Besides, what if they did? You think you need to use your device just because the pilot is?

I accidentally left my iPad in the seat-back on a recent flight — my case, it turns out, is a perfect match for Delta-leather-blue. Even though this is an iPad with cellular, I'd switched it to airplane mode and thus was unable to locate it with "Find My". After three days the airline hadn't found it, and I chalked it up to an expensive lesson learned.

On day four, I received a push message (from Find My) that the iPad had come to life. An airport staffer had found it and charged it up. Presumably it cold boots with airplane mode switched off, so it connected to the cellular network, received the "lost device" command, displayed my contact info, etc. I received a call shortly thereafter.

When I picked up the iPad at baggage services, I chatted with the staff a bit. They let me in on the "secret" that most airline employees never switch their devices into airplane mode anymore, and for this exact reason.

Nah, they haven't asked passengers to turn off devices in years. They just want them placed on airplane mode so they're not connecting to cellular networks. Bluetooth and WiFi are just fine.