Aviation authorities firm against phones

Though Chinese airlines allow most personal electronic devices above a certain altitude during flights, restrictions on mobile phones remain in effect.

According to Chinese civil aviation safety regulations, the use of mobile phones is not allowed throughout an entire flight, including takeoff and landing. Violations are subject to fines and other punishment.

Many travelers believe a mobile phone's airplane mode makes them safe to use during flights, but civil aviation authorities have not determined whether the mode can effectively cut off signals from the device, said Zhang Chen, an aviation safety controller with China Eastern Airlines.