Ryanair have recently announced that passengers will now be able to access electronic devices during take-off and landing on its flights, after years of insisting that devices be switched off for safety reasons. While devices such as smartphones and tablets will still have to be in flight mode, passengers can now have a few precious extra minutes to play Solitaire, read a book, or listen to music. No doubt that Ryanair have stolen a march on their rivals with this relaxation of their rules, hoping of course that this will get them extra passengers.
So for every flight I've been on over the past 15 years or so, I am one (it seems to me) of the few people who did not immediately switch on their phone once the plane had landed. I'm OK with waiting a few more minutes until I get inside the terminal building - just like we are always asked to do. The sound of text messages and phones being switched on inside the aircraft annoys me while loads of passengers flout the regulations. Also seeing fellow passengers continuing to use computers and tablets well after the Captain has announced that they should be switched off is a constant irritant - were the regulations just for me?
This type of thing is probably more irritating (for this grumpy old man) as those who have always ignored the rules win, and I feel like an idiot for obeying all the rules. What next, feel free to use the bathroom during take-off and landing?
Anyway - I think this move is to be welcomed, it does seem a little silly that someone has to stop reading a Kindle or using an iPad if they do not interfere with the operation of the flight. Soon everybody will be doing it!