British Airways Now Lets You Video Call in Flight—Please, Think Twice Before You Dial

There was a time when boarding a plane meant escaping the world. No emails, no ringing phones, no awkward public conversations. Just you, the clouds, and the rare luxury of being unreachable. That era is officially over.

British Airways is rolling out high-speed Starlink Wi-Fi across its entire fleet, and with it comes a new policy: passengers can now make and receive video and phone calls midair. The airline asks only that you “please be considerate,” and suggests using headphones and speaking softly. But anyone who has sat next to a loud talker on a train knows how well that works.

Just this week, actor Matthew Rhys lamented in the Wall Street Journal about the epidemic of people watching videos on full blast without earbuds. On a recent Amtrak ride, a passenger played YouTube clips at max volume until the conductor intervened. On Mother’s Day, a woman on Metro North filled the car with slot machine sound effects. Now imagine that at 35,000 feet.

British Airways isn’t alone. Etihad has allowed inflight calls since 2023. But many travelers are dreading the change. “Planes are a rare excuse to be out of touch,” says Abigail Malbon, a Traveler editor. “I don’t want to hear someone’s business meeting or argument.”

Arati Menon, the global digital director, admits she secretly hopes the Wi-Fi fails. “No one needs to clear their inbox at 30,000 feet. A passenger making a pointless call just because they’re bored? That’s my worst nightmare.”

Senior features editor Megan Spurrell puts it bluntly: “The last thing I need is to pay $600 for a red-eye next to someone dissecting a reality show with their friend. Spare me.”

So, by all means, enjoy your inflight connection. But for the love of quiet, keep the calls to yourself. Invest in noise-canceling headphones. And remember: just because you can call, doesn’t mean you should.