SMS over wifi when in airplane mode

[anon(19759)]

When I'm flying, I put my GS8 in airplane mode, then turn on wifi and connect to the airplane wifi network. That all works fine, but the issue I have is half the time I'm still able to send SMS through the Google Messages SMS app, and half the time I get a pop up that says I can't send SMS because I'm in airplane mode. Is there any rhyme or reason as to when I can and can't send SMS while on wifi only? Sometimes I'm forced to use a data-messaging app like Hangouts or FB Messenger and sometimes I can just text as usual. Strange.

 

[anon(19759)]

no one else here ever flies anywhere and has this issue?

 

[smokyi]

Try WhatsApp? For SMS You need SIM card, I guess..

 

[hellosailor]

Technically, SMS uses a cellular command channel not to be confused with text messaging on WiFi. And once you turn on WiFi, you just defeated one piece of airplane mode, which turns off ALL the radios on the phone. So, what you are sending and what is really being sent as, may not be SMS that will depend on how the app, or the phone, is switching services. And the in flight WiFi may also be disabled below 10,000 feet during takeoff and landing approaches--when no one is supposed to be using it.