British Airways passengers will now be allowed to make phone calls on their flight, and even video calls. The update follows the airlines partnership with Elon Musk’s Starlink, which already allows passengers to stream movies and TV shows, shop online, and connect multiple devices.
Many airlines are turning to Starlink as it provides the fastest Wi-Fi on flights. Using 10,000 satellites, it has considerably improved the onboard internet experience.
The United Kingdom and Europe already have the luxury of making in-flight calls, which is typically discouraged as a noise courtesy rule. On the British Airways Starlink page, it clearly urges passengers to “please be considerate” while making phone calls and to “keep your voice low and use headphones.”
In the USA, making phone calls on board a flight is strictly forbidden. United Airlines has gone as far as to install a clause in its passenger contracts that gives the airline the right to remove a passenger from the plane if they don’t use headphones. Across the airline’s website, it urges passengers to bring their own headphones and follow the pre-flight instructions to ensure they can be used correctly.
Australians seem to have a high regard for courtesy on flights, compared to the UK and EU, as phone calls and video calls are banned on Australian airlines.
Virgin, Qantas, and Jetstar have made their own comments on the matter, all having a joint consensus that phone calls can not be made on the flight. Jetstar claims that there is “so much entertainment at your fingertips, you won’t mind!”
Virgin highlights the ill courtesy of making a phone call on flights, asking their passengers to “refrain from doing so, as a courtesy to other guests on board.” Qantas, following the same idea, does not permit phone calls on board to “ensure an enjoyable flight for everyone.”
Each airline offers in-flight entertainment, from seatback screens or entertainment on your own device via in-flight Wi-Fi, offering ample entertainment.
