michael McCormick, the group's executive director.
Siggi Ahrens, a consultant from Fort Myers, Fla., will enjoy using a phone or tablet to read or listen to music.
"The downside is there are always some who push the envelope and call or connect," Ahrens says. "How that will be controlled remains to be seen."
Wider use of electronics raises some concerns.
Erik Pearson, a management consultant from Aurora, Colo., worries that passengers will use electronics during boarding and the safety presentation.
"The last thing I want to do is try to crawl over someone on the aisle seat using his laptop on the seatback tray during boarding trying to finish up that last little bit," Pearson says. "I think this will only increase passenger and flight crew frustration, and will further delay boarding."
Pearson usually reads on Kindle or a book during flights. "However, I am strongly contemplating the purchase of an iPad Air and may try to use that more for work," he says.
Airline passengers will be able to use their smartphones and other portable electronic devices with fewer restrictions under federal guidelines announced Thursday.(Photo: Cameron Spencer Getty Images)
[h=3]Story Highlights[/h]
- Road warriors hope to be able soon to use their e-devices while planes are taxiing, taking off and landing
- FAA's loosening of rules will help business travelers stay in touch
- 'It allows my kids to keep watching their portable DVD player with headphones,' one traveler says
Many airline passengers can't wait to make more use of their electronic gadgets now that the Federal Aviation Administration has moved to allow that. But business travelers expect some frustration at continuing restrictions against checking Internet connections such as email.
A survey released in May found that 99% of adult airline passengers carried at least one personal electronic device with them during the previous year, according to the Airline Passenger Experience Association and the industry group Consumer Electronics Association.
The most common gadgets used during flights are smartphones (28%), laptops (25%), tablets (23%), audio players (23%) and e-readers (13%), according to the survey. The national survey of 1,629 adults was conducted by landline and cell phones in December 2012.
TRAVELERS REJOICE: Many passengers look forward to greater use of their e-devices
"Airline passengers have come to rely on their smartphones, tablets and e-readers as essential travel companions," says Doug Johnson, vice president for technology policy at the Consumer Electronics Association.
Use of personal electronics has been prohibited while planes are less than 10,000 feet in the air while taking off and landing because of concerns about interference with the plane's navigational or communications equipment.
But FAA Administrator Michael Huerta announced Thursday that airlines will be able to allow electronics use from gate to gate after demonstrating there are no safety problems for each type of aircraft.
Internet connections will still be prohibited at less than 10,000 feet. Voice calls are prohibited during the entire flight.
Scott Riggs of Lees Summit, Mo., who is a chief operating officer for a management group, said through email from a Gogo wifi connection aboard an American Airlines flight that he loves the decision.
"It will allow me to read (Kindle or iPad) from gate to gate and use my PC offline," Riggs said.
Brian Waterson of Boston, a business operations consultant, says that while he uses his laptop on flights to catch up on work, he'll use his iPad for reading because it saves room in his carryon bag.
"This was very exciting news from the FAA, and I am looking forward to hearing more from the airlines on how this will be rolled out," Waterson says.
Jamie Clary, an author from Hendersonville, Tenn., calls it a "positive decision" for business and leisure travel.
"When traveling for fun, it allows my kids to keep watching their portable DVD player with headphones," Clary says. "That will be a benefit to passengers with kids and the passengers sitting near kids."
Susan Jacobsen of Washington, D.C., president of a media and executive search consultancy, says she passes time aloft reading a Kindle or watching DVDs and would enjoy using them from gate to gate. She already checks voicemail after landing to see what she's missed while in the air.
"I'll welcome the added entertainment distraction while approaching and departing gates," Jacobsen says.
The Global Business Travel Association says business travelers will appreciate being able to keep working throughout their flights.
"These busy road warriors will take every opportunity to stay connected with their customers and partners – the key to success," says Michael McCormick, the group's executive director.
Siggi Ahrens, a consultant from Fort Myers, Fla., will enjoy using a phone or tablet to read or listen to music.
"The downside is there are always some who push the envelope and call or connect," Ahrens says. "How that will be controlled remains to be seen."
Wider use of electronics raises some concerns.
Erik Pearson, a management consultant from Aurora, Colo., worries that passengers will use electronics during boarding and the safety presentation.
"The last thing I want to do is try to crawl over someone on the aisle seat using his laptop on the seatback tray during boarding trying to finish up that last little bit," Pearson says. "I think this will only increase passenger and flight crew frustration, and will further delay boarding."
Pearson usually reads on Kindle or a book during flights. "However, I am strongly contemplating the purchase of an iPad Air and may try to use that more for work," he says.