I will assume that this is a joke. Do you really think that an airplane's safety is compromised by one passenger not listening to the meaningless announcements? Would it matter if anyone listened? Would they even remember? Maybe it just makes everyone 'feel' safe. I suppose there's nothing wrong with that.

I fly more than cabin crew or pilots, so I don't need to be nannied into the announcement drivel. I have myself operated an emergency exit on an AA flight from ORD to YYZ in the winter on a DC9. With the greatest respect to their colleagues, the teenage cabin crew were utterly useless in a state of complete shock.

Headphones or not, do you think anyone is paying attention? What about reading or sleeping through announcements; are you proposing passengers are offloaded for that?

The airline is legally obligated to make sure that during the take off and landing phases of the flight that there is nothing impeding you hearing any kind of announcement in an emergency. If the passenger chooses to listen or not is their own business but they have fulfilled their obligation. Also not everyone has flown as much as you so just because you have heard it a million times and know it by heart doesn't mean that everyone else on the plane has also.

More from both sides who claim it was the other party who had an attitude:

http://bermudasun.bm/main.asp?Sectio...rticleID=52205

The plane was waiting for a runway spot when Mr Outerbridge is alleged to have argued with a steward when asked to comply with safety regulations and put his headphones away.

PC Patterson said: “The man responsible caused considerable inconvenience to airport staff, the airline and other passengers.”

Mr Outerbridge, an English literature student at St Thomas University in New Brunswick, told the Bermuda Sun yesterday that a steward had told him to take his headphones off so he could hear safety instructions. But he said: “The headphones weren’t plugged into anything and I showed him that.

“He came back and kept harassing me. I repeated they weren’t plugged into anything and asked what his problem was.

“I pulled the headphones up on my head. I saw other people with headphones and he didn’t say anything to them. It was a total overreaction.

“I was escorted by about five or six cops who were rude and making fun of me because of this stupid thing.

“The steward had a problem with me personally — as soon as I went on the plane he was telling me about the headphones and I’d already seen people with headphones on.

“The airline was unfair but it’s not a big deal. I want to put it behind me.”

Mr Outerbridge had to pay for an overnight stay at a hotel before travelling home the following day.

He said: “The police told me I wouldn’t get my money back.

“My parents spoke to the airline and I got an Air Canada flight the next day.”

This is my point (you can lead a horse to water...). If he chooses not to listen, that is his choice; whether he chooses not to listen by wearing headphones, reading a newspaper, daydreaming, sleeping, fantasising about the FAs, or whatever else shouldn't matter.

I cannot be convinced that the safety of the aircraft or any other passenger was/is compromised by one guy listening to music. Just think about it!

A complete idiotic and stupid overreaction by AC if this story is right. If I was a passenger on that flight I would have wanted the pilot to get on with his job and fly the plane and the overzealous steward should focus on customer service and not get overly arsy about a safety demonstration that everyone in the industry know no one listens to.

I don't think him having his headphones on is compromising the safety of the aircraft or passengers but his beligerance when asked to remove them is the number one reason he was taken off because if he is being that resistant to that then who knows what else could happen during the flight. I agree with you that people don't always listen to the announcements. I have heard them so many times I could quote them in my sleep and often I don't listen to them but at the same time I am complying with the regulation that says over the ear type of headphones are not allowed during the take off and landing phases.

Better climate in Gitmo than Bermuda...

When flying with AC or anyone else we AGREE to the CoC. Otherwise we have the options of NOT flying OR of chartering our own aircraft.

What seems to be the problem with agreeing to "da rules" and then wanting to change "da rules" to suit our own convenience before/during/after/(insert here) flying??

Ignorance of "da rules" is not a valid argument ... :p

Duhhh??

Other type of headphones have yet to be approved by Transport Canada. I am sure by the end of this year or in 2012, new procedures will be in place but in the interim the rules are the rules and this kid was on the receiving end of what is know as being "Yellow Carded" by the FA and having the Captain signing it for his confrontational behaviour which lead him to be removed from the aircraft but not only for the earphones but rather for not following crew instructions. At the end of the day if you don't like this rule either fly privately or don't wear earphones that are NOT earbud type.

Two points: First my earlier comment:

"No, you (LondonElite) cannot be forced to listen. Your attitude reminds me of the child who (after being forced to sit down, at a table before eating, by his Mom) said "Mommy, I may be sitting down, but here (pointing to his head) I am still standing up."

The toughest thing to change is what someone thinks."

There was No reply to that comment of mine.

Secondly, we can all sit here nice and smug pontificating about this situation ... BUT we have to remember that any SINGLE mistake in judgement can lead to disasterous conequences. I remind you about the space shuttle where there were mistakes were made in judgement and folks died. Then there were the surgeries where folks died because of an error a surgeon made. I AM lucky to have kept my feet in spite of the mistake a well trained and qualified surgeon made in 2003 ... After it was over he had the same guilty look on his face as our dog when he .... on our carpet ... :td:

I think about human error all the time and thank my lucky stars that I am still alive - in spite of flying and ...

No wonder that on some airlines, the passengers APPLAUD when the aircraft lands and begins the taxi maneuver as they move toward the airport ...

Seriously. Don't take your next aircraft flight for granted ... :p

I also feel the same way, but after watching MayDay, and realising how things can easily go to hell. I have flown so often that I know where how many exits their are on every aircraft AC flys, and always know how far away I am from the 2 closest ones (in case one is cut off). I know the life jacket is under the seat, etc. Thing is, many occasional flyers dont, and the saftey demos are for them.

AC has a special row for headphone wearers? What about earbuds? ;)

I think this is very telling evidence that this was a misunderstanding, rather than a passenger that they would refuse to accomodate on any future flights.

Indeed and one would almost assume such an encounter would land said pax on an internal AC no-fly list but that obviously didn't happen here. Maybe it was another crew. ;)

IIRC from another headphone thread that the earbud type are considered safe, because they pop out easily in case the cord gets tangled/caught in the rush of an evacuation. The J headphones with the headband, and hardwired into the pod, would not behave the same way and could impede a passengers egress from the aircraft. I believe Transport Canada has the same saftety concern about non-bud earphones. It's the danger of the cord around the neck/head during evacuation and not as much about hearing the announcements.

Another thought. When one PAX has to be removed, how about sending a truck with boarding stairs out the aircraft rather than having the a/c return to the gate. It would save a tremendous amount of time and fuel. If there is checked baggage, leave it in the hold. PAX can catch up with it later.
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13F

Security regulations. Passenger must travel with their baggage (except if it's put on another flight for reasons the passenger has no influence over).