How would you feel about phone calls on your next flight? Though traveling by plane certainly comes with its fair share of annoyances these days, until recently, voice and video calls haven’t been among them. In fact, airplane cabins are — or were — one of the few public places without people loudly gabbing on FaceTime or taking business calls. But one airline recently started permitting voice and video calls over in-flight Wi-Fi for the first time. Could other airlines follow suit?

British Airways Allows In-Flight Calls

Flying across the pond soon? Aside from being prepared for the new entry requirements, you may want to pack a pair of noise-canceling headphones if you’re traveling with the U.K.’s flag carrier. 

In March 2026, British Airways debuted its first plane with free Starlink Wi-Fi, which the airline plans to install on its entire fleet by the end of 2028. Starlink has become a popular choice for airlines as of late, with many opting to install it fleetwide due to its fast speeds, similar to what you’d find on the ground. 

As part of the rollout, British Airways updated its Wi-Fi policy to state that, in addition to streaming and scrolling, passengers can now make video calls over Starlink Wi-Fi. Previously, the airline’s website stated that “text and phone call functions can only be used whilst boarding, waiting to leave stand (as instructed by your crew), and taxiing to stand.”

Perhaps in anticipation of the fact that such a move might stir up controversy, the airline added to its policy: “We ask that you’re mindful of volume — use headphones and keep your voice low to avoid disturbing others.”

Are U.S. Airlines Following Suit?

The short answer: for now, no. But that could change. In the U.S., the Federal Communications Commission bans phone calls using a cellular network during flight. However, there’s no similar rule in the U.S. that explicitly prohibits Wi-Fi calling in-flight. (British Airways’ policy is for calls made over Wi-Fi, so airplane mode stays on.)

That leaves it up to the airlines, and several of them have announced the rollout of next-gen Wi-Fi with speeds that could support video calls. For example, United Airlines is in the process of rolling out Starlink across its entire fleet; Alaska Airlines will begin installation this fall.

That means we’ll have to wait to see if they follow the lead of British Airways. In the meantime, a spokesperson for United told USA Today that the airline is “not making any changes to its onboard call policy.” (American, a joint-venture partner with British Airways, declined to comment.) 

If U.S. airlines do start permitting video calls on board, it will surely ignite another wave of debates about plane etiquette. But on a related front, United recently started cracking down on passengers who don’t use headphones — now, they could be banned from flying with the airline. 

Featured image credit: Courtesy of British Airways