Fitbits and Air New Zealand?

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Fitbits and Air New Zealand?

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#1378778 3-Sep-2015 09:48

Bee: Going a bit off topic but if ALL the passengers on a plane left their devices on, would anything happen? would the pilot actually notice anything???

Just for the record, when I fly I do switch all my devices off but still think this rule is stupid.

Not sure about Bluetooth, but there was a Mythbusters episode a long time ago where they tested cellphones on aircraft. Basically they had to massively amplify the cellphone transmitter, and even then, only one band made a difference, but they did prove that theoretically it IS possible to interfere with the aircraft's navigation instruments with radio transmissions.

Besides, what, do you want to listen to 100 other people's cellphone conversations going on at once whilst you're flying from Auckland to Wellington? I don't.

So, no, the rules are not stupid.

graemeh

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#1378780 3-Sep-2015 09:54

davidcole: ha ha ha ha....remember people who think the internet is called google? And post in the the stuff/trademe comment sections?

Those must be the same people who "turn off" their laptops by shutting the screen and "turn off" their iphones in a similar way.

Talkiet

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#1378821 3-Sep-2015 10:13

Have you thought about asking Air New Zealand?

When I last challenged them about something in this area their chief pilot and safety officer personally wrote back with very well thought out answers.

Cheers -N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

Handsomedan

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#1378942 3-Sep-2015 11:20

I travel regularly from Auckland to Wellington on Air NZ and have never been challenged on my Fitbits.

I have a Charge and a Surge (depending on whether I want to wear a traditional watch or not) and on the Charge cannot turn off the Bluetooth functionality.

In saying that, it wouldn't be transmitting anyway as there's no receiver when my iDevices are all in Flight mode.

Cabin crew see me with one on, Ground crew see me with one on; nobody says a word.

If I could turn off Bluetooth, I most certainly would, in the same way i remove my headphones and pay attention when watching the in-flight safety briefing, despite having seen it thousands of times. It's courteous, it's part of the rules and it doesn't take much time.

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andrew027

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#1378976 3-Sep-2015 12:23

Fitbit themselves suggest asking the airline - their website says:

It is safe to take all Fitbit trackers through airport security. The scanning machine will not damage your tracker.
Contact your airline to determine if Personal Electronic Devices (PEDs) can be used during the flight.
Your Fitbit Bluetooth device utilizes Bluetooth Low Energy, which should be considered safe for most airlines.

nathan

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#1378991 3-Sep-2015 12:36

Handsomedan: I travel regularly from Auckland to Wellington on Air NZ and have never been challenged on my Fitbits.

I have a Charge and a Surge (depending on whether I want to wear a traditional watch or not) and on the Charge cannot turn off the Bluetooth functionality.

In saying that, it wouldn't be transmitting anyway as there's no receiver when my iDevices are all in Flight mode.

Cabin crew see me with one on, Ground crew see me with one on; nobody says a word.

If I could turn off Bluetooth, I most certainly would, in the same way i remove my headphones and pay attention when watching the in-flight safety briefing, despite having seen it thousands of times. It's courteous, it's part of the rules and it doesn't take much time.

surely it has to transmit to know that your iDevice is there or not

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Jase2985

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#1378999 3-Sep-2015 12:51

nathan:
Handsomedan: I travel regularly from Auckland to Wellington on Air NZ and have never been challenged on my Fitbits.

I have a Charge and a Surge (depending on whether I want to wear a traditional watch or not) and on the Charge cannot turn off the Bluetooth functionality.

In saying that, it wouldn't be transmitting anyway as there's no receiver when my iDevices are all in Flight mode.

Cabin crew see me with one on, Ground crew see me with one on; nobody says a word.

If I could turn off Bluetooth, I most certainly would, in the same way i remove my headphones and pay attention when watching the in-flight safety briefing, despite having seen it thousands of times. It's courteous, it's part of the rules and it doesn't take much time.

surely it has to transmit to know that your iDevice is there or not

or maybe your idevice transmits to query the fitbit? the fitbit is in standby untill its polled for info?

i dont think the fitbits transmit first, i think they get polled for information by what ever device wants to know

Handsomedan

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#1379073 3-Sep-2015 13:56

Jase2985:
nathan:
Handsomedan: I travel regularly from Auckland to Wellington on Air NZ and have never been challenged on my Fitbits.

I have a Charge and a Surge (depending on whether I want to wear a traditional watch or not) and on the Charge cannot turn off the Bluetooth functionality.

In saying that, it wouldn't be transmitting anyway as there's no receiver when my iDevices are all in Flight mode.

Cabin crew see me with one on, Ground crew see me with one on; nobody says a word.

If I could turn off Bluetooth, I most certainly would, in the same way i remove my headphones and pay attention when watching the in-flight safety briefing, despite having seen it thousands of times. It's courteous, it's part of the rules and it doesn't take much time.

surely it has to transmit to know that your iDevice is there or not

or maybe your idevice transmits to query the fitbit? the fitbit is in standby untill its polled for info?

i dont think the fitbits transmit first, i think they get polled for information by what ever device wants to know

that was always my understanding...

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Talkiet

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#1379104 3-Sep-2015 14:25

I don't get the point of discussing this when safety, what actually happens, or what Fitbit say mean literally nothing compared to Air New Zealands policy/response.

OP, if you actually care, ask Air New Zealand. Listening to any other advice here is like taking legal advice from Trademe message boards.

Cheers - N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

nicks

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Master Geek
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#1379522 4-Sep-2015 09:00

I've flown Air New Zealand dozens of times wearing my Fitbit Surge, both domestically and internationally. I've never turned it off and never been asked to. I also wear it through security no issues.

CruciasNZ

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#1379527 4-Sep-2015 09:11

Talkiet: I don't get the point of discussing this when safety, what actually happens, or what Fitbit say mean literally nothing compared to Air New Zealands policy/response.

OP, if you actually care, ask Air New Zealand. Listening to any other advice here is like taking legal advice from Trademe message boards.

Cheers - N

I already have, but as they take ages to reply thought I'd also ask here - see if someone has asked before me

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eXDee

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#1379560 4-Sep-2015 09:53

Bee: Going a bit off topic but if ALL the passengers on a plane left their devices on, would anything happen? would the pilot actually notice anything???

Just for the record, when I fly I do switch all my devices off but still think this rule is stupid.

Considering they don't even let you take liquids, nail clippers or anything else that might conceivably or inconceivably harm the use of the plane, its instruments or people on it, if they were actually a major risk then you wouldn't be allowed them on the flight.
However, i hope when they finally allow the use of portable devices without switching off their radios, that they ban the use of any audio or video conversation as a rule of courtesy.

xpd

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#1379629 4-Sep-2015 11:48

XPD / Gavin

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#1379644 4-Sep-2015 12:05

markl:
So, no, the rules are not stupid.

I would argue that the rules - or at least their application - are pretty stupid:

If there is genuinely no danger posed by the use of transmitting electronic devices, then they should either be allowed period or airlines should be honest about their policies behind controlling such things if they are still prohibited. I can of course understand the safety aspect of having people put away and/or disable larger devices and indeed all devices if it means less cabin detritus and that they focus fully on their environment during take off and landing or other phases of the flight where passenger attention/distraction is crucial.

If however the use of transmitting devices poses a genuine risk to the safe operation of the airplane (or indeed if there is any room for doubt either way) then all airlines are effectively wilfully negligent in their duty of care to passengers by permitting these devices on-board at all, given that they do not ensure that each and every device on board is identified, accounted for and switched off or put into flight mode. It is commonplace for people to ignore this part of the safety briefing completely or indeed just forget that the iPad in the overhead isn't on flight mode etc.

Jase2985

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#1379782 4-Sep-2015 14:29

xpd:

i question weather that is th best place to get an accurate answer on such a technical question or if its just some social media liason just reading from somewhere with out actually consulting a higher more knowledgeable authority

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