It’s a feature that all phones have: airplane mode. Have you ever wondered why it is essential to activate it during a flight?
It’s an instruction that all passengers have heard at least once during a flight: activate airplane mode, from takeoff to landing. Obligatory at altitude, this imperative is nevertheless a gesture that few people question. It is even quite misunderstood and it is not uncommon for travelers to forget to activate it more or less deliberately: almost 30% of them forget to activate it.
However, neglecting this rule can have serious consequences. If the flight attendants strongly encourage you to activate airplane mode, it is indeed for a very specific reason and not just to avoid inconveniencing other passengers with the noise pollution of the notifications. But what is the goal and what exactly are we risking?
First, you should know that airplane mode cuts the search for networks on the cell phone. Once activated, cannot connect to Internet, 4G/5G network, Bluetooth and GPS. As a result, many applications no longer work on your screen.
In a plane, the objective is to prevent the waves sent by your phone from interfering and disrupting those received by the pilots. The risk of jamming their radio is tangible, and can have serious consequences. If the pilots cannot receive the necessary information during takeoff or landing, a very smart person would be the one who could predict the sequence of events.
The risk of a plane crash due to forgotten airplane mode remains exceptional, but there is still another reason why you should activate it… Leaving your phone on as if nothing had happened can be a costly mistake. Because yes, by forgetting airplane mode, your laptop will continually look for a network to connect to. In addition to wasting battery power by searching the airwaves, it may even be able to pick up the mobile network of a foreign country, if your plane is not too high in the sky.
If your mobile plan is not suitable, there is a good chance that you will receive an unexpected telephone bill: these are roaming charges. By connecting to the network of a foreign operator, your phone will generate charges, which may vary depending on the country visited.
Since 2017, the European Union has put an end to roaming charges between member countries, but foreign countries will probably not spare you. From a few cents to several hundred euros, fees differ from one country to another and can be more or less damaging. A great travel gift that you don’t expect to arrive anytime soon…