I've been using Bose headsets on flights for a year and have to say that I'm addicted to them. I'm amazed how much sound is blocked by these--have used them on last 2 flights to Europe and wouldn't want to be without them again. But, for the first time yesterday, a ComAir flight attendant told me that I couldn't turn them on until after the flight had reached 10,000 feet and that I had to turn them off once they made the "all personal electronic equipment must be turned off for landing" announcement. Now maybe I've just been violating the rules all along, but I thought these headsets were designed for take off and landings as well as the rest of the flight. I've never been asked to turn them off before yesterday. I've also e-mailed Bose but don't have a response yet. I'm flying a puddle jumper tomorrow to DC and want to use them---without violating the airline rules. Does anyone know?

More and more airlines are restricting NC headset use in takeoff and landing periods. I'm not clear on the rationale, but I was told by one FA that it was intended so that you could hear cabin crew announcements in the event of trouble.

Gardyloo, I can't speak for American carriers, but in Canada that is exactly why passengers cannot use headphones during the taxiing, take-off, and landing phases. It's all about being able to hear instructions from the cabin crew in the event of an emergency.

Anselm

When flying BA, I was told I couldn't wear them during landing and take off for exactly the reason Gardyloo said. They wanted to make sure everyone heard the announcements and safety instructions.

It was BA that told me, but they also have been making us turn them off on AA recently.

In addition to the being able to hear thing, presumably you have the headphones plugged into something electronic that you're not supposed to have on at that point, either (not that they actually interfere with anything, but that's the rationale).

Grsing says, "presumably you have them plugged into something electronic that you're not supposed to have on either at that point, either (not that they actually interfere with anything)"

Next time you are at a conference or somewhere else where you have both a laptop and a microphone connected to a PA system, hold the laptop up to the mike and do something to make the disk drive run. You will then understand why your computer manual has a section on 'electromagnetic interference' and why your computer is licensed by the FCC or its Canadian equivalent. Maybe your laptop will not affect navigation equipment and maybe it will not affect fly-by-wire systems, but I dont want you to bet my life on that.

The general rule is basically "if it has an on/off switch, it must be off." The NC headphones may or may not really cause any interference but I don't think the airlines have a checklist or the time or resources to check every electronic device. You probably have been violating the rules all along, they just may not have been enforced or the FA didn't look close enough. Turn it off for the take off. You'll survive.

AA has recently been stating 2 rule clarifications.

1. If it has an on-off switch it must be off below 10k feet.

2. If you have any device with wireless capability you must be able to switch off the radio (i.e. laptop.)

the first one they enforce - telling people to turn off phones, ipods, take of head phones etc. the second one they have no clue. I'm willing to bet that 90% of laptop users leave their wireless enabled when they use the pc in the air. Mine has a toggle switch I flip to turn it off, but I know most of my colleagues don't even know the switch exists.