There appears to be a trend in Society where people blindly accept the spin (bullshit) that is peddled to them. For example, the airlines have different policies when it come to mobile phone use when taxiing to the terminal.
Qantas allows its passengers to turn on and use their mobiles, while Jetstar and Virgin Blue do not. The reason given by the latter two is for safety reasons, as they will be refueling.
After researching the internet, I can't find anything to verify the claim of volatility of jet fuel.
I think that the real reason that Jetstar and Virgin Blue don't want their customers to use mobile phones is because it will delay the boarding/departure process.
Customers handling their luggage, children, talking on mobiles and texting would further delay the process. So, the real reason is an economic one. Slowing the turnaround process costs the airlines money. The utilization of their jet fleets is maximized with a quick turnaround.
Qantas is not concerned as it has the dominant market share. It charges a substantial premium over the low cost airlines and does not have the economic pressure of quick turnarounds.
It would be unplatable to tells customers the truth. However if it is presented as a "little white lie" about safety, customers will blindly accept this.
