There used to be a time, where dirty looks by flight attendants to last minute smartphone users were always evident moments before flight takeoff. The rule was that once the airplane door is closed, you were off your phone, period. Although there were many passengers who refused to abide by the rule, it appears that the rule is now changing for the better.
Airplane travelers will soon be able to watch videos and play games with their electronic devices throughout their entire flight — and not just above a certain altitude — the Federal Aviation Administration said Thursday in a long anticipated announcement.
But don’t expect to be chatting on your cell phone. A ban on using cell phones for voice communication remains in effect.
Until now, passengers in the United States were prohibited from using the devices until their plane rose above 10,000 feet. The timing of the changes will depend on individual airlines, but an FAA statement said it expects “many carriers will prove to the FAA that their planes allow passengers to safely use their devices in airplane mode, gate-to-gate, by the end of the year.”
“Each airline will determine how and when this will happen,” FAA administrator Michael Huerta told reporters at Reagan National Airport.
Discover which airline is leading the way allowing you to use your electronics during takeoff at DivasOnDestinations.com
