A call from the clouds?

631 published comments with 41 censored.

Should airlines allow passengers to use mobile phones?

Emirates are to trial technology that will allow passengers to use mobile phones on their flights, potentially from January 2007.

Ryanair will begin a similar service as of mid-2007, looking to charge calls at a comparable international rate, and encouraging those who would use it to switch their phones to silent or vibrate as a courtesy to other passengers.

Have you ever had to make a call mid-flight? Would you use an airline because you could make a call on their plane? Or do you just plain hate listening to other people's phone conversations?

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The following comments were censored from this thread on the BBC's 'Have Your Say' section of their news website.

A call from the clouds?

Written by Maledicti on Wed Nov 08 12:44:33 UTC 2006. 0 recommendations.

Sproutaholic - yes there are such things as mobile jammers but you can't get them in the UK although they're readily available on t'interweb. They block mobile signals within about a10metre radius of the transmitter, I've got one and have used it very effectively on the train. Bliss! Now all I need is one that will stop those annoying kids on the bus playing that awful music on their phones all the way into town.

As for air travel - I'd happily switch airlines!

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A call from the clouds?

Written by johnboy41 on Wed Nov 08 12:43:25 UTC 2006. 0 recommendations.

I'd rather fly BA than Ryan Air on the basis that they maintain thier planes, have enough resources to cover any delays and aren't full of Chavs!

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A call from the clouds?

Written by Freesky on Wed Nov 08 13:17:27 UTC 2006. 0 recommendations.

What a load of bunk. According to the offical story of 911, mobile calls were allegedly made from all 4 aircraft. The fact is, that these calls never happened.

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A call from the clouds?

Written by leftwing on Wed Nov 08 13:41:02 UTC 2006. 0 recommendations.

I never use my mobile on a plane and so will go for a flight with the best service at the best cost.

BBC you won't let me post about Bush on the other thread so here goes.

I am happy G Bush and his party have lost the recent elections. I hope in the real elections their party will lose so the world will become more peaceful again. Hopefully his buddy Blair will go too.

What will Bush do next? He will probably invade the evil Iranians.

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A call from the clouds?

Written by leftwing on Wed Nov 08 13:53:33 UTC 2006. 0 recommendations.

I didn't realise this has become another terrorist debate.

May be the right wingers would want all Muslims to fly on different planes from themselves. Then hey presto no terrorism. Arpatheid in air travel.

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A call from the clouds?

Written by robertsharr on Wed Nov 08 14:16:15 UTC 2006. 1 recommendations.

Come on chaps lets stop tip-toing around the truth of the matter - As we all know the worst
mobile bores are women. Men generally use
a phone to impart of receive some necessary piece of information and then hang up It is the girlies who annoy people by jabberin on inanely about anything that comes into their tiny little minds. So perhaps the answer is to restrict mobile use on planes to men.

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A call from the clouds?

Written by thekebabmonster on Wed Nov 08 14:21:18 UTC 2006. 2 recommendations.

"Come on chaps lets stop tip-toing around the truth of the matter - ...It is the girlies who annoy people by jabberin on inanely about anything that comes into their tiny little minds. So perhaps the answer is to restrict mobile use on planes to men."
Robert Sharr, London,

Or are you just a misogynist bigot whose car is a manhood-substitute? Hey - this is a conversation we all had yesterday. btw, women aren't impressed with people like you. Your chances of getting a girlfriend are about 0%.

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A call from the clouds?

Written by Theresa_Greene on Wed Nov 08 14:24:26 UTC 2006. 2 recommendations.

"So perhaps the answer is to restrict mobile use on planes to men."
Robert Sharr, London, United Kingdom

When you grow up, you might be able to use one then. As for you having a girlfriend - hahaha. Give me Tony Blair any day, he's dreamy.

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A call from the clouds?

Written by Webstu1234 on Wed Nov 08 14:36:59 UTC 2006. 0 recommendations.

Give me Tony Blair any day, he's dreamy.

Theresa Greene, Reading, Berks.

The men in white coats will be here shortly to pick you up.

I have just had a rather pleasing thought, if as a result of this new service all ryanair flights are filled with terrorists and chavs then we could kill two birds with one stone. We would obviously have to shoot them down over sea as a precaution to make sure no innocents were injured.

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A call from the clouds?

Written by conifertree on Wed Nov 08 14:45:01 UTC 2006. 0 recommendations.

JACKIE SCOTT

"Scottish Jackie" is the one who eats pies and chips...you've blundered badly there...you are " Scottish Jackie".

Caught you !

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A call from the clouds?

Written by brother_bigg on Wed Nov 08 14:42:25 UTC 2006. 0 recommendations.

SALLY THONG:

When I've had my
Pies
Chips
Beans
Pizza
Crisps
Chicken Nuggets....

....you wouldn't want to be next into the loo after me to make any phone calls..

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A call from the clouds?

Written by spotlesslyclean on Wed Nov 08 14:51:24 UTC 2006. 1 recommendations.

This is another hapless HYS. Has someone gone on holiday?

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A call from the clouds?

Written by Webstu1234 on Wed Nov 08 15:04:42 UTC 2006. 1 recommendations.

I am suprised that no one has blamed immigrants on this latest outrage!

leftwing lefty, United Kingdom

I do but didn't think I was allowed to post it.

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A call from the clouds?

Written by Tablelegspeaker on Wed Nov 08 15:59:12 UTC 2006. 0 recommendations.

Ugh, that was one bad typo.
*disguised.

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A call from the clouds?

Written by the3rdrule on Wed Nov 08 17:21:09 UTC 2006. 0 recommendations.

This has got to be the most timewasting load of drivel for a have your say subject, theres enough hell going on to discuss, come on beeb get a GRIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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A call from the clouds?

Written by John_Chang on Wed Nov 08 17:19:02 UTC 2006. 0 recommendations.

"I shall use my mobile only to ring Gordon Brown to tell him I'm not coming back!"
Brian, Cambridge UK

Naff off them and have fun with what little you'll save not paying UK taxes.

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A call from the clouds?

Written by thekebabmonster on Wed Nov 08 18:05:42 UTC 2006. 2 recommendations.

"NO Smoking, Calls NOT allowed!"
Ngwasi Chibikom, Portland, Oregon, United States

How about smoking allowed, Chibikoms banned? Why does being a sanctimonious judgmental knee-jerk freak have to go with being a non-smoker?

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A call from the clouds?

Written by John_Chang on Wed Nov 08 18:50:22 UTC 2006. 0 recommendations.

I think Chav is an orrible term-o-phrase. Tio Terry, Epsom, United Kingdom, people will be saying you are a Chav (common oik/prole/etc.) because of the Burberry.

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A call from the clouds?

Written by John_Chang on Wed Nov 08 18:49:03 UTC 2006. 0 recommendations.

Now that Donald Rumsfeld has resigned, maybe he'll have time to explain how calls were made from the doomed flights...

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A call from the clouds?

Written by TioTerry on Wed Nov 08 18:48:40 UTC 2006. 1 recommendations.

Can someone please explain to me just what a Chav is? My teenage nephews tell me it's someone who wears a Burberry shirt but there must be more to it than that! I've seen reference to Chav's in a number of HYS's and don't know what people are talking about.

P S I wear Burberry shirts.

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A call from the clouds?

Written by PropogandaMatrix on Wed Nov 08 19:05:45 UTC 2006. 0 recommendations.

The problems are related to the speed the aircraft moves between cells and the response speed of the system.Tio Terry, Epsom, United Kingdom

Then Terry I'm sure you'll back me up when I say that in rural areas (where Flight 93 was shot down) there are very few cells - and therefore zero chance of "cell hand-off" being completed successfully. Especially at 36000 feet.

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A call from the clouds?

Written by TennSteve on Wed Nov 08 19:02:43 UTC 2006. 0 recommendations.

"Can someone please explain to me just what a Chav is? I've seen reference to Chav's in a number of HYS's and don't know what people are talking about."
Tio Terry, Epsom, United Kingdom

And while you're at it, what is a Yob that is so often referred to here?

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A call from the clouds?

Written by lightnmkm on Thu Nov 09 09:17:07 UTC 2006. 1 recommendations.

It is like allowing mobiles in hospitals, cinemas and resturants - because more or less on a long flight you watch movies and served meals and can take naps! Annoying to say the least

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A call from the clouds?

Written by CMBNLD on Wed Nov 08 14:31:08 UTC 2006. 0 recommendations.

"It's a bit like Smoking."
No it is not. And the sooner you can have a fag on those awful transatlantic flights, the better it will be.

Martin R, London

Yes, that's what I want, I don't smoke myself, but I really really do want to be trapped for hours on end having to breath in foul and harmful smoke.

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A call from the clouds?

Written by thekebabmonster on Wed Nov 08 14:42:03 UTC 2006. 0 recommendations.

"Yes, that's what I want, I don't smoke myself, but I really really do want to be trapped for hours on end having to breath in foul and harmful smoke."
David H, Here and there, United Kingdom

Yet it's OK for you to impose your wishes on him and yet not his on you. Typical anti-smoking double-standards at work. I call that a foul and harmful attitude. Since when did the anti-smoker get to feel such entitlement from the world? (Better avoid the streets - cars give out foul and harmful smoke!)

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A call from the clouds?

Written by tri_Cool_2 on Fri Nov 10 18:50:53 UTC 2006. 0 recommendations.

"But seriously, smoking fags causes neff all pollution compared to your house. If you really think the way to reduce pollution is by stopping people smoking, you are
so seriously mistaken it's very funny.

John Chang, Glasgow"

Martin R started the pollution idea, Smoking is annoying for non smokers, in the same way that the use of mobiles is for those that don't. I always find it hilarious how smokers try to justify their addiction.

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A call from the clouds?

Written by John_Chang on Fri Nov 10 18:47:56 UTC 2006. 0 recommendations.

'That isn't the point. By smoking, which will be banned, you are adding to the pollution levels that can be avoided. As for the cars, I don't drive. Do you?'
Tri Cool

Not if I can help it (don't have a car). But seriously, smoking fags causes neff all pollution compared to your house. If you really think the way to reduce pollution is by stopping people smoking, you are
so seriously mistaken it's very funny.

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A call from the clouds?

Written by TRI_COOL on Fri Nov 10 18:44:29 UTC 2006. 0 recommendations.

"Like the occasional cig is ANYTHING compared to the fumes from driving a car to work. Tri-Cool, Nosmo, surely you'll have to agree with Martin - you are the ones who have smoking out of perspective.

Because it is now socially acceptable to treat smokers like pariahs... amongst some non-smokers anyway. Charming.

John Chang, Glasgow"

That isn't the point. By smoking, which will be banned, you are adding to the pollution levels that can be avoided. As for the cars, I don't drive. Do you?

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A call from the clouds?

Written by Synergisme on Fri Nov 10 18:43:06 UTC 2006. 0 recommendations.

the issue here is cell phones not somking, luckily both are band on planes as yet

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A call from the clouds?

Written by John_Chang on Fri Nov 10 18:41:45 UTC 2006. 0 recommendations.

Like the occasional cig is ANYTHING compared to the fumes from driving a car to work. Tri-Cool, Nosmo, surely you'll have to agree with Martin - you are the ones who have smoking out of perspective.

Because it is now socially acceptable to treat smokers like pariahs... amongst some non-smokers anyway. Charming.

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A call from the clouds?

Written by Martin_in_London on Fri Nov 10 18:59:03 UTC 2006. 0 recommendations.

"Martin R started the pollution idea, Smoking is annoying for non smokers, in the same way that the use of mobiles is for those that don't. I always find it hilarious how smokers try to justify their addiction."
Tri Cool

The same kind of way zealous non-smokers are annoying when they exaggerate the contribution of smoking to global warming yet never complain about bonfire smoke! I'm not justifying my addiction - I'm condemning your double standards, inconsistency and prejudice.

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A call from the clouds?

Written by thekebabmonster on Fri Nov 10 19:05:08 UTC 2006. 0 recommendations.

Tri-cool, you are so funny - you started the pollution bleat yourself:

"I have to agree with Nosmo. A lot of smokers start bleating that there are other forms of air pollution, but fail to realise they contribute extra in most cases, by smoking. Ho hum, never the twain....

Tri Cool"

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A call from the clouds?

Written by tri_Cool_2 on Fri Nov 10 19:02:11 UTC 2006. 0 recommendations.

"The same kind of way zealous non-smokers are annoying when they exaggerate the contribution of smoking to global warming yet never complain about bonfire smoke! I'm not justifying my addiction - I'm condemning your double standards, inconsistency and prejudice.

Martin R, London"

I did not mention Global Warming. You are proving my point that smokers will try to justify their addiction, and start making things up about what others say.

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A call from the clouds?

Written by Not_Jack_No on Fri Nov 10 19:30:07 UTC 2006. 0 recommendations.

"Two things I hate most - people who do not stick to the topic, and bullies who terrorise smokers when car fumes are just as lethal and far more plentiful than ciggy smoke.

[natomas], Denny, United Kingdom"

One thing I hate the most, people who are wonkers.

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A call from the clouds?

Written by TennSteve on Fri Nov 10 19:21:37 UTC 2006. 1 recommendations.

Wouldn't it be cool if BBC changed this particular HYS to "would you use your mobile on an aeroplane?"

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A call from the clouds?

Written by natomas on Fri Nov 10 19:21:06 UTC 2006. 1 recommendations.

I have to agree with Nosmo. A lot of smokers start bleating that there are other forms of air pollution, but fail to realise they contribute extra in most cases, by smoking. Ho hum, never the twain....

Tri Cool

Two things I hate most - people who do not stick to the topic, and bullies who terrorise smokers when car fumes are just as lethal and far more plentiful than ciggy smoke.

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A call from the clouds?

Written by Russ_Limbaugh on Fri Nov 10 19:19:17 UTC 2006. 0 recommendations.

Bleating and terpentine are both real biased activities. I'm sure there are many Dem leftists out there who would like nothing more than to see our youth bleating and terping instead of being aware and prepared for the dangers of international terrorism. This is what passes as thinking among our flip flop flippity flop friends on the left. This bunch must be kept out of power or we'll have Baathists on the streets just like President Bush keeps warning.

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A call from the clouds?

Written by thekebabmonster on Fri Nov 10 19:12:23 UTC 2006. 1 recommendations.

And Tri-Cool and Nosmo, just so you are really clear, I do not smoke but I do defend the right of people to smoke, drink and pour turpentine down their throats if that is what they choose to do. Why? Because I believe in freedom - and I am not at all sure that either of you do.

(And, you should both stop smoking, Martin and John - but you know that anyway - I guess? Not my business...)

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A call from the clouds?

Written by Russ_Limbaugh on Fri Nov 10 19:52:59 UTC 2006. 0 recommendations.

You'll be claiming wonking is not biased next. Don't.

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A call from the clouds?

Written by Martin_in_London on Fri Nov 10 19:36:26 UTC 2006. 0 recommendations.

"One thing I hate the most, people who are wonkers."
Not Jack No

An indirect foray into the smoking debate? Still a far cry from mobile use.

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A call from the clouds?

Written by TennSteve on Fri Nov 10 19:35:05 UTC 2006. 0 recommendations.

One thing I wonk most...people who are haters.

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