Airplane Mode: A Metaphor for Modern Solitude

By Steve Gahagen

I’ve often wondered about airplane mode. Does everyone really switch their phone to it? If one person’s failure to do so could crash the plane, wouldn’t airlines take it more seriously—checking phones, confiscating devices, maybe even installing those phone-locking pouches some schools use?

Confession: I like airplane mode. I almost feel guilty admitting it. In a world where we’re always connected, airplane mode offers an excuse to step away. Though my business card reimburses in-flight Wi-Fi, I rarely use it. Every now and then, it feels good to be offline—to think, reflect, or just take a nap.

Henri Nouwen once wrote, “Without solitude, we remain victims of our society and continue to be entangled in the illusions of the false self.”

Airplane mode is more than a feature—it’s a metaphor for that kind of solitude. A way to disconnect to reconnect.

Here’s why I think airplane mode matters:

  • You disconnect to reconnect.
    Sometimes, you need to disconnect from the world to reconnect with yourself—your thoughts, your body, and what really matters. Silence isn’t empty; it brings clarity.

  • There are no incoming demands.
    No texts, no emails, no pressure to respond. Airplane mode gives you permission to be unavailable. To pause without guilt.

  • It’s intentional.
    Nobody accidentally puts their phone in airplane mode. It’s a choice—a conscious decision to step back.

  • The world goes on without you.
    And that’s freeing. You don’t have to carry it all. When you return, you’re often clearer, calmer, more present—and more yourself.

Questions to Consider:

  • Why is it important to switch into airplane mode in our connected world? 

  • How do you practice airplane mode in your daily life? 

  • How can we help one another have intentional times of getting away from all the noise?

BlogRachael Ingersol