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April 27, 2005
Caplan and Cowen on cell phones in the air
In EconLog, Bryan Caplan writes about the proposed repeal of the cell phone ban aboard airplanes:
The important thing is that repealing the existing regulation would give airlines a chance to experiment. If the science behind the cell phone ban is wrong, the current rule can't even hide behind the fig leaf of safety. And who knows, maybe a genius who doesn't write for the Oakton Sun Gazette would figure out a way to make both phoners and non-phoners happy. At risk of giving away a billion-dollar idea for free: How about No-Phoning Sections on planes?
He clearly doesn't mind the idea of cell phones on airplanes. Tyler Cowen, on the other hand, prefers the temple of silence:
Bryan Caplan trots out all the usual arguments, you know the ones I use myself when debating opponents of the market. Start with legal laissez-faire and let airlines weigh conflicting preferences and then implement the profit-maximizing policies.
I still don't want cell phone use on planes, but I'm not going to tell you some fancy-wancy academic story about externalities imposed on infra-marginal consumers. I am still, however, looking for a good argument to use against him. Can I claim that cell phone calls are a socially wasteful means of signaling to your spouse that you care? Can I claim that commercial airplanes are modern (short-term) monasteries, and that markets undersupply such temples of silence?
That the FAA is considering the rule change is not news. It was reported back in December. Though I'm not sure if Caplan or Cowen discussed it back then, I do know that I did. I don't normally do this, but I really liked that post, so here it is again:
The FAA is thinking about allowing cell phone usage on airplanes.
Here's my take on the matter. The only people who would bother me by talking on their cell phone on an airplane are the people seated right next to me. You can't hear a conversation more than a couple rows away because of the noise of the jet engines. It's not going to be that much noisier with people talking on cell phones. One possible glitch with that, however, is that I've never actually heard people talking on cell phones while the engines are running. (Currently they can only be used on the ground when the engines are much quieter if they are running at all.) People trying to talk over the engine noise might have to shout. (Not good.) Someone should do an investigation of this before it goes any further.
For me, it's that total stranger sitting 6 inches from me who would be the trouble. (Think: 3 hours or more sitting in very close quarters with someone complaining about life/love/work/whatever on their cell phone.)
So here's my solution: When ordering your tickets, you should have the opportunity to make a pledge to not use your cell phone. Those making that pledge will only be seated next to others who make a similar pledge, to the extent possible (and if it's not possible, you should be informed before being charged for the ticket). We already have on-line seat selection. This should not be that hard to implement in that system. Those not willing to make the "cell-free" pledge would have no right to complain if they are disturbed. (Note that I don't think a "no-cell section" of the plane would really be necessary. Just try to keep cell users and pledged non-users from sitting next to each other.
And let's see if the market can figure it out. Maybe one smart company will implement my plan (thinking it will get more non-cell phone customers). Others might follow. I hope the government doesn't try to micromanage this.
Any thoughts on my idea? Any other unintended consequences?
I'm not opposed to cell phones on airplanes, but personally, I would like to be seated next to people who (like me) will promise not to use them in flight. Shouldn't be hard to figure out.
On a related matter, the FAA is looking at providing Internet access in the air. It's about time!
I guess my view lies right between Caplan's and Cowen's. I don't need a temple of silence, but I would like a "bubble of silence." My idea is a little more flexible than a "no phone" section and would cope with fluctuating demand better (and thus not constrain the airline's profit maximization problem so much).
Billion dollar idea up for grabs... the cell-free pledge.
Thoughts?
Posted by William Polley at April 27, 2005 01:57 AM
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Comments
I've flown with people who used their cells with the engine running (yes, counter to the rules--and in relatively small planes).
It's not that disturbing--no more so than all those business travelers starting in the late 1980s who did the same thing with the Airfone (paid for with our tax dollars, as they deducted "Hi, honey! Guess where I am!" as a business expense).
The times when it's most likely to be prevalent are right on landing and just before takeoff--the latter being completion of the "cabin-door-is-closing" calls.
After all, dropped signals are difficult enough on the ground, let alone traveling 600 mph at 35K feet.
(The other time--in an emergency--people are going to ignore the rules anyway.)
Posted by: Ken Houghton at April 27, 2005 03:15 PM