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Please, oh please let this happen. A bill was introduced in the House yesterday which would disallow any in-flight voice calling. It’s deemed the HANG UP Act, and yeah, I’m totally on board. Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore), co-sponsor of the bill, notes that people do not want to be bothered by those around them talking — especially on a packed flight, which could be traveling for many hours. But he says that the bill is also to “ensure that financially strapped airlines don’t drive us towards this noisome disruption in search of further revenue.” That’s something I hadn’t considered, but also support.

“Last year was one of the worst on record for flight cancellations, delays and lost luggage. Now is not the time to consider making the airline passenger-experience any worse, and using cellphones in-flight would do just that,” said Rep. Jerry Costello (D-Ill.), who has joined other senior members of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure in supporting the bill. “Polls show that the American public is strongly opposed to allowing cellphone use in-flight. They don’t just oppose the idea, they hate it, and the HANG UP Act will make sure it does not happen.”

The HANG UP Act is a ban on voice only. Current plans to allow data access in-flight remain in tact.

Opponents of the bill believe that this will hurt U.S. airlines in competition with their foreign counterparts. Further, they believe that airlines should have the freedom to offer services and let the market decide what sticks.

I can agree with that to an extent, since I fully believe that no one would fly an airline that allows people to talk on their cellphones in-flight. It could even potentially open up the market for a new competitor — one that expressly banned in-flight calls. Unfortunately, it’s not that easy to gain entry to the airline business.

Still, there is little more annoying than sitting next to someone on the train or bus who is yakking on their phone. I can’t begin to imagine the torture it would cause on a flight.

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