Thanks to in-flight Wi-Fi, business travelers can now get online at 35,000 feet, making sure they don’t miss important emails, and allowing them to browse the web. Although you might be eager to log-on the moment a signal is available, it’s important to remember that others might be looking for some peace and quiet. Those using laptops, smartphones and other devices should be considerate of others and heed the following tips:
1. Use headphones. If you ever sat next to someone who is working in a public place – whether they are talking on the phone or watching work-related videos without headphones – you know how loud, annoying and distracting it can be. It’s downright disrespectful to others, who may be within shouting distance. On an airplane, the level of disrespect is significantly amplified, due to the tight space and acoustics. If you have anything to listen to while flying, be sure to always use headphones. Don’t be that person. Be prepared. If you don’t have headphones, or recently lost your pair, perhaps the airline can lend you some.
2. Try to avoid bandwidth-intensive apps. Although internet speeds have gotten significantly faster in recent years, you are still sharing the service with a lot of other potential users when you are flying. Bandwidth-gobbling apps like Pandora or Skype can dramatically affect the experience of other passengers trying to use in-flight Wi-Fi. The majority of passengers on many flights are often also business travelers trying to get work done – so don’t be a hog. Particularly if you sense that everyone will also be checking their email and cranking away on their next presentation, consider closing as many apps as possible while they are not in use.
3. Plug in only when necessary. Many airlines feature outlets in each bank of seats. Unfortunately, there usually aren’t enough to go around for the entire row. Be sure your gadgets are fully charged before you board, and consider bringing a portable charger, particularly for phones and tablets. By the same token, if a fellow passenger has been charging their devices for a few hours, don’t hesitate to ask if you can use it to charge your device. This is acceptable etiquette on the ground and in the air.
Source: Travel Pulse
