13 Comments
User's avatar
ASP's avatar

The airline is shirking its responsibility if it doesn’t require its flight attendants to enforce its rules. It shouldn’t fall on the passenger to endure unpleasant or inappropriate behavior or have to engage in a personal interaction to try to stop it.

Expand full comment
Christopher Elliott's avatar

Maybe the rules need to be revised. I had no idea these headsets could be so loud.

Expand full comment
ThePossum's avatar

I recently took an overnight flight from the US to Europe, and I wish the problem had been electronics! No, my seat mates (I was on the aisle of a 3-seat row) were "influencers" who simply talked non stop for 6 of the 10-hour flight. Literally non-stop. At normal volume. About nail polish, and their boyfriends, and what their boyfriends did and didn't know about their influencer lives, about the concerts they'd been to, about the clubs they were going to, about their bikinis and bikini waxes, you get the picture....

It started off annoying, became nearly unbearable, then ridiculous, and finally pathetic. Their obliviousness has become a cautionary tale.

Expand full comment
Barry Graham's avatar

That's also an issue. People are against phone calls for the same reason, but I think that the volume of conversation is just as much of a potential issue. In reality, people can get annoyed by anything if they don't stop themselves. The choice of whether to be bothered is up to the person who's being bothered.

Expand full comment
MSD001's avatar
21hEdited

Flight attendant should preemptively deal with this issue. As they pass through the cabin, checking seatbelts, and that your seats in an upright position, they should talk to anyone who’s not using a headphone. And subsequently as a pass through the cabin throughout the flight, they should be monitoring for this as well.

Expand full comment
Alan Gore's avatar

I never use IFE on flights, and I don't bring my own music or movies. What I have queued up on my iPad Pro is books and magazines.

Expand full comment
Christopher Elliott's avatar

Now wouldn't that be something if flight attendants handed out books at the beginning of a long flight! ;-)

Expand full comment
Barry Graham's avatar

A distracting laptop is no worse than a distracting screen on the back of a seat. I agree that nobody else should be able to hear the audio. I'm very troubled by the lack of morality and the content that is available on the in-flight entertainment to the point where I look for airlines that don't have in-flight entertainment when I'm booking flights for my children. I also find it distracting to have different movies within my line of vision. So I think it's good that they're taking away the screens. If they must have screens I would rather they had the screens available to be used as second monitors for my laptop.

Expand full comment
MCStorm's avatar

The article is right. You have to take matters into your own hands because no one else will. Don't leave home without two things: silicone earplugs (the foam ones are useless) and a white noise app on your phone. When you check into a hotel, immediately look at the floor map. If they put you next to an elevator or an ice machine, go straight back to the desk and ask for a change before you even take your bags up. Stop hoping for quiet; plan for it

Expand full comment
Willieron's avatar

I protect myself with my Bose noise canceling earbuds.

Expand full comment
Brian Lintz's avatar

It's the airlines fault. They should have never gotten rid of the seat back screens.

Expand full comment
Jane ALBERICO's avatar

I think it’s acceptable to respectfully ask to please have quiet conversations. It works SOMETIMES but not always. I bring my own eye mask and sound cancelling headphone.

Expand full comment
Christopher Elliott's avatar

Agree. I was probably not as respectful as I should have been.

Expand full comment