Several Chinese airlines have begun allowing passengers to use mobile phones in flight mode, as they can on many international carriers. Until Thursday, phones had to be completely switched off during any flight on a Chinese airline.
Other portable electronic devices could be used in flight mode, while on planes with Wi-fi, passengers could access the internet using tablets and laptops but not phones.
Can Be Used on
These Chinese Airlines
China Eastern Airlines
From Jan 18, smart phone can access to the Internet on plane under phone’s flight mode.
At 00:16 on the day, Flight MU553 of China Eastern Airlines, which flied to Paris from Shanghai, became the first flight that allowed passengers to use their Portable Electric Devices (PED).
Hainan Airlines
Also on Jan 18th, Hainan Airlines gave notice that passengers could use PED including mobile, Pad, laptop and e-reader on the plane.
At 9 o’clock in the evening on Jan 17th, mobile in flight mode were first available on the plane HU7781 of Hainan Airlines. The plane took off at Haikou port at 21:10 and landed on Beijing airport at 00:40.
Xiamen Airlines
Since Jan 19, smart phone as well as PED within designated maximum size (sum of length, width and height should be less than 31cm), concerning Pad, e-reader, video/audio player and game machine is allowable on the plane. But flight mode must be turned on during the flight.
Spring Airlines
Chinese largest budget carrier, followed suit on Thursday, announcing that it will allow mobile phones to be used in flight mode from next month.
Air China
According to officers of Air China propaganda department, the regulation still needs improvement. It means, using mobile phone is not admissible on the plane until the official notice is announced by Air China.
Restrictions with
Tough Penalties Before
China’s restrictions on the use of portable electronic devices on flights came with tough penalties – any violation of cabin rules is deemed to be damaging the public order and can result in up to 10 days’ detention.
But the rules have not always been so rigidly enforced. Some travellers commenting on social media admitted they never turned off their phones on planes but switched to flight mode, and they had never been caught.
Allowable & Forbidden Devices
❶ Portable Electricity Device which is only powered by electricity and carried in person is allowable, such as, laptop, pad, e-reader, smart phone, video/audio player and game machine, etc.
Note The smart phone should be in flight mode (with cellular mobile communication turning off), and other PED should be in designated size.
❷ If mobile without flight mode, it will be forbidden on the plane.
Particularly, except for the Electronic Flight Bag (EFB), which is necessary for flight safety, any kind of PED is prohibited during the flight under the following situations:
The plane is flying in poor visibility and during the landing.
The flight signal is considered to be interrupted by PED.
When it comes to signal interruption to flight navigator and communication device, or any kind of emergency, all PED must stop working (apart from medical devices concerning cardiac pacemaker and portable Oxygen Concentrator).
Any Charge for "Sky Internet"?
Many people keep asking about whether there will be fee for using Wi-fi on the plane. Yet so far, no notice of collecting fee for "Sky Internet" is given by China Eastern Airlines, Southern Airlines, Air China and Hainan Airlines.
Ref:
SCMP/People.cn
HACOS,Business Services Solutions Master