Noise cancelling headphones, flight attendants and travelers who are tools...

[11sjw]

If I had seen this behavior... I would have tapped him on the shoulder. Stupid rule or not and even consistently enforced or not........ If a member of the cabin crew asks you to do something, then their request is to be complied with. EVEN if you think you are in the right.

Whilst most aircrew I know tell me they think the rules are extreme and the devices concerned cause very little interference (happy to be corrected here) including phones I think the following instructions has to be the governing rule for behaviour on any mode of mass transport.

 

[notzac]

But if you really want to know I feel great (and laughing inside) when I pass that driver at Raymond Terrace on the side of the road with a police car behind them.

There is no excuse for doing the wrong thing. And no it is not right just because everyone else is going 10kph above the speed limit....

While I have no idea what Raymond Terrace is - I take perverse pleasure at actually doing 40 kph through roadworks, as signed. I've been flipped the bird and sworn at more times than I care to remember for doing so - sweet revenge seeing someone get pulled up for speeding ~100m down the road

Whilst most aircrew I know tell me they think the rules are extreme and the devices concerned cause very little interference (happy to be corrected here) including phones I think the following instructions has to be the governing rule for behaviour on any mode of mass transport.

Agreed - irrespective of what anyone thinks of the rules, if a member of crew instructs you to turn off <insert device here>, then you should damn well do so.

 

[JohnK]

While I have no idea what Raymond Terrace is - I take perverse pleasure at actually doing 40 kph through roadworks, as signed. I've been flipped the bird and sworn at more times than I care to remember for doing so - sweet revenge seeing someone get pulled up for speeding ~100m down the road

Raymond Terrace is just past Newcastle and it is a true story. Many years ago I was driving up to Coffs Harbour or Tweed Heads on a golfing trip and this person passed me on the freeway speeding. Thought nothing of it until 20-30 minutes later I pass him at Raymond Terrace pulled over on the side of the road getting a speeding ticket.

By the way I do exactly as you do when it comes to roadworks and speed limits in general. I really do not understand why people are in such a hurry all the time....

 

[Foxxy]

I was surprised last week when I was told not only to have the NC head phones turned off (which they already were) but I also had to remove them from my head :| The FA was actually quiet rude when I pointed out that they were in fact turned off, but he didnt care at all. Later I asked about this 'new rule' to another FA who stated that the first FA had gotten it wrong and all I had to do was ensure they were off during take off and landing.

 

[Batesy]

Last Sunday 18th April MEL-SYD QF on a 767. Mrs Batesy and I sitting in exit row seats across from FA seat. Very friendly FA advises us to take off not just turn off our NC headphones. I did'nt ask for an explanation, simply complied. She was very apologetic.

 

[danmancs]

Seriously though, if my ipod/headphones/other electronic device has the potential to cause electrical problems on a half a billion dollar aircraft, one would have to say that there are serious design flaws in the avionics systems on aircraft! I don't believe for one second that any electronic device could cause interference on a modern airliner, and I'd include phones and radio devices too, unless of course you are transmitting on an aviation frequency...

And as for taking off headphones because you might not hear instructions in an emergency, a) what about little foam earplugs, I've never been asked to take them out. b) I've seen plenty of people fast asleep until well after landing, and the FA's never wake them up. c) even with headphones on, I think it would be hard to remain oblivious in the event of an emergency!

 

[Smackbum]

Isn't it all about complying with instructions from the operator and their staff? Whether or not there is a real risk in not wearing a seatbelt, using/wearing NC headphones, or opening/closing window blinds is irrelevant. If you are told to do something then the best response is to do it and then raise the issue with the airline after the flight if you really have a bee in your bonnet about it.

Cooping up a selection of humanity in a small space seems to provoke a Lord of the Flies response, where some people feel obliged to assert their superiority.

 

[medhead]

Interesting.

How do you feel when you are driving at the speed limit and someone passes you?

I know that my aunts sees it as her duty to get in front of the speeding car and then slow down to the speed limit. Personally, I say let them go, as long as they don't endanger me. And i guess that is the key difference another speeding car isn't nessecarily endangering my life, whereas someone on the same aircraft as me operating electronics is endangering my life (as deemed, rightly or wrongly, by the authorities).

 

[737]

I was surprised last week when I was told not only to have the NC head phones turned off (which they already were) but I also had to remove them from my head :| The FA was actually quiet rude when I pointed out that they were in fact turned off, but he didnt care at all. Later I asked about this 'new rule' to another FA who stated that the first FA had gotten it wrong and all I had to do was ensure they were off during take off and landing.

I will assume you are travelling QF here, but I do apologise if the F/A was rude to you, and I certainly do hope it wasn't me as recently there have been a few instances where pax have been annoyed that I have asked them to take them off their head, but I usually do it in a nice way and apologise to be a pain :S

To be honest, we have been given the directive that NC Headsets

"can only be used after the seatbelt sign has been turned off
and until top of descent."

I have understood that as not to be used at all, switched on or off. Cabin crew aren't qualified in every single type of noise cancelling headset, in how to switch off every phone, or how each piece of new technology, so I go by the blanket rule that it needs to be a) switched off and b) stowed away. That is all I can ask of any pax to comply with our safety rules.

Once again sorry if an f/a has ever been rude to any of you, we try to endeavour to convey our message to you in a nice way, I know I try to.

 

[sarlatcycles]

I flew up to Karratha from Perth last week on a Qantas service (737) and it was the first time I heard the warning about NC headsets to be turned off for take off. I complied with the instruction and then put them on when the Inflight Entertainment started. I was then told to take them off 30 minutes out of Karratha will the Inflight Entertainment was still going..the FA said the new rule was brought in a week ago..

Yet when I took the flight home later that same day. I was on a 717 run by QantasLink and there was no mention about the headsets in the safety demo. The 717 doesn't have Inflight Entertainment so anyone with a headset on has to be using some kind of iPod, mp3 player so they are definitly are not going to hear any PA announcements during the flight.

Granted you shouldn't be using them on take off and landing on a 717 because it kind of indicates you are breaking the rules by playing a iPod or mp3 player during a period where they should be turned off. But if your plane has the inflight entertainment with all the radio channels available, why can't you board a plane, take your seat and listen to the radio on the NC headsets while waiting for the 20-30 minutes before you take off. Any safety anouncements cut into the playback so it is not as if you can't hear these messages.

I would like to know how many people, who use their laptops on flights, know where the button is to turn off their wireless and bluetooth transceivers. If I was a passenger I would be more worried with that than a humble NC headset.

 

[winfred]

Seriously though, if my ipod/headphones/other electronic device has the potential to cause electrical problems on a half a billion dollar aircraft, one would have to say that there are serious design flaws in the avionics systems on aircraft! I don't believe for one second that any electronic device could cause interference on a modern airliner, and I'd include phones and radio devices too, unless of course you are transmitting on an aviation frequency...

And as for taking off headphones because you might not hear instructions in an emergency, a) what about little foam earplugs, I've never been asked to take them out. b) I've seen plenty of people fast asleep until well after landing, and the FA's never wake them up. c) even with headphones on, I think it would be hard to remain oblivious in the event of an emergency!

I was going to call you stupid but I think that will achieve nothing so just ignore this post and I wrote it for other people to read.

If you come across someone like Danmancs who said electronic devices should not affect modem airliners, do not argue with him. Just make sure he complies with the rule and report him to the staff. Mr Aerospace Engineer, are you for real? How much do you know to make such a stupid comment? Are you going to compensate everyone for their loss of life and properties if your ignorance caused any damage? Expects argued for years and is still arguing some minor thing like effect of microwaved food on human health and you are telling me that electronic devices won't affect aircrafts?

DON'T LET ME BE ON THE SAME PLANE AS YOU OR....

 

[sjp]

I will always comply with FA's requests, and always take off my NC headphones (which now that I fly a lot more often are an absolute godsend to block out coughers and sneezers and snorers) when being talked to or served by an FA.

I have also noticed recently that FA's are becoming more insistent with removing NC headphones, although I find this behaviour inconsistent (some ask, some don't). I will generally leave my headphones on but turned off when landing unless asked.

Overall it's one of those things where we should be following the FA's instructions no matter what. They knows the rules and have the ability to make your life harder post-flight if you disobey enough. Whether you believe it to be valid or not, your phone should be off and your electronic devices should be put away, because that's what the rules say.

Something to think about for the rebellious ones out there is whether you would give the same attitude to TSA or other airport security staff. God knows I wouldn't.

 

[milehighclub]

Again it comes down to the reasons that you don't think off behind the rules

Take moving seats before take off for example

Now on smaller aircraft it does have an effect on the trim and balance of the aircraft. But on a A380 1 passenger moving seat is not going to effect much if anything, but your still required to stay in your allocated seat for take off. Now we always give the reason of balance and trim - but there is also a 2nd underlying reason why you need to stay in your allocated seat for take off (and landing not that anyone moves back)

You best option, as suggested by most of you - follow the rules. You know at QF we don't (generally) make up ad hoc rules etc as they tend to do in the US.

 

[JohnK]

Now we always give the reason of balance and trim - but there is also a 2nd underlying reason why you need to stay in your allocated seat for take off (and landing not that anyone moves back)

Care to elaborate further?

 

[medhead]

You know i thought about this during my flight tonight and i really can't see the point of leaving on NC headphones that are turned off, besides it would be a hassle to get up and put them away. Otherwise, i would find them an annoyance around my head. Guest I'm a child of the 80s and have fond memories of the first earbud 'phones

- but there is also a 2nd underlying reason why you need to stay in your allocated seat for take off (and landing not that anyone moves back)

Yes it makes it easier to identify the bodies

 

[munitalP]

ADL / MEL last night, 4D with Bose on ear active NC headphones was asked to remove them as opposed to turn them off, he was a bit testy but did follow the FA instructions followed up with a please explain.

The FA explained that to was a new directive which he seemed to accept without fuss, after she moved on, he grunted a few times but keep this headphones in his hands until the seatbelt sign was turned off.

I was snoozing most of the flight but did look u at one point from 4F to see the said gent in deep discussion with the CSM.

On descent, the same, the gent packed his NC headphones away without fuss. I would have loved to hear the CSM take on the NC headphone thing so if you were the gent in 4D, reply here with what the CSM had to say...

I have one issue with this process, on takeoff, the seatbelt sign is switched off reasonably quick to allow the flight crew to get up and about, however, depending where you are, from the top of decent to the gate seems to take weeks (SYD on a foggy day cutting "cloud 8's" while waiting for a slot, or MEL when TOD seems to be somewhere near Mansfield... Why are electronics turned off at that point and not when seatbelt signs come on again for landing approx the same time as the AVOD is unplugged?

Mr!

 

[danmancs]

I was going to call you stupid but I think that will achieve nothing so just ignore this post and I wrote it for other people to read.

If you come across someone like Danmancs who said electronic devices should not affect modem airliners, do not argue with him. Just make sure he complies with the rule and report him to the staff. Mr Aerospace Engineer, are you for real? How much do you know to make such a stupid comment? Are you going to compensate everyone for their loss of life and properties if your ignorance caused any damage? Expects argued for years and is still arguing some minor thing like effect of microwaved food on human health and you are telling me that electronic devices won't affect aircrafts?

DON'T LET ME BE ON THE SAME PLANE AS YOU OR....

Firstly, if you are going to be rude and offensive to me in your reply, please have the courtesy to use at least reasonable spelling and grammer in your post, and at least read what has actually been written, and not what you think I may mean.

Secondly, I made no mention of not complying with FA requests to do anything. I am a very courteous traveller and always follow the rules, regardless of whether I happen to think they are pointless.

My post was purely regarding the reasons for such rules, not a comment on whether we should obey them. And as I am actually an Engineer, I do have some understanding of electronics, thus I do find it rather unlikely that, particularly, non transmitting, low voltage, self-contained electronic devices, such as ipods, headphones, games, PDA's, etc.. have the potential to cause issues with aircraft systems. Moreover, I find it even more unlikely that aircraft systems would not be insulated/isolated from any possible interference.

Thanks.

 

[Katie]

Care to elaborate further?

I don't work for QF and am not an FA, but I've always thought one of the reasons for being in your allocated seat for takeoff and landing is that should the plane crash it might help with body identification.

No idea if that's something that's true or I imagined it; I could be completely wrong, but that's my guess at another/underlying reason. You certainly wouldn't want to tell most pax that's a reason, because you'd freak them out.

 

[NM]

I know as fact and from a great deal of personal experience, then when wearing in-ear sound-isolating ear phones and listening to music from my iPod, I will not be able to hear any PA announcements made by the crew. This is very different from wearing ear plugs as there is no other source of sound and a PA announcement can either be heard directly or the fact that an announcement is being made is clear even through the ear plugs. Its the presence of a sound source such as an iPod that ensures other cabin sounds are not heard.

Not hearing cabin PA announcements during the critical stages of flight (take-off, climb, decent and landing) could well pose either a safety issue or a significant inconvenience to me, other passengers or the airline. The risk may be low, but I believe it is real.

This will not be as evident if using NC headphones such as Bose as the sound isolation is nowhere near the same amount as well-fitting in-ear noise isolation ear phones. However, I believe in the interest of applying a rule that is able to be understood and enforced without confusion or bias, a blanket ban on all NC headphone/earphone devices is appropriate.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Unless the guy in 29J was compromising your safety, can someone please explain why you would even get upset?

Since when is it our duty to enforce good manners?

I simply don't understand why anyone would be tapping anyone else on the shoulder, or reporting to cabin crew or anything else.

And if you really think the guy in 29J COULD have been a safety risk, for example because he didn't hear the words 'evacuate' or something - do you get equally upset with an obese person and yell at them? I mean they are going to seriously hamper your evacuation as well.

Come on. We're not in a nanny state. Nor are we the police to enforce things

Keep your business to yourself, unless you are sitting next to the person and they are between you and the aisle (or they are at an exit) and you need them to pay attention to the safety demo!