# FAA to Allow Airlines to Expand Use of Personal Electronics **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 31, 2013, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faa-to-allow-airlines-to-expand-use-of-personal-electronics/672777 "2013-10-31T20:22:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2013, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faa-to-allow-airlines-to-expand-use-of-personal-electronics/672777/21 "2013-11-02T17:24:04Z")
And Alec can play Words With Friends!! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2013, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faa-to-allow-airlines-to-expand-use-of-personal-electronics/672777/22 "2013-11-02T19:46:45Z")
> [@LurkMeister](#): > > A minor point related to the rule summary: > > What else would you do with them besides hold them or put them in the seat back pocket? Juggle them? Balance them on top of your head? Means the passengers will be reminded that they still have to close up the tray table and stow the briefcase/backpack fully under the front seat. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2013, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faa-to-allow-airlines-to-expand-use-of-personal-electronics/672777/23 "2013-11-02T20:05:06Z")
> [@swampspruce](#): > > Even if you could ban them from calling midflight using thier phones, they could still use the airplanes’ Wifi (if so equipped) to Skype and blather inanely. I tried Southwest’s WiFi on a recent flight. Trust me, the bandwidth will not allow Skype use. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2013, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faa-to-allow-airlines-to-expand-use-of-personal-electronics/672777/24 "2013-11-03T16:07:03Z")
Well, we got the first controversy on this here in PR – JetBlue has embraced the decision effective immediately, systemwide. Delta, OTOH, has announced that it will follow it only for _domestic_ flights… and it classifies SJU as an “international” destination. Y’know, last time I looked it’s FAA people at the tower, TSA people at the checkpoint, ICE people at customs, no passport required between SJU and ATL… ---
**Author:** ![chizzuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chizzuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chizzuk)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2013, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faa-to-allow-airlines-to-expand-use-of-personal-electronics/672777/25 "2013-11-03T16:57:10Z")
> [@LurkMeister](#): > > A minor point related to the rule summary: > > What else would you do with them besides hold them or put them in the seat back pocket? Juggle them? Balance them on top of your head? Well, speaking only for myself, I bring an iPad on flights and set it on the tray table to watch movies. I wouldn’t be allowed to do that during takeoff and landing. Which doesn’t bother me at all, because I understand that the tray table creates an obstruction to myself and the others in my row in case of an emergency. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2013, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faa-to-allow-airlines-to-expand-use-of-personal-electronics/672777/26 "2013-11-03T23:50:50Z")
I hadn’t even considered the option of having your PED on the tray table during takeoffs and landings since the tray tables are supposed to be in the “up and locked” position at those times. As **chizzuk** rightly points out, they’re considered an obstruction in case of emergency. Although at least once I was sitting next to someone who was under the impression that this didn’t apply to him. IIRC, he also apparently hadn’t heard the announcement about turning off his cell phone before we pulled away from the gate, as the flight attendant had to tell him to do so - twice. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2013, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faa-to-allow-airlines-to-expand-use-of-personal-electronics/672777/27 "2013-11-04T17:50:10Z")
Y’know, that’s something I sort of fear - that this will even further embolden those with an addiction to speaking on the phone to someone every waking minute. “Well if he can keep reading his Kindle, I HAVE A RIGHT to be on the phone!! The airline can’t make a different rule for one device and not another IT’S MY RIGHT!!!” I’m dreading a bunch of missed connections because we have to pause to dump Mr. Cellphone Addict. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2013, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faa-to-allow-airlines-to-expand-use-of-personal-electronics/672777/28 "2013-11-04T18:28:48Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > I’m dreading a bunch of missed connections because we have to pause to dump Mr. Cellphone Addict. Just give MR. CA’s row-mates a roll of duct tape and a stungun and permission to solve the problem with no legal repercussions from TSA and it will rapidly cease to be an issue. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faa-to-allow-airlines-to-expand-use-of-personal-electronics/672777.md?page=1)