Greetings,

 http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/hang_up

CHATTER, CHATTER, CHATTER ...... HEADACHE!

By Melanie Seymour

MEC Communications Chair

Not surprisingly, all that oil money has enabled Emirates Airline to specially equip its planes to offer a new service to its passengers, mobile phone usage during flight. International carriers like Air France and KLM are ready to allow passengers to use their cell phones anytime throughout the flight. This includes destinations to the 17 European Union countries.   Trips of both short and long duration.  Once again we find ourselves walking the fine line of what will best serve our customers and what will be a headache and potential safety problem for Flight Attendants.

Now I must say that it’s been pointed out to me that I would not know how to drive without talking on the phone at the same time, cooking, walking, and breathing ... ditto.  I am a cell phone junkie. But are cell phones safe to use on planes? Are they so intrusive that most customers will be more annoyed with this change than pleased? In 2006, business travelers were surveyed and 61% said they were opposed to using their cell phones during flight. But the times they are a changin’.

Currently two U.S. government agencies have banned cell phone and wireless internet usage while in flight, the FAA and the FCC. Both are wavering if not totally capitulating. Apparently if the European Union says it's ok that's good enough for them. Further, an FCC Commissioner dismissed concerns about the very real annoyance factor by saying "We'll let others work out the details of etiquette". For any of us who have had to referee two grown men fighting over an armrest, we can see how well that will work.

Personal experience has taught me that asking passengers to discontinue cell phone conversations so that we can prepare to takeoff has elicited rolled eyeballs and nasty comments, while those seated near the caller wanted to applaud.

Thankfully, some in Congress want to insure that the ban on cell phone use stays in place and have introduced a bill called the HANG UP ACT.

Our U.S. airlines have many hurdles in their path already, and the majority of the traveling public does not want this service. Let's support the HANG UP ACT, H.R. Bill 5788. All you have to do is go to the following link: http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/hang_up It’s as easy as writing your name.