Old School IFE
Aug 21, 2011 | 11:00 pm
#16
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold but PlatPro thanks to LPs
Posts: 4,456
You mean it was in the armrest and basically the stethoscope styled headphones just resonated through the tube to the ear?
Bummer when they went to electronic headsets. I lost my "free" audio.
Aug 21, 2011 | 11:09 pm
#17
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Calgary, Alberta
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Posts: 18,686
Yes, exactly. As noted above, you could put your ear near the armrest and hear the audio without spending money on a headset. If I had three seats to myself, common in those days, I would lay my head on a pillow, turn the volume up and listen for free. I did that a lot.
Bummer when they went to electronic headsets. I lost my "free" audio.
Bummer when they went to electronic headsets. I lost my "free" audio.
Free audio.. wow.. I never knew that money was being saved not buying headphones?
What airlines were charging $2 for headphones? Was it AC.. I thought in the old days, it was free?
Aug 23, 2011 | 2:55 pm
#18
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,856
I sure do. I remember the giant blue headsets American used to use on DC-10s which had pneumatic tubes (I think the phrase is) to get the sound to your ears, no metal jack. I also used to love "Rabbit Ears", their programming for kids they had.
Now a days I'm mad if my DL 757 from DTW-BOS doesn't have AVOD
Now a days I'm mad if my DL 757 from DTW-BOS doesn't have AVOD
Aug 23, 2011 | 4:50 pm
#19
Join Date: May 2009
Location: AMS
Posts: 2,579
I also seem to remember, but I was young so this might be wrong, that the sound was sent not through wires but through tubes--you plugged your "headphones" --which were plastic tubes with ear pieces on them-- into the hole in the armrest. If you did not have headphones plugged in, you could put your ear to the armrest and still kind of hear the noise coming out (which as an 8 year old I thought was very cool). I remember this from the NW DC-10's that were doing the MSP-SEA route, which we flew to see family rather often.
Precursor to what I am now I guess.
Aug 24, 2011 | 12:07 am
#20
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Calgary, Alberta
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Posts: 18,686
Sort of like when TV's had 13 or so channels, and flipping to see the 2 or 3 channels when TVs were on antenna.. Music and choice was a novelty..