Note 7 may not be used or charged onboard Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia flights following battery fires.
The latest development in the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 recall saga: Three Australian airlines have banned the use of Note 7 handsets onboard their aircraft, citing safety concerns after at least 35 devices suffered battery fires or explosions. Meanwhile the U.S. Federal Aviation Authority says it's considering its options.
According to Reuters, the airlines weren't ordered to ban use of the phone by the authorities, but pro-actively put these measures in place following Samsung's global Note 7 recall.
The Note 7's battery issues recently made the news in Australia after one local model caught fire in a hotel room, causing a reported $1,870 worth of damage.
The ban doesn't stop Note 7 owners bringing their phones onboard, but it will mean they'll need to remain switched off (and not charging) throughout the duration of the flight. Note 7s may also not be plugged into the airlines' in-flight entertainment systems, according to the report.
Even after the recall, how do you prove your Note 7 is safe?
The move puts both passengers and air crews in a difficult situation: For instance, it's not necessarily easy to tell a Note 7 apart from an S7 edge at a distance. And while the recall takes place there'll be both safe and unsafe Note 7s in the wild, meaning it'll be almost impossible for passengers to prove their device isn't a fire hazard. Even after the recall has been wrapped up, owners of new, safe Note 7s could face inconvenience when trying to use their phones in the air. (To put it another way: Even if your Note 7 is safe, the perception that it's dangerous could be a stumbling block.)
Over in the U.S., the FAA has said it's "working on guidance related to this issue," in a statement given to Gizmodo. The authority added, "if the device is recalled by the manufacturer, airline crew and passengers will not be able to bring recalled batteries or electronics that contain recalled batteries in the cabin of an aircraft, or in carry-on and checked baggage."
The consequences of an FAA ban would be far more serious for travelers.
Because of the vagaries of the way the Note 7 recall is being handled — without involvement from the Consumer Product Safety Commission — the latter point remains a grey area. But if an FAA ban did follow, it'd face the same logistical challenges as the current Aussie ban — identifying affected phones, and difficulty for passengers proving they have a "safe" unit. Naturally a ban on bringing Note 7s onto American airplanes in any capacity — even switched off in hand luggage — would have a far more serious impact on travelers.
However things unfold, it's yet more negative publicity for Samsung right as major rival Apple launches its latest iPhones.
Reader comments
Australian airlines ban Galaxy Note 7 use as FAA considers options
ban doesn't stop Note 7 owners bringing their phones onboard, but it will mean they'll need to remain switched off (and not charging) throughout the duration of the flight.
Good god. Sammy screwed the pooch so very hard this time. Damn.
No entry in airports with Samsung Note 7.
I'm not concerned about the FAA. After all this is the U.S. federal government and by the time they ban the Note 7 I'll be using a Note 10.
I would say that is the correct decision.
I lost my right asscheek last wk due to having the note7 in my back pocket.
Now everyone is calling me half-assed and I'm severely depressed
Oh boy here we go. I don't understand why the note is getting all this special aattention. Did they do this when the iPhone had the same problem? I just finish planning a trip for February, hopefully this histeria cools down long before then.
Yeah right. As if flight attendants will be able to identify Note 7s while walking down the aisles. I'm a phone nerd and even I would have trouble differentiating a Note 7 from an S7 Edge from an S6 Edge+ at a glance with a case wrapped around them. Your average flight attendant or non-techie person probably can't even reliably differentiate a Note 7 from an iPhone 6 Plus if they both have cases on.
I agree but I could see them asking people to remove the case so they can check. It clearly says it on the back of the phone. This whole thing feels like an overreaction.
Now I have to roll with the stigma of having the "exploding phone" I hope Samsung offers early note owners something to make up for this.
The TSA will definitely be briefed on this.
The flight attendants will have nothing to do with this
Its says Note 7s will still be allowed onto planes, they just have to be turned off. So how is TSA going to have anything to do with this?
Someone is gonna have to do the screening.
Yeah, I could be wrong
I read this as bureaucratic vindictiveness, a petty (but effective) way of getting back at Samsung for having not coordinated the recall through government agencies. The fact is that Samsung acted remarkably quickly and responsibly, but they have been criticized by "consumer watchdog" organizations and consumer protection agencies who believe that involving the government would make things go better. There have been numerous actual incidents of iPhones and other devices catching fire, including in-flight incidents, including Australian flights, but no such ban has been proposed.
Samsung should re-evaluate their decision to run the recall by themselves - not because they are doing it wrong, but to mollify the powerful bureaucrats who can make things go badly for them. I think the consumer "advocates" should be hailing Samsung's responsible and swift recall, which was already underway before they even heard of the issue.
I have a couple of comments...First, I think a ban on US carriers is imminent, unless Samsung decides to work with the Consumer Product Safety Commission. It's the only way the FAA will consider the issue taken care of properly. It will also help consumers know that the new device they get will not have the same issue. Second, All any TSA agent or Flight Attendant has to do is look at the bottom of the device. If it has a stylus, It's not an s7 Edge. Samsung would be VERY foolish not to work with the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Having the Note 7 banned from flights would basically kill the Note 7, and could significantly impair sales of future Note devices. I can't believe that they can't see this. Either they are starting to work with this agency, or perhaps there is more to this than Samsung cares to admit. I'm waiting to exchange mine until more info comes out, or at least until new ones are available. I love the phone.
Boy, Samsung really screwed the pooch on this phone. First they dropped the ball on the Note 5 and now this. IMO
If your phone's in a flip case how will they know? For that matter what flight attendant knows the difference between an S7 Edge and a Note 7? This could create a lot of contention on those airlines.
Not a good way to start off with the Note 7. Question is does this put a big consideration on people getting the phone that travel considering the Iphone 7 gets released next week and the LG V20 gets released soon too? I think a lot more people are going to hold out.
Just read a story about a house burning down in South Carolina and a Note 7 is suspect.
http://www.androidheadlines.com/2016/09/galaxy-note-7-may-blame-s-caroli...
Why would you plug your phone in then leave? Sounds fishy. I never leave my house without my phone.
Yeah I'm betting there is fraud going on. People see this as a way to use the Note 7 as a scapegoat. The burning Jeep? Lol, a setup if I've ever seen one. Inferno, perfectly photographed? Ok.
Haha, I think the same way.
Game does recognize game after all....
The jeep was in Florida, right? Think I just heard the story on the news about that today.
Well Crap. I was planning on exchanging my Note 7 for another one once Sprint gets them in, but now maybe not. I don't travel much but don't want the hassle when I do.
I hope the new Nexus is released soon, I may jump over to that. I was an HTC fanboy for years (only jumped to samsung with the Note 5) and I might have to jump back on that train if the Nexus is decent this year.
Samsung picked such a great time to blow it with their QA.
This sucks. I don't even own a Note 7 and I can acknowledge that this sucks. You pay so much money for your phone and you can't even use it on a plane ride? That's not cool. So many people are phone oblivious, that I just can't see this working out.
Okay, here's my question.
After the recall, how exactly are they going to know that my Note7 is not one of the recalled units when I get my replacement?
They won't but on the bright side they will forget and not care in 6 months top.
The serials will be logged in a database.
Will the TSA check every single Note7 that passes through with a database, though?
Takes some precious time.
No they won't care
You'll have to carry around your warranty exchange receipt everywhere you go LOL
Given the general inability of most people to tell one phone from another, this is going to be almost impossible to enforce.
I still get people calling all smartphones iPhones. Or who look at my phone with a Sony logo on the front and ask "is that a Samsung?". Good luck training all your airport security and cabin crew to recognise a Note 7 among all the thousands of black glass rectangles they see every day.
And let's not forget the cases that can hide logos....they might as well ban all Samsung phones....lol
I always get the "is that a galaxy?" or "is that the droid?"......
This is bad for business.
I applaud your brilliant deduction.
Posted via the Android Central App
Too bad for Sammy.
Would you mind saying that again
Too bad for Sammy
Samsung should do some type of mandatory recall for the Note7. And every person with a Note7 that says "my phone is fine" or "I'm not returning mine" is a complete idiot and they could possibly endanger their life and the lives of others around them. It's sad that people are so addicted to phones that they are willing to put lives at risk.
This is really ridiculous, why not ban charging of all devices with lithium ion batteries.
Are the other ones melting/catching fire/being recalled?
Being recalled? No. But there are other phones and other batteries that have had explosions and fires.
Yes. Every few months I read about 1 phone or another doing this. It's not a number of a certain model but it does happen. I read earlier this week about a 2 year old Galaxy S6 Active that did. Does that mean all S6 Actives are hazards now? Nope. And iPhones have exploded in folks pockets as well. Normally it's not a bunch at once hence the recall. But @texus915 is right.
Yes, punish everyone for Samsung's incompetence
Lives are literally at stake right now. Hell, someone has already totalled their Jeep from this problem.
I should buy put options on Samsung.. LoL
you can bring them on the plane they just ask that you do not charge or power them on. seems legit until the recall is done.
The problem you have is that people will just ignore the recall anyway. This means it will never truly be done.
trusting the public to follow simple instructions will bite you every time.
And for F... sake. They actually made the best Note to date and this happens. Now I'm mad at Samsung....(yeah, I'm a Samsung fanboy, girl...watevs lol). Still love this phone though.
Correction: Best Note to date is the Note 4. I'm typing this on a Note 7 btw.
I disagree. I think the Note 7 is better
I don't know if the 2 Note 4's I got were lemons ( I have owned every single Note) but it was the worse phone I ever owned and I stuck it out for a whole year. I had to change the first one because the battery was soo bad. The second one was a little better but couldn't hold charge for 6 hours tops and I am not a heavy user, I do have to talk alot on my phone due to my job.
Yeah, they were lemons.
I'm rocking the mighty note4 as we speak, with a fresh battery in it, and I love it as much as I did when I first picked it up.
I can easily hold on to this for another year
You definitely had lemons as my Note 4 is still working amazing and has great SOT (6-8 hours). I recently got a new battery for it and it is superb. The only reason I have a couple of other phones is because I'm a smartphone addict.
I'm so glad I didn't get one
This is getting bad now....banning the phone on an airline? While we might believe it's an over reaction, it does not help us the consumer. I don't know if I want to start fighting the FAA over a phone, I won't win. This is going to be a hassle....I love my Note 7 but Samsung better start thinking of something to make this better. I still want another note 7 but this is looking grim now if the US jumps on board.
My thoughts exactly - I'm an Android newbie, and this is the ONLY Android phone I've ever seen that could coax me out of the walled garden, but between scratch-gate, fire-gate, and now ban-gate, it is getting too risky. Worse yet, my corporate AT&T store told me yesterday it will be months, if ever, they get stock from Samsung on the GN7.
I doubt that some low paid phone jockey knows this. They are replacing those that have them first and then filling the online orders. My current Note 7 was built on 08/16 and I bought it on 08/19 so it's not like it takes months from build to arrival on U.S. shores. Just hold tight.
Samsung better start thinking of something to make this better? Like recalling all Note 7s and providing new ones?
And, yeah, I can't believe airlines would care one way or the other about things catching on fire on their planes...
Gah! Really hoping that the FAA doesn't make a decision anytime soon. I never fly but just happen to be going on vacation with my family next week. I'm counting on being able to use my phone for entertainment during the flight. My phone is fine and I can't trade it in with t-mobile for a few weeks until they get new stock. Or I could trade for something else, but I don't really want to.
I'm gonna have to use the panic door on you and your phone lol ;)
How do you know your Note is fine? Mine works but I can't tell if it won't catch on fire.
You can't know for sure (unless you have access to manufacturing data). But if your phone was manufactured in China, the possibility is decreased significantly (not completely, that's why ALL phones are being recalled). Turn your phone to the back. Near the bottom of the device, in small letters it will say, "Designed and Manufactured in XXXXXX". If it says China, you are less likely to have any issues. However, If it says Taiwan, or Vietnam, your chances of having one of the bad batteries is increased.
Samsung says it is not fine.
You can take the word from the people who made it, or trust random people on the internet.
Wow, selfish much?
Or do u want the possible entertainment of having a fire miles up in the air?
I'm sure all the people whose phones caught on fire said theirs were fine before they caught on fire...
Say all you want about how improbable it is to catch on fire.. Heck it's almost impossible, but I don't want to be over 30,000 feet in the sky in a tube with wings (which I really dislike doing without a Note 7) and have some numbskull charging his Note 7 in an overhead compartment and possibly have to deal with a fire. I'm a chef and see people turn pale in the face and have panic attacks over a tiny grease fires in the kitchen. Nahhh bro. Turn that Note 7 off when I'm in the plane with you or I'm gonna use the panic door on you and your phone ;).
This comment is awesome
Posted via the Android Central App
Seriously there are way worse high capacity power banks boarding these planes daily
Sounds like a big overreaction. I mean seriously ... the risk is always there as long as electronic devices with lithium batteries are on board. A bad cable, cheap powerbank, cheap swappable batteries, a malfunciton of a phone. So many phones catched fire in the past so you can't really nail it down to one specific device. The risk is always there, although it's very very low. Ir would probably make more sense to ban charging on board instead of banning a device.
The phone has only been out for a few weeks and already there are 35+ incidents. It may not sound like much when a few billion were sold, but it's still far more than usual. Given how paranoid the airline industry is on the best of days, it's no wonder they are taking this step now.
Umm your numbers are way off. You did a great job on 35+ but only 2.5 million were sold in the world so far.
I'd like you to take a look at the keyboard, look at how close the M and B keys are to each other, and ask yourself how likely it is that that was a simple typo versus how likely it is that he actually thinks that several billion Note 7s have been sold in the last few weeks.
I vote for the latter. Although my guess is he was employing a little hyperbole to downplay the battery issues altogether.
I'd argue that billion was not a typo given the proper punctuation and grammar used in the rest of his post.
I must have been tired when I typed this... Maybe I had Apple's 1 billion iOS devices sold claim in my head or something.
I did mean millions - thanks everyone for mocking me - I deserved it. :)
I think you meant a few trillion, not billion.
Yes, I meant millions. Posting right after waking up is a bad idea sometimes. :)
They haven't banned the device altogether, they are only stating not to charge the device onboard.
http://www.smh.com.au/business/innovation/qantas-bans-passengers-from-ch...
Wow this is getting worse really fast. Not sure what they can do and what I should do with my note 7 now.
Return it?
Winner!
Oh boy...
Ouch..