Editorial: Can you hear me now?

Monday, Dec. 24, 2007 | 6:56 a.m.

This month JetBlue Airways and Air France joined a handful of airlines that are offering free in-flight Internet and cell phone text-messaging services to passengers as a test. While the service allows people to use cell phones for sending text messages and photos, it does not allow them to make calls - yet.

Air France announced last week that making in-flight phone calls might be the next logical step.

And we thought hours-long delays were the worst part about flying.

The idea of airline passengers being able to yak on their cell phones elicits a number of horrifying scenarios:

"Hey Dude, I can see the Grand Canyon from up here. What do you mean you can't hear me? I said, Dude, I can see the canyon!"

And:

"The doctor said the scans looked clear, but they're still going to do that scope thingy ..."

Or the inevitable:

"No, I love you more."

It's enough to make $3.50 a gallon for gasoline and 16-hour drives seem pleasing.

In-flight cell calls could be a significant advantage for businesspeople - especially those who are running behind because of flight delays.

And it would be nice to check in with the folks waiting on the ground - unless all 150 people on an Airbus 320 are doing it. Once engaged in a call, far too many people act as though they are conversing in an invisible phone booth.

Still, these situations have a way of working themselves out, one way or another. At least when the fight breaks out with the loud caller in Seat 15B, there will be plenty of immediate video footage for YouTube.