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Headphones on Airplanes
Old 11-15-2005, 08:19 AM   #1
 
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Headphones on Airplanes

I haven't been on a plane for years. What's the current status regarding headphones? Do they rent them to you? Can I take my own walkman headphones?
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Re: Headphones on Airplanes
Old 11-15-2005, 08:20 AM   #2
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Re: Headphones on Airplanes

Yes, definitely take your own.

They now SELL them to you for $5 if you don't have your own.
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Re: Headphones on Airplanes
Old 11-15-2005, 08:21 AM   #3
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Re: Headphones on Airplanes

Quote:
Originally Posted by TromboneAl
I haven't been on a plane for years. What's the current status regarding headphones? Do they rent them to you? Can I take my own walkman headphones?
I bring my noise-canceling ones with my cd player
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Re: Headphones on Airplanes
Old 11-15-2005, 08:25 AM   #4
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Re: Headphones on Airplanes

I've been flying a lot the past 5 years but only on short trips (2-3 hrs). I haven't seen in-plane audio systems during that time. Last time I was on a plane with an audio system they were still using the air tube headphones, and I don't know if you can buy those before going to the airport. Do planes have something different now?

With portable MP3 and DVD players I just bring my own entertainment and headphones now. A movie makes the flight go much faster, but I tend to watch kids movies because I don't know who I'll be sitting next to, and a surprising number of movies are not appropriate for general audiences.
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Re: Headphones on Airplanes
Old 11-15-2005, 08:28 AM   #5
 
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Re: Headphones on Airplanes

I was always amazed that planes had those air tube audio systems. World War I technology ("full speed ahead captain!"). I figured that they used those just so people couldn't bring their own headphones.
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Re: Headphones on Airplanes
Old 11-15-2005, 08:29 AM   #6
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Re: Headphones on Airplanes

The planes I've been on recently have had jacks for both the two-pronged tube style that they sell/rent and the standard walkman/IPod style.

You can listen to the 8 channels of canned music, the movie/tv or the air traffic control with either of them.
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Re: Headphones on Airplanes
Old 11-15-2005, 08:51 AM   #7
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Re: Headphones on Airplanes

Some airlines rent them, others give them away for free.* OTOH, I'd be wary of the headphones due to not knowing whose ears they've been on during previous flights.* Don't let the plastic bag they remove them from fool you.* Talk about unsanitary.

Also, as someone else mentioned, you're better off with bringing your own pair of noise-cancelling headphones.* Most headphones don't cancel out the sound of the engines, which are VERY loud in the cabin (most people don't realize it, but I do when I have to turn the volume up on my MP3 player a couple of notches just to hear music over the sound of the engines).
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Re: Headphones on Airplanes
Old 11-15-2005, 09:50 AM   #8
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Re: Headphones on Airplanes

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jay_Gatsby
you're better off with brining your own pair of noise-cancelling headphones
I don't think this would work out well
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Re: Headphones on Airplanes
Old 11-15-2005, 10:21 AM   #9
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Re: Headphones on Airplanes

The last time I flew (2004) California to Maui, they gave us plug in (electric, not tube) ear plugs. They were disposable, and had standard 1/8" stereo plugs. You could either use them, or your own walkman headphones.
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Re: Headphones on Airplanes
Old 11-15-2005, 12:12 PM   #10
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Re: Headphones on Airplanes

I flew Delta this summer and they sold the headphones. However, someone had left a pair behind in the magazine pouch so I took them for our use. The plug was strange, probably only works on Delta. I'd probably take my own player and headphones. Or you can buy 1 set on your trip, and reuse.
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Re: Headphones on Airplanes
Old 11-15-2005, 12:50 PM   #11
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Re: Headphones on Airplanes

On the trip TO Europe couple of weeks ago, AA rented them. On the way BACK, got them for free. Dunno why!
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Re: Headphones on Airplanes
Old 11-15-2005, 02:06 PM   #12
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Re: Headphones on Airplanes

Quote:
Originally Posted by CyclingInvestor
I don't think this would work out well
Probably not. Typo fixed. Do you disagree with bringing your own headhphones?
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Re: Headphones on Airplanes
Old 11-15-2005, 07:34 PM   #13
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Re: Headphones on Airplanes

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jay_Gatsby
Probably not. Typo fixed. Do you disagree with bringing your own headhphones?
Of course not. I am not anxious to replace whatever is in my
ears with whatever was in those of my fellow passengers. The
noise cancellation feature of a nice set of earphones is also
pretty much a requirement for me, as I can barely hear my
own music with my MP3 player's normal earbuds over the
background jet noise.
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Re: Headphones on Airplanes
Old 11-15-2005, 07:53 PM   #14
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Re: Headphones on Airplanes

Check in online, print out your boarding pass and also print out a certificate for free headphones. Nobody pays the $5 for headphones anymore. And the attendants don't collect them anymore either.
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Re: Headphones on Airplanes
Old 11-15-2005, 11:38 PM   #15
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Re: Headphones on Airplanes

Quote:
Originally Posted by TromboneAl
Can I take my own walkman headphones?
We bought $25 pairs of Circuit City battery-powered noise-cancelling headphones, just the right shape for leaning your head alongside the window before you conk out.

But make sure you unplug them from the audio feed first...
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