Video calling with no headphones
#46
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: GLA
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 2,958
And don't forget, Switzerland took in a heck of a lot of refugees, for example from that Yugoslav fiasco in the 90s. So when many aggressions are reported in the media, the media is obliged to say "Swiss persons" because they've got Swiss passports now. So there's no mention of Kosovo, Serbia, Macedonia. Of course, that's not to say some real Swiss are criminals too, and some Kosovans are wonderful people (like some friends of mine). But the place has changed and in the cities you have to exercise caution, like in any big city.
#47
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,833
Total opposite. Montreux (and certainly Geneva), for example, attracts a crappy sort of nouveau riche with manners of the gutter, not to go on too much about it. Money no longer equals class, education and manners. The expat community used to be composed of a certain quality of people, but now it is younger breed that, full of the money their Swiss salaries give them, thinks that they are better than everyone else and that they know everything. Of course, there are exceptions, but the ambiance has changed irreversibly. And let's face it, quality people and the real Swiss (like the Genevois) you will not meet in the public square. They keep very discreetly to themselves.
And don't forget, Switzerland took in a heck of a lot of refugees, for example from that Yugoslav fiasco in the 90s. So when many aggressions are reported in the media, the media is obliged to say "Swiss persons" because they've got Swiss passports now. So there's no mention of Kosovo, Serbia, Macedonia. Of course, that's not to say some real Swiss are criminals too, and some Kosovans are wonderful people (like some friends of mine). But the place has changed and in the cities you have to exercise caution, like in any big city.
Just a postscript to say, I have experienced very few problems on flights here.
And don't forget, Switzerland took in a heck of a lot of refugees, for example from that Yugoslav fiasco in the 90s. So when many aggressions are reported in the media, the media is obliged to say "Swiss persons" because they've got Swiss passports now. So there's no mention of Kosovo, Serbia, Macedonia. Of course, that's not to say some real Swiss are criminals too, and some Kosovans are wonderful people (like some friends of mine). But the place has changed and in the cities you have to exercise caution, like in any big city.
Just a postscript to say, I have experienced very few problems on flights here.
Perhaps the Nazi gold might be a good place to start, but that would only drag a thread that was never on topic even further off beam, although with the benefit of advancing the inevitable Godwin’s law invocation...
#50
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: AMS
Programs: BAEC Silver, Flying Blue Gold, TK M&S Nobody
Posts: 2,456
#52
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: HHonors, TrueBlue, Delta SkyMiles, Hyatt Discoverist, Starwood Preferred Guest, American Airlines.
Posts: 2,035
OP is more than capable of buying a pair of Bose noise-canceling headphones to fix the problem without causing a fuss.
To call the situation "disgusting" is completely dramatic.
#53
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 3,059
After a few US trips I once found myself with half a dozen of the small AA/Avis headphone sachets in my rucksack. They were fantastic to hand out to the video-players with a quick ‘since you seem to have forgotten your headphones I thought you might like these’. Funnily enough that tended to do the trick.
I have only once been brave enough to turn around and scream “Do you have to shout?!” at someone on obnoxious calls in a lounge. I scream it internally every time though. Must learn to be less British about that. Or invite Pucci to be my travel companion.
I actually think some people just don’t realise that other people can hear them. It’s as if they’ve grown up in a world that revolves only around them and that contains no other people. I hate it.
Oh, my other confusion... people who hold phones perpendicular to their mouth to have a conversation on speaker. It’s as if they’ve never realised that a mobile phone has noise at one end and a microphone at the other... you know, like a phone. I’ve never understood that one.
I have only once been brave enough to turn around and scream “Do you have to shout?!” at someone on obnoxious calls in a lounge. I scream it internally every time though. Must learn to be less British about that. Or invite Pucci to be my travel companion.
I actually think some people just don’t realise that other people can hear them. It’s as if they’ve grown up in a world that revolves only around them and that contains no other people. I hate it.
Oh, my other confusion... people who hold phones perpendicular to their mouth to have a conversation on speaker. It’s as if they’ve never realised that a mobile phone has noise at one end and a microphone at the other... you know, like a phone. I’ve never understood that one.
#55
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: LHR, LGW
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 3,405
Oh, my other confusion... people who hold phones perpendicular to their mouth to have a conversation on speaker. It’s as if they’ve never realised that a mobile phone has noise at one end and a microphone at the other... you know, like a phone. I’ve never understood that one.
The combination of software and microphone/speaker design is made to create a great conversation experience.
Being on loud speaker mode defeats this and actually the person on the call, who is not on speaker phone, has a worse experience, as they hear more of what they don’t need to hear.
#56
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: AMS
Programs: BAEC Silver, Flying Blue Gold, TK M&S Nobody
Posts: 2,456
Yes this baffles me, iPhones (which I know more about that Android) have been designed to have clear and sharper calls using the method of holding the phone as it should be held, against your ear.
The combination of software and microphone/speaker design is made to create a great conversation experience.
Being on loud speaker mode defeats this and actually the person on the call, who is not on speaker phone, has a worse experience, as they hear more of what they don’t need to hear.
The combination of software and microphone/speaker design is made to create a great conversation experience.
Being on loud speaker mode defeats this and actually the person on the call, who is not on speaker phone, has a worse experience, as they hear more of what they don’t need to hear.
#57
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: LHR, LGW
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 3,405
With the amount of time we spend on our phones, we should really understand how to use them to their best experience, even when that means properly aligning your phone to your ear!
#58
Join Date: Apr 2017
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 1,383
Oh no. Not guilty. Like many here I find it inconsiderate and irritating.
#59
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 84
#60
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Programs: TK Elite Plus,BAEC GGL,ITA Executive, AFKL Gold,QR Gold,HH Diamond,Bonvoy Gold,ALL Gold
Posts: 14,185
Having the ear speaker broken or malfunctioning shouldn't be an excuse to talk via the speaker and disturb anybody.
For those who are not familiar with LHR T5, there is Dixon's 3-5 minutes away from the lounge ( via walk ) which would sell any kind of headphones ( in-ear, wireless, headsets ) plus any kind of adaptor if your device does not have an headphone jack.
For those who are not familiar with LHR T5, there is Dixon's 3-5 minutes away from the lounge ( via walk ) which would sell any kind of headphones ( in-ear, wireless, headsets ) plus any kind of adaptor if your device does not have an headphone jack.