Anyone who travels very much shudders at the thought of being stuck on a long flight beside a chronic cell phone user. For North America, that has been banned by the authorities because calls on planes could interfere with ground based cell stations. However, newer technologies have changed all that. It is now possible to avoid such interference and it is likely that the bans will come down.
However, the good news is that the airlines need to invest in the technology for their planes and allow voice calls to be made. Many of them are reluctant to do that because of the customer service nightmare that could result.
Cell service is already allowed on planes in various other parts of the world, notably in parts of Europe, the Middle East and Asia. The experience there is that most cell phone users use text and email rather than voice, at least in part and maybe largely because voice calls are treated as international data roaming charges and anyone who has been stuck with an international data roaming cell phone bill knows what that is all about. The rates are scandalously high.
Airlines will be able to allow texting and other data usages of cell phones and block voice communications. There's a pretty good chance that they will do just that. There's a very strong demand for texting, internet and other data usage on flights, but a lot of resistance about voice calls.
So right now we are entering into a time of change and many travellers will be watching what happens with bated breath. Here's a great article on the subject.
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