Airplane Mode Policies

Discussions focus on airline rules requiring airplane mode on personal devices during flights, permissibility of WiFi and Bluetooth especially during takeoff and landing, and debates over whether electronics cause interference with aircraft systems.

📉 Falling 0.3x Hardware
2,584
Comments
20
Years Active
5
Top Authors
#2538
Topic ID

Activity Over Time

2007
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16
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19
2010
98
2011
137
2012
156
2013
225
2014
88
2015
106
2016
108
2017
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2018
137
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2020
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2022
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Keywords

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Sample Comments

lukan Mar 11, 2024 View on HN

People not turning on the airplane mode on their devices while in a plane. Sometimes they check (never happened to me though, but I avoid flying).

tajen Aug 31, 2017 View on HN

Wifi isn't forbidden on planes?

snazz Aug 23, 2020 View on HN

Do they put it in airplane mode to enforce that?

anvuong Sep 18, 2024 View on HN

I doubt you can receive any signal on the plane. In the airport maybe.

j2bax Sep 8, 2016 View on HN

Is Bluetooth discouraged on airplanes? I thought it was just the cellular transmission that is limited in airplane mode.

SoloLady Sep 17, 2016 View on HN

Will the AirPods be acceptable for use while on airline flights since airlines prohibit the use of WiFi devices?

AlfeG Oct 9, 2022 View on HN

All airline I've been travel, disable WiFi during takeoff and landing.

doctorstupid Nov 12, 2013 View on HN

Why is it that when flying, we are sometimes requested to put phones into flight mode before switching them off?

enraged_camel May 15, 2013 View on HN

Airplane mode should be 100% acceptable. The suspected interference is supposed to be caused by devices that broadcast "powerful" radio waves. Since airplane mode disables with the WiFi and the cellular antenna, it is impossible for the device to cause interference. At that point it becomes a completely self-contained mini-computer - probably much less harmful than, say, onboard television screens.

EastOfTruth Oct 30, 2021 View on HN

as much concern as 3g and 4g? I'm pretty sure that at least 1 person per flight left their phone ON... and I haven't heard of any issues...