no rhyme or reason whatsoever!

There is no protocol on this issue whatsoever. I have had my QC1's on, and been fine. Other flights, told to take them off. #1 1K GF, has had her QC2's on, fine, other flights told to take them off. We are either always in F, or exit row.

My worst experience with this, was a flight about three months ago. I was seated in exit, window, the one without a seat in front (nice, nice legroom)

The guy on the aisle was listening to his ipod, and using his blackberry. He was hiding the idop under his magazine, evertime the FA came by. He had the Qc2's on and plugged into the ipod. So, on the runway, at TAKE OFF, I tapped him and said "would you mind turning off the blackberry and the ipod for takeoff?" He looked at me, obviously annoyed that I had pointed this out. And said no, so I said "well, I know it is a stupid rule, but it IS A RULE, and I would rather you not jeapardize MY security in the process" "and, just as a side note, the FA will probably tell you the headphones have to be off too, anything with "an on/off switch" I know, this makes no real sense. So, the guy said, "no that is not true" I said, well they just SAID it and I would say 5 times out of 10, I get told to take them off. So the guy says, let's ask the FA.

The FA came by, after he had turned off the ipod, and the blackberry and he stops the FA and says, "do I have to remove my headphones?" and the FA says, in a very technical way "no, since they are plugged into the armrest plug, it is okay" I mean, what the F does that have to do with anything?

At that point, I had had enough and I tried to point out to the FA, that indeed the headphones were powered, that is what the little red light meant, "no, since they are plugged IN, that is okay"

Three times, they came by, consolled the guy, since of course he was sitting next to a NUT like me. I mean, all I would like is a BIT of consistancy, but we are dealing with people here, so that is pretty much impossible.

My policy, wait till take off has occurred, and put them on them. Saves any hassle.