In Flight Connectivity - No Escape

Sony PXC 450 Active Sound Reductions Head Phones

Before I went on holiday recently I saw a news item that TAP are introducing in-flight connectivity on their new trans-Atlantic route.  I have serious reservations about the prospect of becoming a captive audience in a plane for the duration of a long flight and recalled that I had once written about the advantages of being out of contact during flights.

A few years ago before Skype and smartphones I was asked by BT to write an article about the emerging trend of video conferencing and how it freed up Executive time by saving out-of-office visits and the neccessity of long-haul flights by enabling face to face (literally) meetings as well as team conference calls between international offices.  The Company I was consulting to then had offices all over the world in Australasia; the U.S.and over Europe and had embraced video conferencing enthusiastically.

Mobile phones were already giving 24/7 access to busy execs; thus aboard an aircraft was the only place then when an exec could get some down-time to themselves.  Flying provided valuable personal time, enabling people to catch up on think-time, plan ahead or just refresh mentally and just catch up on an inflight movie or read that novel unlooked at due to pressure of work.  In fact my client CEO at the time valued his trans-Atlantic and Australasian destination flights for those very reasons.

In today's world though with near addiction to use of Smart Phones, Tablets, Note Books and laptops the thought of in-air universal connectivity is not a happy one for me.  Forgive me if I suggest that the associated babel of several hundred people accessing the internet and smart phone in an aluminium tube is not too attractive.  And that's just the business people; add the potential for the noise from kids playing games on-line and families "phoning home or ahead", then you may understand why I cannot feel overjoyed by the planned introduction by TAP of Internet OnAir service in-flight connectivity on their Airbus A330 transatlantic routes, or indeed by any other airline.  BA's transatlantic business only flight from the City Airport would be an exception but I am not likely to fly that route....  .

Its no wonder that there are now quiet zone carriages on many rail routes.  However even in these carriages people ignore the quite zone signs - Aaargh!.  One wonders what your thoughts are on enjoying the cheek-by-jowl company of a motor mouthed person from Gatwick to JFK in the brave new world of  24/7 connectivity and no place to hide electronically. Personally I am thinking of investing in those (very) expensive sound reduction earphones above.

 By all means comment!