S. Fla Travelers React To Loosened FAA Restrictions On Electronics
MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- The inconvenience of turning off tablets, iPods, and e-readers will soon be a thing of the past on most flights after the Federal Aviation Administration announced many personal electronic devices are safe to leave on during takeoff and landing.
The announcement came as welcome news at Miami International Airport. "We're flying all the time, as you can see, I use it a lot," said Melissa Owens, pointing to her phone. "It's kind of an inconvenience to have to turn it off turn it back on not be able to use it so I think it's definitely going to help," she added.
Devices will still have to be in airplane mode which means no phone calls and no sending email or surfing the web unless the plane has wi-fi.
Even without wi-fi on the plane,travelers can use electronic devices to listen to music, play games, or work offline.
Travelers still have to put their devices down during the safety demonstration and because of their size laptops will have to be put away during takeoff and landing.
Most travelers say easing the restrictions will make travel more convenient. Flight attendant Emanuelle Cardoso said she is happy with the change even though she says most passengers do turn their electronics off when asked.
"Some people don't want to do it, but most of the time they're really good,"said Cardoso. She said this will make her job a little easier. "One less step," she said.
Each airline will have to submit a plan to the FAA before the changes take effect, but the FAA expects many airlines to have policies in place by the end of the year.
Delta and Jet Blue both announced they have already filed their plans with the FAA to allow passengers to use electronics during takeoff and landing.
