JetBlue, Delta Passengers Can Now Use Gadgets During Takeoff and Landing

iStock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — Starting Friday, passengers on JetBlue and Delta flights will no longer be told to turn off their electronic devices before takeoff and landing.

Following the FAA’s announcement on Thursday that it wouldn’t be long before passengers would be able to use their e-readers, iPods tablets and other smaller gadgets during the whole flight, the two airlines have announced that they have received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to proceed.

“We have worked very closely with the FAA to achieve this new policy, which will be a significant improvement in customers’ onboard experience,” Robin Hayes, JetBlue’s chief commercial officer, said in a statement Friday.

“JetBlue now allows all customers gate-to-gate use of personal electronic devices, which means customers can now use their devices at any time during their time onboard,” Hayes said.

Delta said on Thursday that all of its aircrafts had completed the “carrier-defined PED tolerance testing” needed to ensure that the electronic device frequencies didn’t interfere with the aircraft. JetBlue said the same Friday, noting that all of its 191 planes had passed inspection.

While passengers will not be forced to power down their devices anymore, there are still some limitations. Passengers can use tablets and smartphones but they must be put in airplane mode before takeoff. Once in the air they can connect to the plane’s wireless network, if there is one available. Smaller electronic devices are fine to use during takeoff and landing, but laptops and other “similar-sized devices” must be stowed during takeoff.

And there is still one period where all travelers will need to put their devices down: during the safety video or when flight attendants provide the pre-flight safety information.

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