When Bose Headsets go Missing (merged threads)
Mar 9, 2016, 9:30 am
#31
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: AAdvantage PP
Posts: 13,913
Happened some years back when I was on a GRU/MIA flight, not sure what happened in the end. I thought FAs were suppose to take note of which paxs have gotten them and therefore mark off which paxs have return them.
Mar 9, 2016, 9:36 am
#32
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Dallas
Programs: AAdvantage EXP, IHG Spire, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, National Executive Elite
Posts: 1,523
I've had it happen on almost every flight it seems that they cant find one. I havent heard the announcements, but they will continue to come by and try to grab my personal Bose. I've actually had FAs try to grab my case to "induce me" to turn mine in while Im engrossed in a movie or work. I think its incredibly rude.
I had one FA come by no less than 5 times to collect my headset even after each time I told her it was mine. I finally snapped at her and told her to "check the damn list of who you handed them out to".
I had one FA come by no less than 5 times to collect my headset even after each time I told her it was mine. I finally snapped at her and told her to "check the damn list of who you handed them out to".
Mar 9, 2016, 9:59 am
#33
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
I've had it happen on almost every flight it seems that they cant find one. I havent heard the announcements, but they will continue to come by and try to grab my personal Bose. I've actually had FAs try to grab my case to "induce me" to turn mine in while Im engrossed in a movie or work. I think its incredibly rude.
I had one FA come by no less than 5 times to collect my headset even after each time I told her it was mine. I finally snapped at her and told her to "check the damn list of who you handed them out to".
I had one FA come by no less than 5 times to collect my headset even after each time I told her it was mine. I finally snapped at her and told her to "check the damn list of who you handed them out to".
Mar 9, 2016, 10:14 am
#34
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Signatures
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: London, England
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador, National Exec, AA EXP Emeritus
Posts: 9,765
The CoC is one thing, but what happens physically on the plane when the door is closed is not generally subject to state criminal law, and at least in a great majority of cases this is true for the purposes of tort as well.
Mar 9, 2016, 10:15 am
#35
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: LAX; AA EXP, MM; HH Gold
Posts: 31,789
There is a simple low-tech solution to this problem:
Simply place a coat-check hang tag on each headphone case. As they're passed out, the FA notes the seat number, tears off the stub, requests the passenger initial the stub, FA collects the stub, and hands over the headphones. When they're turned in, FA returns the initialed stub to the passenger, serving as a receipt should the FA later attempt to accuse the passenger of theft. Should be pretty easy to figure out who didn't turn in their headphones.
Simply place a coat-check hang tag on each headphone case. As they're passed out, the FA notes the seat number, tears off the stub, requests the passenger initial the stub, FA collects the stub, and hands over the headphones. When they're turned in, FA returns the initialed stub to the passenger, serving as a receipt should the FA later attempt to accuse the passenger of theft. Should be pretty easy to figure out who didn't turn in their headphones.
Mar 9, 2016, 11:01 am
#36
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: AA, United
Posts: 280
There is a simple low-tech solution to this problem:
Simply place a coat-check hang tag on each headphone case. As they're passed out, the FA notes the seat number, tears off the stub, requests the passenger initial the stub, FA collects the stub, and hands over the headphones. When they're turned in, FA returns the initialed stub to the passenger, serving as a receipt should the FA later attempt to accuse the passenger of theft. Should be pretty easy to figure out who didn't turn in their headphones.
Simply place a coat-check hang tag on each headphone case. As they're passed out, the FA notes the seat number, tears off the stub, requests the passenger initial the stub, FA collects the stub, and hands over the headphones. When they're turned in, FA returns the initialed stub to the passenger, serving as a receipt should the FA later attempt to accuse the passenger of theft. Should be pretty easy to figure out who didn't turn in their headphones.
Mar 9, 2016, 12:40 pm
#37
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Maryland
Programs: Hilton Diamond, AA Ex. PLT, Delta Diamond
Posts: 190
Had a new one back in November on DFW-LHR.
About 30 minutes before landing after the Bose headsets had been collected, the purser made a polite, non-accusatory announcement along the lines of "we are still missing one Bose headset. Please double check your seat and help us locate it."
Apparently it was not located, because the next announcement was soon to follow. It was still polite, but a bit more firm. She essentially said that the headset was still missing and that all items must be accounted for before pax can deplane (I forget the exact term she used in reference to inventory being complete before pax can deplane).
Another few minutes passed, and FAs were making continuous passes up and down the aisle. I had my own Bose headset and the FA asked to quickly take a glance at it to verify.
Finally, a much more stern announcement was made that essentially told us that we'd all be sitting on the tarmac until the missing headset was found. I'm guessing it was turned in because there were no more announcements and we deplaned without event at LHR.
Does AA have a SOP for when headsets go missing? This was the first time in quite a few international flights that I've ever witnessed it, and it was on a 77W so it's not like someone could take the headset and plug it into their iPhone.
About 30 minutes before landing after the Bose headsets had been collected, the purser made a polite, non-accusatory announcement along the lines of "we are still missing one Bose headset. Please double check your seat and help us locate it."
Apparently it was not located, because the next announcement was soon to follow. It was still polite, but a bit more firm. She essentially said that the headset was still missing and that all items must be accounted for before pax can deplane (I forget the exact term she used in reference to inventory being complete before pax can deplane).
Another few minutes passed, and FAs were making continuous passes up and down the aisle. I had my own Bose headset and the FA asked to quickly take a glance at it to verify.
Finally, a much more stern announcement was made that essentially told us that we'd all be sitting on the tarmac until the missing headset was found. I'm guessing it was turned in because there were no more announcements and we deplaned without event at LHR.
Does AA have a SOP for when headsets go missing? This was the first time in quite a few international flights that I've ever witnessed it, and it was on a 77W so it's not like someone could take the headset and plug it into their iPhone.
This does not surprise me. I sat next to someone on a Delta flight with AA headphone, the tape he used to hide the marking was falling off. It was obvious they were stolen or he "FORGOT" to give them back. Regardless this hurts us all because I bet you they figure how much they loose each month in headphones and other items and raise the prices the following month to capture that loss.
Mar 9, 2016, 1:32 pm
#38
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Oakland
Programs: AA Explat, UA former 1K + PremExec, DL
Posts: 1,151
search for airline headphone adapter.
Mar 9, 2016, 2:30 pm
#39
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Northeast Kansas | Colorado Native
Programs: Amex Gold/Plat, UA *G, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Gold, NEXUS, TSA Disparager Unobtanium
Posts: 21,603
I've got my own pair of Bose that I use on-board, but I've noticed that when the FAs come around with the cheap earbuds, they will often pass around the airline adapters for pax to keep. I've been given several of them over the years and they work great with my QC 15s.
Mar 9, 2016, 2:43 pm
#40
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: NYC/PSP
Programs: AA EXP, A3 Gold
Posts: 4,106
The FAs have no one to blame but themselves in these situations. If they were more methodical in collecting them, as they usually are when distributing them, they would know exactly the seats where the missing ones are.
Mar 9, 2016, 3:10 pm
#41
Join Date: Oct 2006
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,635
Since it has already been established that a certain amount of these are outright stolen, I can't agree that the FA's are solely to blame when headphones are missing.
Mar 9, 2016, 3:22 pm
#42
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA
Posts: 432
This does not surprise me. I sat next to someone on a Delta flight with AA headphone, the tape he used to hide the marking was falling off. It was obvious they were stolen or he "FORGOT" to give them back. Regardless this hurts us all because I bet you they figure how much they loose each month in headphones and other items and raise the prices the following month to capture that loss.
Mar 9, 2016, 3:32 pm
#43
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: South Florida
Programs: AA LTG (EXP), Hilton Silver (Dia), Marriott LTP (PP), SPG LTG (P) > MPG LTPP
Posts: 11,329
This does not surprise me. I sat next to someone on a Delta flight with AA headphone, the tape he used to hide the marking was falling off. It was obvious they were stolen or he "FORGOT" to give them back. Regardless this hurts us all because I bet you they figure how much they loose each month in headphones and other items and raise the prices the following month to capture that loss.
Mar 9, 2016, 3:44 pm
#44
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: NYC/PSP
Programs: AA EXP, A3 Gold
Posts: 4,106
They would know who stole them, or at least be able to narrow it down, instead of making these very unprofessional announcements.
Last edited by justforfun; Mar 9, 2016 at 4:04 pm
Mar 9, 2016, 4:00 pm
#45
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: DCA | DEN
Programs: AA EXP/2.9mm | Marriott LT Titanium 1.6k nights | NEXUS
Posts: 981
I think you are right. I had one of those 2-pin adapters with the older QC15s but when I gave them to my nephew I didn’t keep it. Apparently the AA 15/25s need 3 pins, which include 1 for power. The i20s in-ear don’t have the old 15 (or new) 2-pin adapter [minus 1 for power from the AA proprietary version]. The 2-pin stereo adapter is pretty cheap ($7.95) so that’s not so bad. I may get one.
