If you've ever flown commercially in recent years, you've likely been instructed by a flight attendant to switch your mobile devices to airplane mode or power them down completely, in accordance with Federal FAA regulations.

The question arises: is there tangible evidence that cell signals can interfere with the plane's systems? And what exactly does airplane mode do to our phones? Are there other benefits to using airplane mode, and how can one access the internet on a flight?

To shed light on these questions, we sought the insights of technology specialist Michael Collins, the director of Sphere IT, a corporate tech support provider in the United Kingdom.

### What Is Airplane Mode (aka Flight Mode)?

Nearly every modern smartphone, tablet, and laptop features an airplane icon, allowing users to activate airplane mode. This mode essentially deactivates wireless reception, preventing interference with the navigation and communication equipment on the aircraft.

According to Collins, "Airplane mode is a feature found on most modern smartphones that deactivates the phone’s radio and wireless hardware. This prevents the phone from sending and receiving calls, texts, emails, and data over the mobile network."

While in airplane mode, some devices won't connect to cellular or WiFi networks. However, others may still allow Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity to be enabled while technically remaining in airplane mode, though cellular service remains blocked. Nevertheless, your device can still perform tasks such as editing documents, displaying photos, and playing locally stored media.

### How Does a Wireless Signal Affect Air Travel?

When you activate airplane mode, you're essentially doing a favor for the flight crew and fellow passengers by ensuring that no radio signals from your phone interfere with the aircraft's communication devices or navigation systems.

Collins explains, "Airlines request customers to use airplane mode to avoid disruption of signals on the plane. Airplanes require many advanced navigation and communication systems to keep them in the air and steer safely to their destination, but mobile phones use the same frequencies. So when you’re on a plane, your phone's signal can interfere with the airplane’s onboard systems."

### What Are the Risks of Disabling Airplane Mode on a Flight?

While only 75 instances of suspected electronic interference causing equipment glitches were reported out of 283,300 U.S. flights between 2003 and 2009, it's still advisable to comply with FAA regulations. At cruising altitude, your device will be too high above cell towers to receive a reliable signal, making airplane mode a sensible choice during the flight.

### How to Enable Airplane Mode on Devices

For iPhone users, open Control Center and tap the airplane icon to enable or disable airplane mode. Apple Watch settings can be mirrored to your iPhone for consistency.

Android users can open the Settings app, navigate to the Network & internet section, and tap the Airplane mode icon to switch it on or off.

### How to Connect to In-flight WiFi

Despite cellular limitations, many airlines now offer in-flight WiFi. Delta, American Airlines, United Airlines, and Southwest have various options for accessing WiFi during flights, with different rates and plans.

### Does Enabling Airplane Mode Save Battery?

Apart from preventing interference, airplane mode is also known to conserve battery life. According to Collins, "Most phones use much battery power when connected to the mobile network, so airplane mode can help your battery last longer." A 2016 test by Wirecutter on iOS and Android devices revealed that browsing media in airplane mode caused minimal battery degradation compared to using wireless functions, which led to a more significant drop in battery life over the same period.

In situations where a power source is unavailable, turning on airplane mode can help extend your device’s battery life. However, keep in mind that this mode disables access to cellular data, so communication features will be restricted. Additionally, airplane mode can be a useful tool to avoid disruptions in quiet places like movie theaters.