Rules for I-Pods?

[Planogirl]

It looks like i-pods are OK on flights - are there any restrictions at all that we should be aware of? Do we have to put the i-pod in the bucket separately when we go through security? We've never used electronic devices during flights so this is all new territory for us!

 

[ctjsowens]

When we flew down about a month and a half ago our daughters put theirs in a bin to be x rayed and on the flight they were off until we reached 10000ft and the US Airways Capt said it was ok to turn them back on.

 

[OKW Lover]

No need to take your iPod out of your carryon bag when going through security. Stoping to do so just holds up the line. If you're using it at security, just tuck it away in the bag.

On the airplane, you won't be able to use it from the time the boarding door closes until the aircraft reaches 10,000 feet. They will make an announcement when its safe to use it. Same thing on the decent; when the plane gets to 10,000 feet they will make an announcement that you must turn off your iPod.

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

We travel with a plethora of electronics and have never had to put our iPod in a bin - it has always stayed in my carry-on. Laptops, ereaders and iPads must be taken out of your carry-on and placed in a separate bin.

Once on board, you till need to turn off all electronics and your cell phone once the cabin door is closed, until the plane gets above 10,000 feet. No using cell phones at any time while the plane is in the air. You will then need to turn off all electronics again during the decent. The flight attendants will make announcements when you can use electronics and when you are to turn them off.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Laptops, ereaders and iPads must be taken out of your carry-on and placed in a separate bin.

Not quite correct. Laptops must be removed from your carry-on and placed in a bin. eReaders and iPads can stay in the carry-on.

You can use your cell phone on a flight, you just must be in airplane mode (turn off ability to make calls). You can play games, listen to music, watch movies, etc., depending on the capabilities of your phone.

All of this is explained at tsa.gov.

 

[pat fan]

And PLEASE turn the dang thing OFF when you are supposed to! (not directed at OP, just in general!)

I know the likelihood of something happening is small, but when some jerk decides that he is immune from the rules, some of us have heart attacks during the ascent & decent.


That said, those devices are awesome to have on the plane. Really helps take your mind of off "flying" if you are nervous about it

 

[Planogirl]

I appreciate the info. It's nice that we don't have to put it in the bin since we'll already be juggling phones and boarding passes and quart bags with toiletries and shoes and so on.

 

[mkarizona]

My daughter flew last week and TSA suggested it was better to take the i-pad out and put it in a bin. They directed her to place it next to her laptop in the same bin but not overlapping. When she came home two days later TSA at that airport was very unhappy that she put both in the same bin. The thing to remember is that TSA is not "one size fits all." Different airports frequently do things differently, so read all signs and be alert for differing instructions.

 

[dudspizza]

And PLEASE turn the dang thing OFF when you are supposed to! (not directed at OP, just in general!)

I know the likelihood of something happening is small, but when some jerk decides that he is immune from the rules, some of us have heart attacks during the ascent & decent.


That said, those devices are awesome to have on the plane. Really helps take your mind of off "flying" if you are nervous about it

While waiting to fly home from Reno in June, a lady next to me decided to talk on her cell phone then entire time people were boarding. As they were pushing away, she didn't hear or ignored the repeated announcements that the door was closed and use of all electronics was not allowed, including cell phones. The flight attendants were getting ready to do the emergency demonstrations when the guy next to me summoned one of them over. He then pointed out the woman on her cell phone and the FA asked her to get off of it. You would have thought the world had come to an end. The woman and her husband were all upset that they were asked to get off the phone..... REALLY? Come on people (like another PP, this is a general statement)..... go ahead and use your cell and electronics when it is ok, but please follow directions on the plane... it is for your own safety.......

Duds

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

Not quite correct. Laptops must be removed from your carry-on and placed in a bin. eReaders and iPads can stay in the carry-on.

You can use your cell phone on a flight, you just must be in airplane mode (turn off ability to make calls). You can play games, listen to music, watch movies, etc., depending on the capabilities of your phone.

All of this is explained at tsa.gov.

It may depend on where you fly out of, but our experience has been that the laptops, eReaders and iPads had to be removed and placed in their own bin. They didn't have to come out of their cases, but they had to be out and in a bin. As well, I did try and listen to music on my phone on our last flight and was told by the Flight Attendant I had to turn it off, being in airplane mode didn't matter, it had to be off.

B

 

[maxiesmom]

As well, I did try and listen to music on my phone on our last flight and was told by the Flight Attendant I had to turn it off, being in airplane mode didn't matter, it had to be off.

B

That was made clear to us on our last flight too. The FAs even stated that it didn't matter if your phone had an airplane mode or not, they had to be off. I'm pretty sure I was on Delta that time. Though it could have been Air Tran.

My guess is that the FAs have better things to do than to check each person's phone and make sure it really is in airplane mode.

 

[ironz]

It may depend on where you fly out of, but our experience has been that the laptops, eReaders and iPads had to be removed and placed in their own bin. They didn't have to come out of their cases, but they had to be out and in a bin. As well, I did try and listen to music on my phone on our last flight and was told by the Flight Attendant I had to turn it off, being in airplane mode didn't matter, it had to be off.

B

"Technically" ereaders such as Nooks and Kindles do not have to be removed, and neither *should* ipads....my Kindle has never been out of the carryon for screening.....but, since you said you travel with a "plethora" of electronics, you may have enough other stuff that the TSA would like to see more separation of the items. There's no consistency with TSA from airport to airport (which is stupid, because that's why people end up holding up the lines).

Weird that people are being told they can't use their phones in airplane mode. Now....if it is before you reach 10000 feet or on the descent, that makes sense....

As for the ipod users....just one small request....please keep the volume at a level that other people can't hear. It amazes me that some people turn their volume up so high that I can hear sound coming out in spite of their use of earphones/earbuds. If it is that loud, you are damaging your ears (and bothering other passengers). Thanks!

 

[sam_gordon]

I know the likelihood of something happening is small, but when some jerk decides that he is immune from the rules, some of us have heart attacks during the ascent & decent.

I don't understand. Did you see someone using an electronic device? Why would it give someone a heart attack.

I'm of the opinion they don't want you to use cell phones during flight because it would cause problems for the CELL CARRIER, not the airplane. Think about how many cell tower's you'd be hitting from 5K up, not to mention 10K-20K.

The whole electronics "off" thing I don't buy either. If a DVD player/Ipod/Ipad/Kindle/etc is going to affect flight controls, they are going to do so no matter the height. And why wouldn't the portable electronics in cars (many runways are next to highways) cause problems.

Don't get me wrong, I follow the "rules". I just don't believe in the reason for them.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

That was made clear to us on our last flight too. The FAs even stated that it didn't matter if your phone had an airplane mode or not, they had to be off. I'm pretty sure I was on Delta that time. Though it could have been Air Tran.

My guess is that the FAs have better things to do than to check each person's phone and make sure it really is in airplane mode.

FAs don't check phones. Your FAs were woefully misinformed if PAX were not allowed to use their phones in airplane mode during times when electronics were allowed, because it is allowed. Not once on any airline over many, many flights have I seen this not allowed.

As for iPads and e-readers, they do not have to be removed from your carry-on per the TSA, but I'm sure there are TSA agents who require it because they don't understand their own rules.

 

[dis_guy]

One tip that I found on the TSA website was to pack your carry on electronics in layers, alternating between a layer of a few devices (charger, cords etc) with a layer of clothing. This makes it easier for them to identify each item, reducing your chances for a hand inspection if they can't interpret the jumble of stuff in your bag.