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BA to allow phone and video calls on board
When I heard that BA had signed up for Starlink, one of my first thoughts was, I hope they don’t follow Qatar in allowing voice and video calls onboard. Air France also allows these calls, and I am sure more airlines will follow suit.
You would hope people know how to behave when this is allowed on board a plane, but judging by the number of people I see on planes playing videos at full volume with no headphones, I am not hopeful. I can only imagine what the Saturday morning flight to Palma will be like in summer with a planeload of passengers who have had a few beers at 6 am bellowing into their phones “I AM ON THE PLANE”. Or on a business-heavy flight on a Monday morning, where everyone will be on the phone for meetings and business calls.
I personally think it is a terrible idea that is bound to lead to conflict and confrontation on board when people don’t show consideration for others. BA’s first aircraft with Starlink launched in March on a B787, with all aircraft expected to be equipped with it in the next two years, including short-haul planes. Long-haul aircraft will be fitted with the new wi-fi first.
Passengers will be able to make voice and video calls on platforms like FaceTime, WhatsApp, Zoom, and Teams, as long as they use headphones and keep their voice low. Given that a lot of people can’t manage to do that currently with things such as social media, I think BA is opening a can of worms by assuming people will follow the guidance they have issued on their website:
- You’re making a call, keep your voice low and use headphones.
- Please always use headphones when watching or listening to content on your device.
- Please do not access anything offensive, or watch or download inappropriate content (please note some sites are blocked).
Starlink wi-fi will be free in every cabin on BA. It’s not limited to one device – you can connect on your phone, tablet, and laptop at the same time.
What do you think about allowing these calls onboard? Let us know in the comments below.
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Alaska Airlines reveals its business class seats and service for London
Alaska Airlines is expanding its services to Europe next year with flights to London from Seattle starting on 21 May 2026. This will be their first venture into proper long-haul territory, and being part of Oneworld will offer a welcome alternative to BA or AA to the US West Coast. The initial offering sounds pretty impressive, and I look forward to trying it out. Wine, cheese and charcuterie before you even start the meal and an ice cream bar, sign me up! You can, of course, redeem your Avios for travel on Alaska through BA’s The Club or any of the other oneworld carrier loyalty programs.
Alaska Airlines today announced the debut of its all-new International Business Class, a premium long-haul experience launching this spring as the airline expands to Europe and Asia.
The airline’s new International Business Class on brand-new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners will offer:
- Fully lie-flat suites with privacy doors, direct aisle access and lounge-style seating that converts into a true flat bed.
- Modern cabin design featuring 18” HD entertainment screens, over 1500 movies and TV shows, noise-reducing headsets, personal power outlets and wireless charging.
- Elevated “restaurant-quality” dining delivers a multi-course meal which celebrates the flavours of the West Coast and the global destinations Alaska serves.
The experience begins with the welcome service featuring a cheese and charcuterie board — an interpretation of Alaska’s Signature Fruit & Cheese Platter — paired with an expanded selection of wines from the West Coast and regions in Europe, such as Stag’s Leap, including Roederer Champagne, handcrafted cocktails, West Coast craft beer, mineral water and freshly brewed Stumptown coffee.
The meal continues with an appetiser course followed by up to six entrée choices tailored to each route. Options may include roasted chicken with pasta carbonara on flights to Rome and Gochujang chicken with traditional banchan en route to Incheon. You can also select Alaska’s Chef’s (Tray) Table entrée, developed in partnership with Seattle chef Brady Ishiwata Williams, featuring his signature short rib sourced from Klingemann Farms.
Meals can be chosen in advance through Alaska’s pre-order feature in the airline’s app.
Then there will be Alaska’s new dessert cart, showcasing a customizable Salt & Straw sundae service alongside other desserts.
Prior to arrival, guests will be treated to a second lighter meal and drinks, which are destination-inspired, such as a classic full English breakfast on flights to London.
Premium bedding and travel amenity kits will include luxury bedding designed in collaboration with Filson. International Business Class amenities include a plush mattress pad, soft sleeping pillow, lumbar/lounging pillow and oversized duvet — plus a collectable travel amenity bag in two West Coast-inspired Filson colours, created exclusively for Alaska Airlines. Each kit includes premium Salt & Stone skincare products and other travel essentials. Guests will also receive a custom reusable water bottle developed in partnership with PATH Water.
Lounge access will be included across Alaska’s network of lounges and oneworld partner lounges worldwide.
Starlink is also scheduled to be installed on Alaska’s 787-9 Dreamliners this autumn. Starlink is already available on select aircraft across Alaska’s fleet, delivering gate-to-gate connectivity. Starting in May, if you are flying on any Starlink-enabled Alaska aircraft, you will need to sign in using your Atmos™ Rewards number to enjoy Starlink completely free.
29 comments
I agree with you entirely Michelle and have already sent BA a mail asking them to reconsider.
Whilst I doubt that it will make a difference I didn’t want to sit back and ignore this.
For anyone wanting to send something similar I copy the letter below.
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Dear British Airways Management,
I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the recent announcement that your new Starlink-enabled Wi-Fi service will permit voice and video calls on board. While I applaud the investment in high-speed connectivity, the decision to allow live voice communication—even with the caveat of “using headphones”—is a significant step backward for passenger comfort and cabin safety.
The aircraft cabin is a unique, confined environment where passengers cannot escape noise nuisance. Unlike trains, which often provide “quiet zones,” an aircraft offers no such refuge. Allowing calls invites a “chatter’s charter” that transforms a peaceful cabin into a noisy office or public square.
History shows that such disruptions frequently escalate into “air rage” incidents where passengers, pushed to their limit by inconsiderate behavior, take matters into their own hands:
Physical Altercations: In recent years, disputes over mobile phone use have led to serious disruptions. In one instance, a mid-flight row over a passenger taking a call resulted in a smashed and smouldering mobile phone, forcing the crew to use emergency fire-containment bags and causing a flight diversion.
Safety Interference: Beyond noise, there are documented cases where passengers refusing to end calls during critical flight phases have caused significant cabin tension. One passenger’s refusal to stop a call and follow safety protocols led to heated insults with fellow travelers and required the pilot to turn the aircraft around.
Crew Burden: By moving from a clear “no-call” ban to a subjective “be considerate” request, you are placing an impossible burden on your cabin crew. They will now be forced to arbitrate what constitutes a “low voice” or “too disruptive,” inevitably leading to more confrontations with unruly passengers.I urge British Airways to reconsider this policy and retain a total ban on voice and video calls. High-speed Wi-Fi should be a tool for silent productivity and entertainment, not a source of cabin-wide conflict.
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The idea of being forced to endure a long haul flight listening to the ramblings of anyone on the phone is enough to make me consider which airline to fly with.Given that BA won’t be making any money out of the calls, perhaps it is something they might see fit to reverse.
That’s a very well worded email Ian with some great points.
I completely agree with both of you.
My long haul travel is mainly between the UK and Japan on BA/Finnair/JAL. The culture in Japan does not even permit phone conversations on trains (rightly so in opinion).
Thus will be yet another reason to choose JAL or other Asian carriers over BA.
Graham, I experienced the no-phone on trains in Japan last year and loved it! I truly hope that BA passengers respect the impact/annoyance that loud calls/games have on others and act accordingly. Only time will tell.
Ian – this is a great mail. Have you posted it on BA Future Lab or FlyerTalk?
Fully agree. Terrible idea by BA.
I agree with the comments thus far. Imagine trying to sleep on a night flight with people speaking into their phones.
Well worded letter, Ian. I’ll also write as the more complaints on this, the better.
BA continue to introduce new reasons to avoid them. I foresee the earlier days of mobile comms and the “I’m on the train” from innumerable 1st class seats – but worse now video and conferencing are commonplace. Surely for a few hours text is sufficient?
These few hours in the air used to be a valuable “thinking time” break when working, and are now an equally valuable source of peace and quiet (generally). Presumably we’ll be told of “extensive pax research”, or some such..
Agreed, it’s a terrible idea
BA’s indifference to its customers is well established. As a result, the behaviour of a small number of people will likely go unchecked — to everyone else’s detriment.
Another reason to avoid BA
Exactly.
I dread this as well. Which email address should this go to? Currently the only way I know is a complaint form. Should I use that
Very disappointing to hear. There is no way anyone will talk quietly and will be very disturbing to those who may want to try to sleep especially on a long haul overnight flight. Maybe common sense will prevail and they will not allow phone calls on overnight flights – wishful thinking!!
Claire
Permitting audio and video calls on BA and other airlines is bad news for many reasons. It will inevitably lead to irritation and conflict between passengers and between passengers and crew, although the latter will likely hide in the galley to avoid this.
Can you imagine incoming call as well, ringing out from adjacent seats in the middle of overnight flight sleep times when passengers have not adjusted their “Do not disturb” settings for a different time zone?
For many business passengers like me, flying is the one time that I have been able to “switch off” and regather my equilibrium free from mobiles, whether my incoming calls or those of others.
With over 1.5 million miles flown on BA alone and a balance of over 1 million Avios, I will boycott them completely and seek out other One World carriers to use my Avios if noisy calls are an issue.
Totally agree. How this decision can be considered an improvement in the customer experience is beyond comprehension and I cannot believe anyone with an ounce of common sense would have thought this was a good idea.
Sent email to BA gold too re voice calls
Do the rules take account of overnight vs day time?
I suspect this will go on for a few months then “based on customer feedback we are tightening the rules on calls” so that they look innovative at the outset and turn it in to a customer service change
Given the lack of consideration exhibited by self-absorbed pax when using phones in lounges I see no reason for them to behave any better in air. The use or earphones tends to make people talk louder too. Finally, given the tendency of loud speaking callers to ambulate around the lounge will they also feel the need to walk up and down the aisle while making these mission critical calls?
Perhaps BA should reintroduce smoking and permit vaping while they are at it.
Oh no, the one place you were still safe from inconsiderate souls, to go!
So BA are now treating their cabin crews with the same disdain they treat Club members. I believe United have taken the opposite view and made it an offence to make or receive calls out loud/no headphones leading to a ban on flying if breached …..
And are you sure there is no financial benefit to BA with reverse fees paid by Starlink or advertising planned in future?
Heaven forbid people cannot extricate themselves from their phones for a few hours. I agree with all the above comments and will be writing to BA asking them to reconsider. Definitely no phone calls. Whoever sanctioned this? Must be phone addicts.
Cannot think of anything worse than loud voices explaining every second of their flight, especially after a few drinks..
An awful idea…the one place you can get some peace and quiet from idiots shouting into their phones or watching videos…please please please reverse this idea. Agree with all the comments so far.I will look elsewhere . Why is BA continuing to make things worse for crew and passengers? Any chance of someone starting a petition to boycott BA if this goes ahead?
I agree with everyone else, just who thought this would be a good idea? Will good noise cancelling headphones be provided in every cabin to block the inconsiderate folks out, I doubt it.
I can see mid-air conflict coming, just like on those Ryanair flights to Magaluf when folks have been in the airport Wetherspoons for hours before boarding.
Totally agree with all of the previous comments. It seems that fewer and fewer people generally have any concept of consideration to others as they go about their self entitled lives. The idea of being trapped on an aircraft with them allowed to make and receive calls genuinely makes me cringe. Of course there will be no consideration to fellow passengers, there’s none shown now!
Absolutely agree with all the concerns about this madness from BA.
Most of us book premium class travel either to enjoy some serenity or to get a bit of work done, both of which will be torpedoed by braying halfwits and their ringtones.
Might I also warn of a potential hazard for the users of this technology: After a decent session in the lounge, a few glasses of fizz, wine with your main and half a pint of port with the cheese, you probably won’t be making the best business decisions anyway. It could be a proper career-ender for some.
Enjoy 8-10 hours of phone-free bliss while you can.
I spent my business life on planes in the UK, USA and M East and it was a haven of peace and reflection, mostly on BA.
Now, in my retirement, the last thing I need is to have that quiet time disrupted by noisy neighbours bawling into their phones or tablets.
BA is really doing its best to alienate loyal, premium passengers like my wife and me. We have 6 sectors booked and yet to fly and 2 already flown and possibly another 2 yet to book in 2026 and maybe 2 more in 2027 – all leisure; all likely to be Premium or Business. Together with downgrading my and my wife’s ability to maintain Gold, we may be encouraged by this to look elsewhere.
This decision has clearly been made by people who don’t fly regularly for business/pleasure and who don’t live in the real world. We have all been subjected to people who think that speaking at loud volumes on video calls with multiple people in the departure lounge is ok. It’s not ok and they will not have any more respect when they are onboard.
An utterly stupid decision by BA and probably the best reason, added to many others why I will not fly with BA again. No doubt there is financial reward for BA….in other words a backhander from Starlink!
I can see the phone calls / video bit becoming a pooshow. My experience is many people using headphones on calls speak louder! On a recent train from Kings X to Hull, one chap on a Teams call was loud for ~ an hour until he was asked to cease. He was using headphones. Not a happy bunny!
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