No noise-canceling headphones
May 21, 2018, 10:33 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2018
Programs: Delta Silver Medallion, United MileagePlus Silver
Posts: 18
No noise-canceling headphones
I flew Singapore Airlines for the first time (just a short flight from SIN to KUL, and although it was, by and large, a lovely experience, one thing puzzled me. I wear noise-canceling earphones in the air and was told that I had to remove them during take-off and landing. Could it be that the airline doesn't understand that even with noise-canceling headphones, one can still hear voices on the intercom? I didn't argue and then removed them, of course, but part of the reason I wear them is to dampen the sound of the engines during take-off and landing. Does anyone know the reason that headphones are not allowed to be worn during those times?
May 21, 2018, 4:42 pm
#2
Join Date: Aug 2013
Programs: Platinum, HH Diamond
Posts: 335
First time we took our own Bose onboard, we were asked to remove them during landing as we would be unable to hear the FAs instructions clearly in the event of an emergency landing. Seems reasonable, havent worn them during a landing since.
May 21, 2018, 8:38 pm
#3
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Wollongong
Posts: 209
It is for safety reasons that you are not supposed to be wearing headphones during take off and landing as you can't hear the verbal directions of flight attendants and the cables become trip hazards, they used to hand out headphones after the plane has reached cruising height but people now bring their own.
Having said this sometimes I have started watching movies with my headphones on whilst the plane has taken off so it depends on the flight attendants if they enforce the rules.
Having said this sometimes I have started watching movies with my headphones on whilst the plane has taken off so it depends on the flight attendants if they enforce the rules.
May 22, 2018, 11:45 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2018
Programs: Delta Silver Medallion, United MileagePlus Silver
Posts: 18
It is for safety reasons that you are not supposed to be wearing headphones during take off and landing as you can't hear the verbal directions of flight attendants and the cables become trip hazards, they used to hand out headphones after the plane has reached cruising height but people now bring their own.
May 23, 2018, 12:38 am
#5
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Wollongong
Posts: 209
As I said there are 2 main reasons and as not everyone has these types of headphones so it is an across the board rule, but again as has happened not all staff have strict adherence to these rules especially up the pointy end of the plane.
Glad to here you did the right thing and complied as some people would like to argue even the simplest of requests.
May 24, 2018, 9:52 am
#6
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: SFO
Posts: 3,881
The FAs don't know if they noise-canceling vs regular headphones, nor do they know if you're listening to something (loudly).
May 25, 2018, 2:37 am
#7
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: BRU, SIN, PEK
Programs: SQ TPP, LH SEN
Posts: 3,235
Noise cancelling headphones, top of the line Bose which I use, don't allow me to hear the flight attendant ask if I want chicken or beef because they do cut out voices especially if the volume is up, yes you can hear the recorded or live voice through the intercom but not the direct voice of the airline staff member who is next to you.
As I said there are 2 main reasons and as not everyone has these types of headphones so it is an across the board rule, but again as has happened not all staff have strict adherence to these rules especially up the pointy end of the plane.
Glad to here you did the right thing and complied as some people would like to argue even the simplest of requests.
As I said there are 2 main reasons and as not everyone has these types of headphones so it is an across the board rule, but again as has happened not all staff have strict adherence to these rules especially up the pointy end of the plane.
Glad to here you did the right thing and complied as some people would like to argue even the simplest of requests.
Jun 11, 2018, 1:01 am
#8
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: SIN
Programs: TK-G | Accor P | SQ-G | Marriott T
Posts: 3,831
I flew Singapore Airlines for the first time (just a short flight from SIN to KUL, and although it was, by and large, a lovely experience, one thing puzzled me. I wear noise-canceling earphones in the air and was told that I had to remove them during take-off and landing. Could it be that the airline doesn't understand that even with noise-canceling headphones, one can still hear voices on the intercom? I didn't argue and then removed them, of course, but part of the reason I wear them is to dampen the sound of the engines during take-off and landing. Does anyone know the reason that headphones are not allowed to be worn during those times?