Here's Why You Absolutely Should Turn On Airplane Mode Mid-Flight

It's a feature that all phones have: airplane mode. You'll ;have you ever been asked why it was 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. Mandatory 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 more or less voluntarily forget to activate it: nearly 30% of them would omit its activation.

However, neglecting this rule can have serious consequences. If the flight attendants and stewardesses strongly encourage you to activating airplane mode is indeed for a very specific reason and not just to avoid disturbing other passengers with the noise pollution of notifications. But what is the purpose and what exactly do we risk ?

First, you should know that airplane mode cuts off the search for networks on the mobile phone. Once activated, it is impossible to connect to the Internet, the 4G/5G network, Bluetooth and GPS. As a result, many applications have no longer work on your screen. 

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On an airplane, the goal is to prevent the waves sent by your phone from interfering and disrupt the one received by the pilots. The risk of jamming the latter's radio is tangible, and can have major consequences. If the pilots cannot receive the necessary information during takeoff or landing, it would be very clever to be able to predict what will happen next.

The risk of a plane crash due to forgotten airplane mode remains exceptional, but there is 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 phone will continually search for a network to connect to. In addition to wasting battery life, 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 phone bill: these are roaming charges. By connecting to a foreign operator's network, 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 your forgetfulness. From a few cents to several hundred euros, the costs differ from one country to another and can be more or less damaging. A nice travel gift that you don't expect to see arrive anytime soon…