Cell phone service on an airplane at high altitudes?

You were probably too far from a base station to get reception. At 36,000 feet, you're at least seven miles from the nearest base station, and often much more. In any case, the FCC prohibits the use of cell phones in flight, supposedly because they will activate too many base stations at once. However, as you've seen, sometimes they don't reach any base stations at all. The FAA has no specific regulations concerning cell phones; the prohibition is mainly that of the FCC, which is unconditional. The crew cannot override that prohibition. However, the FAA also prohibits the use of electronic devices in flight unless an airline has determined that they are harmless to aircraft systems (which no airline does, because it's too expensive). That's why cabin crews tell you to turn off electronic devices during flight. Cell phones typically have no effect on aircraft systems (your cell phone was transmitting away while you were trying to use it, and yet the aircraft still flew). The FCC prohibition protects cell networks, not aircraft. The FAA prohibition on electronic devices is designed to err on the side of safety, but no accident has ever been caused by such devices. Violating FAA or FCC regulations typically results in a fine, not jail time. However, refusing to turn something off if the crew tells you to turn it off (or turning something on after being told not to turn it on) might be construed as a violation of Federal law as well as FAA regulations, and that can potentially result in a jail sentence. There are occasional anecdotal reports of interference between phones or other gadgets and aircraft systems, but it is difficult to tell whether they are the result of crew imagination or real interference. In tests conducted in commercial airliners, effects are typically zero, although it's impossible to guarantee that a gadget will never interfere under any circumstances. Some smaller aircraft might be more vulnerable, but here again, data is lacking. Transmitting devices, such as cell phones, are more likely to cause trouble than non-transmitting devices, such as laptop computers or GPS receivers.

I'll make this simple. the towers are on the ground so when you are up in the sky the signal isn't really focusing it's attention up there, more towards the ground where the majority of the people would use it. when 9/11 phone calls were made, those planes were out of control and flew pretty low. i have made text messages from aircraft when flying low but once you get up there you'll see your bars flash good strength to no strength continuously.