Imagine have a phone app that would basically take over your life for you – at least when you’re going on a trip.

The people at zdnet.com quote an airline tech guy as saying, “if you are getting out of your car at the airport, the app that has the details of your flight realizes you have not checked in and lights up and asks you whether you want to check-in.” That has always been my spouse’s job, but I think he’d give it up.

Want more? The article says such an app could “detect when a traveler misses their connection after an incoming flight has been delayed, and then automatically books a seat on the next onward flight”.

They say this could be a reality in another 12 to 18 months. Could be.

Well, that’s good enough for me. Heck, I don’t even have an iPhone, but I’d get this app.

This happened last summer.

A woman boarded a Southwest flight in Nashville, heading for somewhere in California (the story in the Tennessean is a little short on specifics) and she was texting on her cell phone. That’s when a male flight attendant “rudely” approached her and told her “to turn off [the] phone and buckle up.”

The nerve!

She claims she immediately complied. She also claims, that didn’t matter, because the flight attendant returned eight more times to tell the woman to turn off her phone. Finally the flight attendant threatened to throw her off the plane and the “exasperated” passenger basically responded with, “go ahead” – and they did. The pilot returned to the gate and off she went. According to her attorney, the charges were eventually dismissed and now she’s suing.

Seems to me there’s a whole lot missing from this report. I say this because I’m pretty sure flight attendants are busy enough without feeling the need to tell people to turn off cell phones that are already off. And call me crazy, but do pilots really bother returning planes to gates and trashing their airlines’ schedule all because someone complied with a crew request?

Southwest isn’t comment (pending suit and all) – but you can comment – below.

I didn’t even know that silver-haired minx was still writing that “Hints from Heloise” column, but clearly she is, and here is a good one (from the Erie-Times News):

“I’ve seen many uses for cell-phone cameras, but here’s one we use when we travel. Take a few quick photos of your rental car, the license plate and the brand/model logo. It might help you prove the car’s condition upon returning it.” –Hints from Heloise

This is also a great way to FIND your car – ever been in a parking lot populated with rentals that all look like yours? And of course, who can remember the color (my spouse did once suggest that I simply look at the tag attached to the car keys which has a description and license plate number, but Mr. Know-It-All didn’t realize I’d, ah, misplaced those keys…)

BONUS: Heloise’s real name is Ponce Kiah Marchelle Heloise Cruse Evans.

Well, no need for ME to tell you about it – not when my boss, Rick Seaney, has already written the be-all-and-end-all column on the subject – for ABCNews.com.

Check it out by clicking here – that’s the Cliff Notes version – and you can go to the entire column from there if you like.

Oh, there is also mention of the internet – and porn on planes.Thought that might get your attention.

According a new poll, 4 out of 5 Australians say cell phones on planes would drive them “crazy”.

Oh, perhaps not clinically – but who knows? In any event, most would find these devices “hugely irritating”.

Don’t worry, mates – you’re not alone – nobody much likes them in the U.S. either (and here’s an amusing post on the subject, courtesy Rick Seany). But some airlines already allow them, and Ryanair is gearing up for them.

You’ve been warned.