Phones on planes

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kiwifidget

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#324017 17-Feb-2026 07:32

I was lucky to get out of Wellington via plane on Sunday afternoon.

It seemed like the kind of weather where the margin for error is somewhat diminished.

This did not deter the man next to me from operating 2 phones, during and after takeoff, until cellphone reception disappeared at whatever height that happens.

As soon as reception came back, while descending before landing in Auckland, he was at it again.

Nothing important looking, just scrolling through Facebook videos. Constantly.

The cabin crew didnt notice obviously (they should have, he wasnt being subtle), and I chose not to alert them.

I chose not to, as he seemed to me, to be the sort of guy you shouldnt piss off if you have to sit next to them for the next hour.

Should I have been braver?

What would you have done?

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#3462073 17-Feb-2026 07:42

I see it every single flight I just ignore it now

Dingbatt

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#3462075 17-Feb-2026 07:54

What would I have done?

I would have brought it to the attention of the crew. But then in the past I have told people to “Turn your F…..g phone off” in a loud voice as well.

So to people who say “What’s the harm?”, unless you a dual rated avionics and telecommunications technician you probably aren’t qualified to assess the risk.

One cellphone okay? What about 10? Or 100? How about if he lit a cigarette?

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KiwiSurfer

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#3462078 17-Feb-2026 08:09

I understand the reason for it is not really about interference with the avionics etc, but more that having 300 phones at 30,000fts trying to connect to whatever cell towers might below it. Apparently an issue for old AMPS/TDMA/GSM but perhaps not so bad for CDMA/UMTS/LTE/NR. Which TBH makes far more sense than the old "the plane will crash if you use your phone" tale.

If people really want to, they can try. Won't be much use though above a certain flight level though.

Will be a non-issue at some point -- more and more aircrafts have wifi now. Even Air NZ has a domestic jet that they are trialling Starlink on which performed surprisely well when I flew on it some months ago. I'd say in 10 years time not having wifi on an aircraft would raise eyebrows and be cause for people to choose another airline etc.

Times are a changing.

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#3462079 17-Feb-2026 08:12

Phones do not actually interfere with the plane’s radios or navigation. However I hope the phone ban stays though. A plane full of people yelling into their phones would be awful. Some are such halfwits they’d probably be on speaker as well.

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#3462083 17-Feb-2026 08:26

And yet Boeing and Airbus both have OMBs (Operations Manual Bulletins) relating to cellphone interference, particularly in relation to Radio Altimeter anomalies.

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k1w1k1d

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#3462088 17-Feb-2026 08:39

Phones must be switched to flight mode on all Air New Zealand aircraft.

I believe the Civil Aviation Authority can fine you up to $2500?

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mudguard

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#3462089 17-Feb-2026 08:40

johno1234:

Phones do not actually interfere with the plane’s radios or navigation. However I hope the phone ban stays though. A plane full of people yelling into their phones would be awful. Some are such halfwits they’d probably be on speaker as well.

This is the issue for me. Whether it's safe or not I have no expertise. Because most of my flights were for work, the outbound was usually six am. So I'd look forward to shutting my eyes for ninety minutes or so as I'd got up at 3:30am. You can guarantee if phones were allowed (signal) you'd sit beside someone talking on speaker, or with notifications and a video playing full blast to get over the engine noise.

I have started using some truly awful swear words in the course of normal conversation when someone nearby is using their speaker for a calls.

freitasm

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#3462090 17-Feb-2026 08:45

mudguard:

I have started using some truly awful swear words in the course of normal conversation when someone nearby is using their speaker for a calls.

A bit off topic, but I blame Trump's The Apprentice for a majority of people talking on cellphones with it flat in front of them, mic close to their mouth and speakerphone on. That stupid program had to show us their stupid conversations so they had the phone like that, instead of against your head, like a normal handset.

The rest are probably influenced by conspiracy theorists that tell you using the phone will fry your brains.

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#3462095 17-Feb-2026 08:59

freitasm:

A bit off topic, but I blame Trump's The Apprentice for a majority of people talking on cellphones with it flat in front of them, mic close to their mouth and speakerphone on. That stupid program had to show us their stupid conversations so they had the phone like that, instead of against your head, like a normal handset.

The rest are probably influenced by conspiracy theorists that tell you using the phone will fry your brains.

I've always wondered why people use their phones like that. I've never seen The Apprentice so was unaware that it originated there. That would indeed explain it!

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#3462097 17-Feb-2026 09:04

This reminds me of the time I was flying regularly from AKL-WGN and there were always politicians on the flights. Most were very polite and quite friendly.

One particular politician (still in the game today) was having a "very important call" when boarding and after they announced all phones needed to be off or in flight mode, he continued to speak loudly from his seat.

When being politely asked to get off the phone, he reiterated that this was a very important call.
Next request was slightly less polite, but still fair. He paused his call and loudly stated "Do you know who I am?" and continued talking on the phone.

The very quick and annoyed response was, "I know exactly who you are. You're the passenger that will be removed from this aircraft before we take off, if you don't hang up and put your phone in flight mode immediately!".

He looked around, quickly hung up, went quiet and the full plane spontaneously applauded.

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johno1234

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#3462101 17-Feb-2026 09:18

freitasm:

mudguard:

I have started using some truly awful swear words in the course of normal conversation when someone nearby is using their speaker for a calls.

A bit off topic, but I blame Trump's The Apprentice for a majority of people talking on cellphones with it flat in front of them, mic close to their mouth and speakerphone on. That stupid program had to show us their stupid conversations so they had the phone like that, instead of against your head, like a normal handset.

The rest are probably influenced by conspiracy theorists that tell you using the phone will fry your brains.

I thought it was the equally brainless Kardashians that popularised it. It's just the worst, isn't it?

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empacher48

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#3462114 17-Feb-2026 09:49

There is an issue at Auckland at the moment with GPS interference with aircraft while taxiing around the international airport.

From what I have heard is that it is being traced back to a recently installed 5G antenna.

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#3462119 17-Feb-2026 10:00

empacher48:

There is an issue at Auckland at the moment with GPS interference with aircraft while taxiing around the international airport.

From what I have heard is that it is being traced back to a recently installed 5G antenna.

This is 3 years old: https://www.aviation.govt.nz/safety/safety-education-and-advice/education/vector-magazine/vector-online/interference-to-gnss-receivers-highlights-vulnerability/

empacher48

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#3462135 17-Feb-2026 10:15

johno1234:

This is 3 years old: https://www.aviation.govt.nz/safety/safety-education-and-advice/education/vector-magazine/vector-online/interference-to-gnss-receivers-highlights-vulnerability/

And this which is updated every month and has been for the last 6 months.

F0222/26 FROM: 28 JAN 2026 04:56 TO: 27 FEB 2026 11:01
GNSS INTERFERENCE REPORTED BY SOME ACFT DURING TAXI BTN TAXIWAYS
A9 AND A10

Its a bit disconcerting taxiing around Auckland and your position error increases beyond 1Nm

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#3462199 17-Feb-2026 12:52

empacher48:

johno1234:

This is 3 years old: https://www.aviation.govt.nz/safety/safety-education-and-advice/education/vector-magazine/vector-online/interference-to-gnss-receivers-highlights-vulnerability/

And this which is updated every month and has been for the last 6 months.

F0222/26 FROM: 28 JAN 2026 04:56 TO: 27 FEB 2026 11:01
GNSS INTERFERENCE REPORTED BY SOME ACFT DURING TAXI BTN TAXIWAYS
A9 AND A10

Its a bit disconcerting taxiing around Auckland and your position error increases beyond 1Nm

Not sure why 5G would have anything to do with it. The band closest to GNSS is the 1800MHz band which has been in use for cellular since 2G (and is not used for 5G anywhere yet, to the best of my knowledge).

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