We’re currently seeing a bit of an inflight connectivity revolution, as airlines increasingly roll out Starlink Wi-Fi. Not only is this consistently free for passengers, but it also means that Wi-Fi can be enjoyed at speeds that are similar to what you’ll experience on the ground.
Broadly speaking, this is fantastic news, because what’s not to love about fast and free connectivity? However, I am increasingly seeing complaints about the service, including from people who don’t even use it. Issues seem particularly rampant on one airline…
In this post:
Is Starlink Wi-Fi ruining the “quiet cabin” concept?
Qatar Airways is one of the global airlines that’s the furthest along when it comes to installing Starlink Wi-Fi, as the airline now has this service on all Boeing 777s, and most Airbus A350s. For the most part, people are delighted by this service, with one frequent complaint — Starlink Wi-Fi makes the cabin loud.
By having free Wi-Fi that’s fast, you’re obviously going to greatly increase usage:
- You have more people sending and receiving messages, often without their alert tone muted
- You have more people watching videos without headphones, just as they’d otherwise do in public
Most airlines ban video and voice calls via Wi-Fi, even if the speeds can support it. Presumably this is because of the can of worms this opens up in terms of people making really loud calls. However, one exception is Qatar Airways, which allows passengers to make video and voice calls via inflight Wi-Fi.
I know some people will be shocked to hear this, but as it turns out, not everyone is very considerate of others. For example, here’s a complaint about this on FlyerTalk, which is one of many that I’ve seen:
This was my first time flying Qatar with Starlink, and I wish it wasn’t free. Flew DOH-IAH J last month and it detracted from the experience overall. One person mid flight was having a phone call on speakerphone, we had to get a flight attendant to tell that person to get off the phone. And throughout the flight you have jerks that just don’t know how to turn their phone on silent and we would hear pings.
What’s the best Wi-Fi policy for airlines to have?
It would drive me bonkers if I were on a long haul flight trying to sleep, and there were constantly chimes, people making phone calls on speakerphone, etc.
In theory, I’m all for airlines allowing video and voice calls on planes. If done correctly, one should be able to have these conversations at the same volume as if they’re talking to the person seated next to them, and sometimes it’s useful to be able to take a call. For that matter, it really elevates the productivity people can have on planes, if they can even attend a conference call, or whatever.
The problem is that no matter how often you announce over the PA to please respect other passengers, keep the volume down, and silent your devices, that doesn’t mean people will actually listen:
- Many people don’t realize that their voice when they’re making a call is way louder than their voice when talking to someone near them
- Many people just live in their own world, and aren’t bothered by the fact that the chimes or their elevated voice may inconvenience others
In theory, flight attendants should of course enforce the quiet cabin policy. However, sometimes that’s easier said than done:
- It can be hard to figure out where exactly a quick chime comes from, especially if many are going off in the cabin
- At airlines with high service standards and more of a culture of fear for frontline employees (like Qatar Airways), some flight attendants may be hesitant to confront some passengers, especially in premium cabins, worrying that a complaint will be filed
- At airlines without high service standards and/or a culture of fear, good luck getting some flight attendants to care enough to police the cabin 😉
I’m sort of chuckling at the thought of a flight between Miami and Latin America with Starlink Wi-Fi where voice and video calls are allowed. I think I’d rather stay home!
Bottom line
Airlines are increasingly introducing fast and free Wi-Fi, which is exciting… for the most part. The issue is that just as you’ll find on the ground, not everyone is great at showing basic courtesy toward others. And for the airlines that do allow video and voice calls, that adds an additional layer of complexity to this.
On the ground if someone is showing bad etiquette with how they use technology, you can typically just leave. That’s a little more complicated on a plane.
How do you see this situation evolving? And do you think airlines should allow video and voice calls inflight?
Can we use this as an opportunity to standardize policies of acceptable speaking volume (regardless of medium) during a flight. My last two flights I had people yelling at each other or just cheerfully talking to each other so loudly most of the flight. I asked the FAs to try and deescalate the yelling couple be they didn’t do much. I’d rather someone make a few quiet comments on a zoom call than listen to people speaking loudly the whole flight
This has just completely eliminated any desire I had to fly Qatar
How does talking to someone over the phone differ from talking to someone next to you, in terms of annoying people sitting nearby?
If there's no difference, then maybe the issue isn't the phone per se, but rather the volume of the conversation.
Listening to only one side of the conversation is subconsciously much more jarring than listening to a dialogue, in fact.
No. Absolutely not.
It must be annoying that you are taking a 10+ flight that you need to rest and somebody its in a call next to you loud.
I'm curious about the tech stack behind blocking video/voice calls. There is so much video/voice call software out there that people will always find a way to communicate, even using applications that were never designed for that purpose.
No. No. No.
I had that recently on a Qatar flight as well. In Biz class, a guy seating a row behind me and in the window (I was in the middle row) was on talking on the phone for the entire flight! And, at a volume that was equal to someone being alone in their apartment/home. It seems some people have ZERO clue (or just don't care) that there are other people around them. I think that...
I had that recently on a Qatar flight as well. In Biz class, a guy seating a row behind me and in the window (I was in the middle row) was on talking on the phone for the entire flight! And, at a volume that was equal to someone being alone in their apartment/home. It seems some people have ZERO clue (or just don't care) that there are other people around them. I think that there should be a no voice call policy. Should there be an emergency need for one then allow on very small case by case.
PS. This is why I love Japan. So quiet and peaceful when it comes to noise.
You can't complain about such behaviour if you can't be bothered to ask an FA, or the person directly, to ask the person to stop being an asshole.
HELL NO!