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Can I bring my Nintendo DS onto planes?

Hi all, I'll be flying to LAX tomorrow with British Airways and I'm wondering whether I can bring my Nintendo DS to stop myself from getting bored on the plane? They say some electronical items such as MP3 players are permitted but the Nintendo DS does feature something called Wi-Fi to allow it to connect to other DS' for multiplayer games.

Obviously I'll just be sticking to games that won't use this feature, but even if it won't be used, does the fact that it can transmit wireless signals if wanted mean I won't be able to bring it with me on board?

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Reply 1

matchu

I've had my PSP on a couple of flights. Just turn off the wireless and you should be fine.

Reply 2

plotty

as long as its used when designated by the air staff then shud b fine. WIFI although gives off the signals if u leave it switched off then shouldnt b a problem

Reply 3

Cortez

Ive used them on-board before. Just dont use Wi-Fi and you will be fine.

Reply 4

chidori

Ok thanks. It's just that some games might have some feature where it's transmitting and receiving wireless signals continuously in the background (not sure about this though), even when you think you've turned it off.

Reply 5

Cortez

Yeah thats the thing with DS's, theres not an off switch like the PSP. Just take it and play it, im sure it will be fine. I doubt games will be transmitting for the sake of it anyway.

Reply 6

Zinc11

Dont play during takeoff and landing.
Turn off the wi-fi.

Try not to play games with the wifi.

Oh, I dont know how strict the airlines and security are but it should be okay.

Reply 7

banksy

i took my psp and so did my brother, we were doing wireless linkup on NFS the whole journey

Reply 8

mshar

They get dodgy about baby milk, I don't know how they'll let you use a electronic gadget that has the "capabilities" to bring a plane down.

Reply 9

Arteta

It doesn't really have capabilities, it's just a possibility...and airlines work on the assumption that if something can go wrong, it will. If one tiny Wifi interference would bring down a plane you wouldn't be able to use them...They just don't let you use them because it's unnessecary...I'm sure if you used your phone on a plane it would be ok, but if everybody did it...it wouldn't exactly do the plane any good...

Whereas if people tamper with liquids, it WILL bring down the plane.

...I used my psp on a plane recently, just don't use wifi.

Reply 10

pumpkin7

as long as it isn't to the USA, you will be fine.

Reply 11

SarahB_

Zinc11

Dont play during takeoff and landing.
Turn off the wi-fi.

Try not to play games with the wifi.

Oh, I dont know how strict the airlines and security are but it should be okay.

I've only flown to Southampton recently.. but I was still ok using my mp3 and receiving radio signals - you aren't meant to use electrical items when the seatbelt sign in on.. mind you I used my mp3 whilst our plane refuelled in Germany last summer.. but that was before the heightened security.

Reply 12

T_Nts

Re. using stuff on aircraft.. this is part of an article that was in the Economist recently. Interesting :smile:

Please switch off all mobile phones, since they can interfere with the aircraft's navigation systems. At least, that's what you've always been told. The real reason to switch them off is because they interfere with mobile networks on the ground, but somehow that doesn't sound quite so good. On most flights a few mobile phones are left on by mistake, so if they were really dangerous we would not allow them on board at all, if you think about it. We will have to come clean about this next year, when we introduce in-flight calling across the Veritas fleet. At that point the prospect of taking a cut of the sky-high calling charges will miraculously cause our safety concerns about mobile phones to evaporate.

Reply 13

addagrrr8

you can have the wireless on now... the airlines even offer wireless internet on the planes..

i flew back from florida a few months ago and was on the internet on my laptop the whole time.

Reply 14

Mustard-man

banksy

i took my psp and so did my brother, we were doing wireless linkup on NFS the whole journey

Ahhhhh dear :rolleyes:

Reply 15

samwright8380

the airlines worry about the signals as some interfere with the plane´s radar capability. Only certain signals will do it, but rather than check everything, they don´t let anything be used to be on the safe side (looks like they may have relaxed this though). In my military days i used to fly in cargo planes, and they´d make you tape loose batteries together as if the points touch the field caused can interfere.

Reply 16

Ron Stoppable

Ryanair London>Esbjerg>London were happy with me using my laptop, as long as it wasn't during take-off, landing or taxiing. They didn't mention anything about using wireless and I didn't try to.

Reply 17

foxiroxi

See if the plane that you are traveling on is wifi enabled, pay for the use and browse the internet! :smile:

Reply 18

andy_cole2

there is no actaul safety hazard associated with any form of mobile phones/ electrical stuff ruining anythign in the aeroplane its just something airliners say for a reason i can't rightly remember...but there is a reason :p: