Headphones for plane use

[andrewmckay5]

Hi,
can anyone recommend a decent set of headphones for use with the movies on a plane. Compact if possible to put in with hand luggage.
Cheers
andrew

[gromit]

Hi Andrew

I see at lot of people with the Bose Noise Cancelling headsets - they are expensive but about the best. Sony also make a noise cancelling set as well as a set of ear bud type - I know BA sell them onboard and they are about £70. I have also seen a 'Virgin' branded set in Target. And Sennheiser do a set (BA pilots use the Sennheiser noise cancelling headsets on the flight deck). All of these have a mic that picks up the background noise, inverts it and feeds it back into the headset to give 'active noise reduction' - or ANR as it is called).

Neil

[TonyBlenk]

From Duty Free, choose noise cancelling ones.
Even when not listening to music or the movie, they cancel out the drone of the aircraft.
If only the'd invent some to reduce the noise of screaming babies! [msnsad]

Oops, somebody beat me to a reply, and so eloquently!

[gromit]

Well we have a baby!!!!! I think of all the routes around the world Orlando is one which people should be more tolerent to the sound of babies! Our son had a terrible first flight at 4 months but the last two times he has got better, but it is difficult for babies and young children to equalize their ears with the pressure. We try our best with dummies/passifiers and a bottle during landing but there is only so much people can do. I think we should all realise that we were babies once! Also if a baby is bothering you, the last thing you should do is show any kind of reaction, if the parents see it they will get stressed, the baby will pick up on this stress and only get worse and cry more. We had a really bad man who got cross with Neil in the summer on a flight to Orlando and said we should have an ambulance waiting for our baby - well we were furious. Our son was tired and teething!

When I'm at work I go out of my way to help parents with babies - as travelling with the all the extra things they have to carry is not easy. The airlines try to help out with babies and young children by serving their meals first (BA) so that at least the children are not hungry! To everyone who wants the front row bassinet seats, well our son slept most of the flight when he had a bassinet so the customers nearby weren't disturbed so leave these seats for babies if you want a quieter flight.

At the end of the day we all have the same intention - getting to Orlando and having a fantastic holiday. Don't let noise ruin it as previously said the noise cancelling headseats are worth their money.......

[MTP]

Well said gromit. We have been fortunate that our two have always travelled relatively easily, our son perhaps not quite so, but there are times on the flights when they can act up. This is usually when everyone is tired and fed-up. The parents are already usually very aware of the potential discomfort they are causing to other passengers, saying something to the parents isn't going to help. Perhaps compassionately asking if you could help the parents, or get them anything (water, blanket, etc) would be more useful, give everyone a nicer flight and give you a nice feeling in your heart to think that you helped a fellow passenger in need.

Oh if only the real world worked like that!

[andrewmckay5]

Neil and Tony,
thanks for the infomation. Anyone know any online retailers who may hold stock of these headphones? Want to get some as presents before we go rather than at the airport if I can.
andrew

[hamish]

This will probably sound thick, but how do you know that the one,s you are buying will fit, when you get on the plane.??

[MTP]

Richer Sounds have a good selection of Sennheiser headphones, the PXC250 has noise cancelling functionality and folds up quite small. I will DM you there web address.

Cheers,

MTP

[chrizzy100]

Don't you get headphones on planes over from England nowadays.......???

[Calamity Jane]

Do most of the headphones come with an attachment for the two pin conections, we generally fly with Continental and they have two pins heads whereas Virgin have one. I must admit its very rare I get to watch a full film as I am always travelling with children ( always get the short straw ) I think unless you will get the benefits of headphones at home £70 is steep just to use on a flight ( just my opinion for what its worth ) am I coming over as a Scrooge or what ??