Using entertainment devices with audio in public areas without headphones or earbuds
Jun 20, 2019, 6:40 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: UA 1K MM, DL Diamond, NK Gold, Mariott LT Plat/Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Gold
Posts: 925
Using entertainment devices with audio in public areas without headphones or earbuds
I flew LGA-ORD this week. Seated across from me in F were two women. Before we took off, the woman in the aisle seat was watching YouTube videos at full volume without earbuds. The woman next to her asked her if she could use headphones or not play video. She flipped. She started shouting something to the effect of "I can watch whatever I want. Mind your own business." The other woman told her that she didn't need to shout at her. This made it worse. She told her she could say and do as she pleased as she was very valuable to United. I chimed in and said that she didn't need to talk to the other woman like that and that she was disturbing others by watching videos. She told me to shut up and then said "I don't need this from you, I'm Global Services."
I laughed and replied, "me, too. Your point?" She then got more frustrated and said, "I don't care. I'm a more valuable Global Services customer than you." I just laughed again. She then proceeded to call someone on her phone and said that she was happy her upgrade cleared (they moved her shortly after boarding) but that the people in F were picking on her and very mean. LOL.
I laughed and replied, "me, too. Your point?" She then got more frustrated and said, "I don't care. I'm a more valuable Global Services customer than you." I just laughed again. She then proceeded to call someone on her phone and said that she was happy her upgrade cleared (they moved her shortly after boarding) but that the people in F were picking on her and very mean. LOL.
Jun 20, 2019, 10:38 pm
#2
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: DSM, BKK or anywhere with an airport
Programs: UA 2P, HH Gold
Posts: 1,018
How did the situation de-escalate? What was being said to her from other pax? As often as I read about these stories it astonishes me how someones behavior can change when getting inside a long metal tube.
Jun 21, 2019, 6:00 am
#3
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: ORD | LGA | 2E
Programs: UA GS 1.6MM UC | AA CK 0.7MM AC | Bonvoy Ambassador | Hyatt Globalist | Hertz PC
Posts: 1,053
At least that's a short route. A guy did this LAX > ORD a month or so ago. Several people asked him to turn it off and he insisted he does this all the time and no one complains. I was a few rows up but while disembarking I told the guy "you're a nightmare" and he looked at me kind of stunned at which point I followed with "there is no chance in this world that is the first time a stranger has said something like that to you, get used to it."
Jun 21, 2019, 6:23 pm
#5
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: ORD
Programs: United Plat 2MM, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,727
At least that's a short route. A guy did this LAX > ORD a month or so ago. Several people asked him to turn it off and he insisted he does this all the time and no one complains. I was a few rows up but while disembarking I told the guy "you're a nightmare" and he looked at me kind of stunned at which point I followed with "there is no chance in this world that is the first time a stranger has said something like that to you, get used to it."
Jun 21, 2019, 7:04 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 18,007
Wow. The other two stories are crazy but you win the prize. Redeye, kids, watching movies without headphones.....the trifecta of rudeness.
Jun 21, 2019, 7:16 pm
#7
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA MM Plat, UA 1MM, Hilton Lifetime Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold, CLEAR, AS MVP Gold
Posts: 3,618
To all the above, my only question is why?? I use high end noise cancelling head phones and the experience is infinitely better than sitting there with the volume up, attempting to listen to your game moving or whatever through the constant drone of the jet engines and the low end chatter of cabin pax. Not only rude but really stupid.
Jun 21, 2019, 7:39 pm
#8
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Honolulu
Programs: United 1k, Hawaiian Premier
Posts: 93
At least that's a short route. A guy did this LAX > ORD a month or so ago. Several people asked him to turn it off and he insisted he does this all the time and no one complains. I was a few rows up but while disembarking I told the guy "you're a nightmare" and he looked at me kind of stunned at which point I followed with "there is no chance in this world that is the first time a stranger has said something like that to you, get used to it."
Jun 21, 2019, 8:46 pm
#9
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: United GS; AA EXP; Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 174
To all the above, my only question is why?? I use high end noise cancelling head phones and the experience is infinitely better than sitting there with the volume up, attempting to listen to your game moving or whatever through the constant drone of the jet engines and the low end chatter of cabin pax. Not only rude but really stupid.
Jun 21, 2019, 9:43 pm
#10
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Mileage Plus
Posts: 215
At least that's a short route. A guy did this LAX > ORD a month or so ago. Several people asked him to turn it off and he insisted he does this all the time and no one complains. I was a few rows up but while disembarking I told the guy "you're a nightmare" and he looked at me kind of stunned at which point I followed with "there is no chance in this world that is the first time a stranger has said something like that to you, get used to it."
The policy written in each month's issue of "Hemispheres" says that ear phones must be used at all times. I have pointed this out to both other passengers and FAs (to show to passengers) - which has always worked (so far!). It is always on a page toward the back where the food, entertainment, terminal maps, etc., are printed.
JK-SFO
Jun 22, 2019, 8:10 pm
#11
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: BUR / LAX
Programs: UA MM/Gold; WN A-list; HH something depending; Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,552
I'm so glad you said something, even at the end of the flight.
The policy written in each month's issue of "Hemispheres" says that ear phones must be used at all times. I have pointed this out to both other passengers and FAs (to show to passengers) - which has always worked (so far!). It is always on a page toward the back where the food, entertainment, terminal maps, etc., are printed.
JK-SFO
The policy written in each month's issue of "Hemispheres" says that ear phones must be used at all times. I have pointed this out to both other passengers and FAs (to show to passengers) - which has always worked (so far!). It is always on a page toward the back where the food, entertainment, terminal maps, etc., are printed.
JK-SFO
Jun 22, 2019, 9:53 pm
#13
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: HKG • Ex SFO, NYC
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Marriott Amb; Hyatt Globalist; Shangri-la Diamond; IHG SpireAmb; Hilton D; Accor G
Posts: 3,319
I don't know how you keep your cool in that situation. I would've literally grabbed the phone/tablet from the kid and smashed it.
Jun 22, 2019, 10:11 pm
#14
Join Date: Feb 2016
Programs: Hyatt Globalist | Jumpseat Platinum
Posts: 546
Jun 23, 2019, 10:09 am
#15
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: CO
Programs: UA OG-1K, Marriott Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,360
Bose seems to be the most common one I see with FF. I use the in ear versions. I’d love to hear (ha) what people say is the real best ones. I’ve even tried shooting ear pro that really blocks sound and Bluetooth connects to iPads. Not as good as the Bose overall, but better at blocking sound.