Derek H From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Posted (13 years 1 month 9 hours ago) and read 1009 times:
What airlines make you pay for headsets to watch the inflight shows/movies? And why do they do this? I know Contiental Airlines doesn't, which is nice. I have read some trip reports that said they cost five dollars, do you get to keep the headsets? I know it is nice to watch something on a long flight, but shouldn't airlines be gracious enought not to make already pay pax pay for headsets, too???
Ctbarnes From United States of America, joined Mar 2000, 3491 posts, RR: 52 Reply 1, posted (13 years 1 month 9 hours ago) and read 807 times:
As a matter of course, most airlines charge about $5 for a headset on domestic flights, but provide them free on international flights. I think this has to do with defraying the costs the studios charge for showing the films. The reason they are free internationally is that the foreign carriers stopped charging for headsets about 10-12 years ago, and the US airlines followed suit in order to stay competitive.
I think Virgin are the only ones I know of who allow you to keep the headset. The Dutch airline Martinair has an interesting arrangement where you buy a headset from them for a few dollars, but are allowed to keep it for subsequent flights (they use a special non-standard plug to keep you from using the ones from your walkman).
The customer isn't a moron, she is your wife -David Ogilvy
Purdue Arrow From United States of America, joined May 1999, 1574 posts, RR: 8 Reply 2, posted (13 years 1 month 8 hours ago) and read 799 times:
American's official policy is to charge, according to American Way, but they often don't. I haven't seen any pattern as to which flights they charge on and which they don't, but even if they charge, you can just use your walkman headset or free.
MEA-707 From Netherlands, joined Nov 1999, 4117 posts, RR: 37 Reply 3, posted (13 years 1 month 3 hours ago) and read 785 times:
I believe the cabin-crew have a freedom to decide if they charge for the headsets or not. I have been on a domestic United flight which departed 2 hours late, and they announced by PA that headsets were free today to compensate the trouble.
On the other hand, I was on a TWA-flight were the F.A. announced "If you don't buy a headset and then we catch you using your own headset, we will still charge you a $5 entertainment-fee."
Maybe the TWA-cabinstaff get half their salaries from the headsets-payments??
Of course you can escape off a plane with headsets (tell the collecting FA's you didn't get them, or you dropped them on the ground and can't find them), and bring that one on board another flight (esp. when their system is non-walkman-compatible, a double-plug thing).
nobody has ever died from hard work, but why take the risk?
Johnboy From United States of America, joined Aug 1999, 2469 posts, RR: 1 Reply 5, posted (13 years 4 weeks 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 769 times:
I had a flight on Delta about 3-4 years ago, where they charged $5 for the headset (this was from California to Florida nonstop, so no way was I going to go cold turkey)!
No one came by to pick the headset up at the end of the flight, nor did I see any act on the part of the FA's which even resembled collection of the headsets. So I kept it!
Of course, next Delta flight I had, I whipped out the headset and plugged it in. Scary Delta flight hag (sorry, it's the truth) came around and asked if I had paid my $5. I told her what had happened on the previous flight, and she scowled at me (imagine that!) She didn't make me pay again, but believe you me, she certainly came by and snatched it out of my hand at the end of the flight.
Nice Southern hospitality, Miss Scarlett.....(maybe that's what's wrong with Delta, in a nutshell).
Wannabe From United States of America, joined Jun 1999, 675 posts, RR: 3 Reply 6, posted (13 years 4 weeks 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 761 times:
I have read where American is going to start providing BOSE Noise Reducing headsets starting this summer. I bet Johnboy won't be walking off any American flight with one of those puppies in his bag!!!
AirGirl From United States of America, joined Mar 2000, 26 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (13 years 4 weeks 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 760 times:
I was recently on two United flights. On the first, we had to pay $5 for the headphone cords. On the second, the crew graciously waived the fee because we took off two hours late, so they were free.
AmericanMD80 From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 491 posts, RR: 6 Reply 8, posted (13 years 4 weeks 1 day 15 hours ago) and read 759 times:
Do Most Walkman Headphones fit in Headphone things on airplanes? I was wondering b/c It seems that it would be a lot less expensive (for me) and easier than having to wait for the f/a to come around and give them out.
do what you like . like what you do . life is good
Purdue Arrow From United States of America, joined May 1999, 1574 posts, RR: 8 Reply 9, posted (13 years 4 weeks 1 day 14 hours ago) and read 753 times:
Wannabe - American has introduced the Bose headsets in its first and business class cabins on American Flagship and International Flagship service flights. I don't think that this is going to be extended to the main cabin.
AmericanMD80 - American's planes all use walkman-type headset plugs. I think most airliners have them, although the United DC-10 I took to Hawaii last summer did not. The walkman-type sound so much better than the air tubes!
Wannabe From United States of America, joined Jun 1999, 675 posts, RR: 3 Reply 10, posted (13 years 4 weeks 18 hours ago) and read 732 times:
Purdue Arrow - Have you had the opporutnity to use the Bose headphones, and if so, are they effective in canceling out the aircraft noise?
(Kind of funny that the people who would need them most...back of the plane...don't get them)
Purdue Arrow From United States of America, joined May 1999, 1574 posts, RR: 8 Reply 11, posted (13 years 4 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 727 times:
I haven't gotten to use them yet, but I hope to next month. On my way home from the Dominican Republic, I'm planning an out-of-the-way trip that will let me fly JFK-LAX, so if First is available I can let you know after I get back how well they work. I would imagine they work well, because Bose also makes aviation headsets (as in for pilots) that do the same thing, and they are great.
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