Jawahn Thompson asked:


In early 2007, OnAir will arrive. OnAir is a service that uses satellite technology to enable air travel passengers to use wireless devices such as mobile phones, Internet connections from computers and Blackberries during a flight. The debate over the use of wireless technology during flight has been going on for years, and now that it’s about to happen, the debate is likely to heat up.

First of all, you should know that the first wave of this will not be happening on US flights. Airbus, the plane manufacturer who is creating this technology, is selling it to AirFrance. AirFrance is expected to have the service available to passengers in early 2007. Whether passengers will have to pay for the service like they pay for headphones for a movie is not known yet. Two other airlines, the British airline bmi and TAP Air Portugal are both considering using OnAir, but nothing has been finalized, yet.

So what is the debate all about? Who wouldn’t want the convenience of using their cell phone during a long flight, getting important e-mails on their Blackberry or having the luxury of surfing the Internet to pass the time? Apparently, lots of people and for some very valid reasons.

The Safety Consideration

There has been an ongoing concern that the use of mobile phones (cell phones to us Americans) and other devices that use wireless technology could interfere with the plane’s navigational equipment. Recent technological advances in both navigational equipment and cell phone technology seem to negate this concern, but not everyone is convinced. There is concern that the navigational equipment on older planes may still be affected.

The Mobile Phone Debate

Okay, suppose the safety issue is taken care of and there is no concern that wireless communications technology will interfere with the plane’s navigational equipment. What objection is there to the use of mobile phone’s during a flight?

Surveys have shown that the majority of air travelers are against the use of mobile phones on an airplane because it would be downright annoying to sit next to someone who is receiving and making phone calls for hours on a flight. They imagine being stuck between two incessant talkers.

Common sense would seem to tell you that people wouldn’t really be so inconsiderate as to have hour’s long conversations on their mobile phone during a flight. But experience has shown us when it comes to mobile phones, most people loose their common sense. People will hold loud personal conversations in restaurants and grocery stores and on buses. They will drive using a handheld mobile phone even states where it has been made illegal. So does anyone really believe that people will use common sense and consideration during air travel? Not really.

It’s easy to see the scenario. Business people who intend to be considerate will receive what they deem to be a very important business call and end up talking longer than they expected. Or, a mom who just wants to check on her children for a minute will end up having to chat with each one of them before she can hang up.

It’s no wonder that air travel passengers are concerned that the use of mobile phones will become an annoyance during flights. They already are an annoyance down on the ground. Another concern some air travelers have will be the tension that all of this annoyance will create, perhaps making already jittery flyers more frustrated and pushing them over the edge.

Some people are already nervous just about flying. Add a cramped, overcrowded plane to the mix, the constant threat of terrorism, the restrictions on what can be carried on, and now the addition of an inconsiderate mobile phone user sitting right next to that nervous flyer, and someone might just snap.

What about Internet connection?

Travelers aren’t as adamantly against the use of Internet connections for computers and pda’s such as Blackberrys. Those devices are quiet. Many passengers already use their laptop computers on a flight; it’s just not connected to the Internet when they use it. Being able to send and receive e-mail messages while on a flight could be convenient to most people, particularly business travelers. There doesn’t seem to be much of a debate over these devices as long as safety is not a concern.

What Can be Done?

When should you start being concerned with this issue? As of right now, US carriers don’t seem to be considering using OnAir or any service like it. A report on MSN Travel said that the airlines that they asked AirTran, Spirit, and US Airways all said that they have heard their passengers say they don’t want mobile phones used on planes and are against adding the services. However, the question is, if these services do catch on in Europe and prove to be a money maker for the carriers who use it, will the US carriers jump on board? In an era of shrinking profits, will they be able to resist?

So if the trial that AirFrance is giving OnAir proves to be successful and the US carriers jump on board, what can be done to make sure that mobile phone usage does not become a problem on board?

One solution is to have no cell phone usage times. Perhaps next to the little light above your seat that lets you know if you need to have your seat belt fastened or not, there could be another light that lets you know if it’s the proper time to use your cell phone or not. Cell phone time could be restricted on long flights and on flights that are overnight when most people would want to sleep.

Another solution is to give the crew the ability to disable the voice function on devices during restricted times. During those times text messaging and e-mailing would be allowed, but talking would be disabled.



LILLIE

Muna wa Wanjiru asked:


The next item to consider is how are we arriving and leaving our holiday destination. For quite a lot of us air travel is the best way to get to the place that we want quickly.

There are various air travel plans that we can make and different airlines that will be able to give us attractive travel incentives. While we are looking at all of these travel packages we may want to consider other factors like the price of our tickets and if we will be able to book our airline tickets for the days that we want.

In addition to seeing the travel prices and the available dates for air travel we also need to see if the airline that we are looking to reserve our flights with is a direct flight or if we need to catch a connecting flight. This is an important issue that you will need to see about before you book your flight. The main point to remember with connecting flights is that sometimes your first flight may not arrive at the connecting airport on time.

This type of problem has been known to happen to many people. For those of you who would like spend some of your holiday time in another country besides your main holiday destination then you should try and book your air travel tickets so that you have a few extra days to explore the sights and cultural tours of that other country before you have to leave for your main holiday destination.

While this can sometimes mean fewer days spent relaxing on the beach or exploring the various cultural sights, planning your air travel in this manner will let you catch the correct flight that you need without having to worry about missing any connecting flights. Since this is just one of the options that are available you may want to find out what other benefits you can get from this type of air travel planning.

As there are many different airlines that you can choose from, you may want to see the many incentives that will allow you choose the best deal for your air travel. When you have received all the information about air travel that you want, you can start planning your air travel plans and enjoy a great holiday or business trip.



DARCY

NBR L asked:


I feel that my neck muscles are very strained. This problem is resolved in 3-4 days. Is there a faster solution?

ESMERALDA

Sam N asked:


We’re travelling over the holidays with our 10 mth old infant and I have been told that the airline requires and will provide me with an infant carrier so that she can be on my lap — what is this and are there any suggestions on it? The flight is about 5 hrs so I want her and me and my wife to be comfortable. Also I am thinking about bringing a portable DVD with baby einstein videos — just not certain if she will stay calm or get really, really restless. Any tips would be greatly appreciated — Thanks and Happy Holidays!

Spencer

Dorothy Yamich asked:


Many medical  experts have found that air  travelers usually experience a worse bout of jet lag when they fly from east to west.  In general, the more time zones that they cross, flying from east to west, the more severe their symptoms of jet lag will be.  However, passengers will only experience a milder problem with jet lag when their air flights are going from west to east.

Travelers can fly north and south, or south to north, for thousands of miles without experiencing any jet lag. But as soon as the pilot of the airplane starts to fly in an east to west direction and crosses more than one or two time zones, they can experience jet lag.

Passengers will not usually experience the symptoms of jet lag until they exit the plane.  That’s the time when their biological clocks will start to make internal adjustments inside their bodies to coincide more closely with the local time at their destination.  If air travelers cross one, or even two time zones, their bodies can usually adjust very quickly.  However, if a traveler is in poor health or not feeling well before the flight, jet lag can compound the problem.

The following information may lessen the effects of jet lag when you fly.

Try to catch a flight that arrives at your vacation destination in daylight hours.  Immediately fit in with the new time zone and do not go to bed.  If you feel tired and want to take a short snooze, do it in a well lighted place.

In the evening, when your tired, go to sleep in a darkened room.  The darkness will help prepare your brain for sleep.

Try to avoid looking at television or computer screens as they are bright and have high frequencies that can easily over-stimulate your brain.

Do not consume alcohol or any drinks such as coffee and soda that contain caffeine until your symptoms of jet lag wear off, as it can disrupt your sleep.

To help you adjust to the time zone at your destination, you may want to consider taking a melatonin tablet or capsule (as many air travelers do) in the early evening (your time).  You might still have to take a melatonin for the next three or four evenings in a row before you go to bed in this new location to help you readjust your biological clock.  If you not taken melatonin before, you should ask your doctor or local pharmacist for more information in regards to the suggested dosage.



JEANNE