Free headset leverage by FA....
 

I was on the plane past weekend from YYZ-ORD. During takeoff, FA was making the routine entertainment announcement and I heard something really funny.

FA: "United offers 'complimentary' headset in all the cabin, you can find it in the seat pocket in front of you. By the way, United is one of the only airlines still offering free headset, we understand having entertainment is very important. We hope you enjoy the convenience of the 'free' headset and video programming we have to offer"

Well, not exactly word for word, but close enough. I find it entertaining the FA using free headset as leveraging point for UA. :D

Turns out all the A/V system in First class was broken, the audio coming out sounded like alien from another planet.... so much for free headset.

Gotta love it!! Too bad I have my 1K mandatory bose quietcomfort headsets, now only if I could use them in business class on Uniteds 777's...

Hey folks, it is a perk that may other airlines do not provide.

well I think the point is the irony of the FA promoting the free headset and the audio not working! I'm curious though, what airlines don't provide them for free?

US Airways! :D

She did have a point there. People dont know that most other USA airlines charge for the headsets. And some airlines dont even offer movies on 3 hr flights.

Does UA need to join every other airline in the race to the bottom of the barrel ? Curious how long it will take some genius in UA's controlling department to figure out how much money they can save by taking the headsets away.

What's your problem? I have no trouble using mine.

I agree - Five years and probably 50+ flights in UA 777 C, using QC2 and now QC3...never had an issue.

Those are the same people that always surprise me by putting on the nasty UA headsets instead of pulling their own out of their bag. Didn't Apple by now sell one or two iPods to every living and breathing resident of the US?

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Hhmm maybe I've just been crossing too many time zones recently, I did do 120k EQM in 4 months! If I remember correctly you need a 2 prong adapter, the quietcomfort 3 came with one but I couldn't get it to work. Can't remember which way it was but pretty sure I needed an adapter with 2 prongs but one of them needed to be smaller than the other. I should be flying DXB-IAD Feb 6, if I get upgraded I will have to try it again.

American charges, as does Delta. I even think Air Canada charges for them.

I don't ever buy so I forget but I do think UA is one of a few that don't charge.

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No adapter is needed. Just plug your headset in the console.

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Well I guess it was a good thing that I only flew United, Lufthansa and Air New Zealand before I got some good headphones. Does Continental charge, I remember buying a pair on a transcon in 2001.

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I tried that and only had sound coming out of one side, maybe seat or user malfunction, but thanks I'll do that next time

If I recall correctly, the smaller prong is for the noise canceling feature on the UA issued headsets. Since your headset has that built into it, there's no need for your headset to plug into the smaller hole.

UA 3-class aircraft have noise reduction headsets in F & C. There is a two prong (different in size) plug for their headset but your headsets will work fine -- just plug your headset into the standard size plug

I concur. Works fine in old F & C, and new F & C.

On many routes, UA has replaced the dingy old headsets with "disposable" (i.e. free for the passenger to keep, and thrown away if not) earbuds. They are sealed and brand-new each time. I feel this is rather a huge waste, personally, but if people actually keep them, who knows... at the very least it does get around the "nasty" headset issue.

Don't most airlines charge $5 for a headset? I remember a couple of times on US the FA tried to charge me $5 for using my own, even though I was only hearing one channel out of the two. I obviously declined the charge and decided to listen to my iPod instead.

I actually think UA should make a better effort to promote this onboard. It is one of the few ways that United can differentiate itself in a positive way from its competitors.

Imo, the headsets generally provides so poor quality (combined with no noise isolation) that I can't see how anyone would pay for it.

On another note, the noise reduction headsets in F/C are really nice.

Not as good as what AA offers in their F/C.
I know, I know... Better Sound Through Marketing... But I still prefer Bose QC2 over the ones UA provides.

At $300+ , the QC2's should be better than the "free" UA head sets. ;)

I was talking about the F/C headsets.

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They still should be better than the F/C ones but I didn't mind using them, the F/C ones, when I was in business class