Have you ever wondered whether it is strictly necessary for plane passengers to wait until the plane stops before switching on their mobile phones? It certainly seems like a case of overkill and this perception isn’t helped by the fact that some airlines force you to do this while others don’t.
Well, the good news is that British Airways is the first of the European airlines to make the move towards having their passengers being able to switch on their phones as soon as the plane lands. The 1st of July is the date this new rule will come into force and it simply means that you can now switch on your electronic gadgets as soon as the plan has left the runway after landing.
It might not sound like a big difference but in large airports like Heathrow and Gatwick this can allow you a good few extra minutes to check your messages or phone a taxi.
No Safety Concerns
The reason the no phone use rule existed in the first place was to avoid interference with the plane’s electronics systems. However, the Civil Aviation Authority has now confirmed that there are no safety concerns over the use of mobile devices while the plane is in motion on its way to the terminal building.
The same rules for takeoff will stay in place, though. This means that you still need to wait to be given the go ahead to switch on; which comes once the plane has reached an altitude of 10,000 feet.
This change applies to British Airways flights between any airports in the world.
I think there's not much any big change to that rule. Cellphone use will always not be permitted while the plane is airborne.