For countless British holidaymakers, the Amazon Kindle is a suitcase essential, saving precious space and weight by replacing heavy physical books. This slim device allows you to carry an entire library abroad, making it the perfect travel companion. However, a compelling new argument suggests the best way to use your Kindle is to keep it permanently disconnected.
The Case for Permanent Airplane Mode
While flight attendants instruct passengers to switch devices to airplane mode during flights, most users promptly revert to normal settings upon landing. Journalist Anthony Marcusa strongly advises against this habit. Writing for Pocket-lint, he urges users to maintain their Kindle in airplane mode indefinitely, even when firmly on the ground.
The primary reason is privacy. Kindles are operated by Amazon and linked directly to your account for purchasing books. When connected to the internet, the company gains detailed insight into your reading habits and interests. This data is then used to recommend products and advertise services, encouraging further spending. Simply switching to offline mode helps limit this tracking.
Enhanced Experience Without the Distractions
Thankfully, a Kindle's core functionality remains largely intact in airplane mode. You can still read your books, and your progress is tracked locally, syncing once you reconnect. Marcusa outlines how a disconnected reading session offers a significantly better experience.
Reading without the distractions of online notifications from your phone or other devices leads to deeper immersion and a more fulfilling escape into your book. It creates a valuable barrier against the constant digital interruptions of the modern world.
The Critical Safety Reason for Airplane Mode
This advice follows a pilot's recent explanation of why airplane mode is a genuine safety requirement during flights. Savina Paül, an A330 pilot, explained on the podcast Supersonic Anonymous that aircraft systems are sensitive to external electrical interference.
She clarified that while a single mobile phone causes no issue, the cumulative effect of hundreds of active devices can be problematic. This is especially critical during high-precision approaches, known as Category 3 or autoland procedures, where interference could affect the plane's instruments at a vital moment.
'One mobile phone switched on does nothing,' the Barcelona-based pilot stated, 'but 300 mobile phones at once, especially during a high-precision approach, can cause interference.' This underscores that using flight mode is a fundamental safety measure, not just a courtesy.
Combining this essential in-flight safety practice with the post-flight benefits of privacy and focus presents a powerful case for keeping your Kindle switched offline far more often.
