Smartphones have now become an integral part of everyday life. Especially in boring moments, such as during the train ride or in the waiting room, the all-round devices provide the necessary pastime. The long-held opinion was that cell phones should be banned on airplanes, as cell phones, but also tablets or notebooks, could cause problems with the aircraft electronics. You will now be asked to switch on airplane mode.

But what happens if you forget the airplane mode? Is using cell phones on a plane dangerous? Or are you allowed to use mobile devices while flying?

Forgot flight mode on the plane: Does it crash?

The manufacturers of mobile phones have built in flight mode, their own option for the time during the flight. In flight mode, the device can only be used as a multimedia device, but phone calls or surfing are suppressed. However, there are no dramatic effects if you do not activate flight mode. The plane’s electronics are not immediately disrupted and you don’t have to feel guilty about causing a plane crash.

• Already since mid-2014 allows the European Aviation Safety Authority (EASA) the use of electronic devices even without flight mode.
• While a cell phone was previously blamed for malfunctions in the on-board electronics, the latest view is that no connection can be established between technology failure and cell phone use.
• Although telephone calls do not interfere with the electronics, they can theoretically cause noise in the pilots’ headphones. To minimize risk and ensure perfect contact, the devices should be left off, especially during takeoff and landing.
• Even after the introduction of the new guidelines, this remains the case Telephone calls are prohibited on planes.
• The reason for this is less technical factors than the well-being of the passengers on the plane.
• For example, airlines say that the ban on making telephone calls on airplanes corresponds very clearly to customer wishes that have been repeatedly expressed (source: Consumer advice center).
• In addition, the mobile phone network is not designed for the usual flight altitudes, so making phone calls is rarely possible.
• Thanks to Picocells However, receiving and sending SMS and data is possible.

That’s why you should use airplane mode on an airplane

Many airlines even offer access to WiFi during the flight. With Lufthansa, mobile internet can be activated on long-haul aircraft by paying a fee. Since each airline regulates the use of cell phones and other electronic devices individually, you should ideally contact Lufthansa before departure. Condor etc. inquire.

The flight mode is not just intended to prevent pilots from disturbing noise. It is important for you to avoid falling into a cost trap. Even in high air, the smartphone can successfully dial into the data network. Depending on where you are flying and what kind of mobile phone contract you have, this can be very possible high roaming fees arise. This can also happen if you don’t use the smartphone at all and updates and other content from the smartphone are downloaded from the Internet in the background. In some cases, internet fees abroad are charged per megabyte, which can quickly result in a three to four-digit bill.