A Delta Air Lines passenger recently complained about the loud conversations he heard on board the carrier’s red-eye flight from Las Vegas to Atlanta, with many other frequent travelers saying that even noise-canceling headphones can’t beat non-stop chatter in a confined space.
The passenger took to Reddit about his experience on a Delta flight, where he initially thought the person involved in a loud conversation was a flight attendant. However, it was a fellow passenger, whom he said talked loudly for the “whole three hours.”
While airlines continue to crack down on in-flight noise etiquette, including United Airlines’ new refusal of transport rule for failure to use headphones in-flight, which has been well-received by many passengers, the consensus says the carriers should ban loud talking on red-eye flights.
Delta Air Lines Passengers Agree To Ban Loud Conversations On Red-Eye Flights
Conversations, wherever they might be, are normal, but they only get irritating when they are too loud, not to mention on late-night trips, when passengers want to sleep, especially on long-haul flights. This is what many Delta Air Lines passengers agree on, when a passenger recounted his experience on board one of the carrier’s red-eye flights.
In the Reddit thread, many travelers agree on banning loud conversations during late-night flights, when most passengers want to rest, calling it unofficial quiet hours.
The Delta passenger who posted on Reddit said he was seated in the Comfort+ cabin when the loud talking occurred.
“I get talking some, but three whole hours? On a red-eye? Knowing people sleep on them?,” reads the passenger’s post on Reddit.
Other Reddit users chimed in, saying that while people have the right to conversation, being aware of their surroundings is important, especially on late-night trips.
Passengers Suggest Using Noise-Canceling Headphones On Red-Eye Flights
In the same Reddit thread, several travelers suggested using noise-canceling headphones to drown out the loud conversations in-flight, although others argue that these kinds of headphones are powerless against continuous and loud chatter.
One Reddit user said that he “can’t imagine boarding a flight without solid noise-canceling headphones,” as they help block any noise or loud conversations in the surroundings.
“Do they mute every sound entirely? No, but put on some white noise or music or whatever you want, and you’re definitely not going to hear a flight attendant talking,” one individual commented on the Reddit post.
Others, though, agree that no noise-canceling headphones can eliminate the loud talking in-flight, even when using earplugs, citing their reduction-only feature, meaning they can only reduce the noise, but won’t eliminate it totally.
Instead, many travelers say a ban on loud conversations on red-eye flights would be more plausible, saying, “If the whole plane is set up for people to go to sleep (dark lights, etc.), why would anybody treat it as conversation time?”
Here’s What Others Say About Using Headphones In-Flight
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“Dear everyone everywhere: your bones conduct sound. Sometimes using headphones isn’t enough.” |
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“Most people have main character syndrome, so plan accordingly, especially in a confined space. If you are supposed to be quiet according to social norms and human decency, it’s a guarantee someone will break it. It’s on you if you don’t plan around degenerates.” |
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“Some people really lack self-awareness and are very inconsiderate. Sorry that happened to you.” |
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“Honestly, not even just the red-eye – planes are a place for indoor voices, and I’d love for them to be a place for library ones.” |
For many passengers, a ban on loud conversations on red-eye flights should be enforced by airlines, as late-night trips operate in a different social space than daytime travel.
What This Means To Travelers On Red-Eye Flights
Travelers share the same cabin etiquette on both daytime and red-eye flights, so it’s important to be aware of their surroundings, especially in confined environments, where people would rather rest than socialize.
Red-eye flights are offered for good reasons, but as airlines continue to regulate the usage of certain devices, including the use of headphones when listening to audio or video content, which United Airlines added to its Contract of Carriage in February, there are no official rules that govern how loud passengers can talk in-flight.
But as some Reddit users said, if a certain flight’s set-up is for resting (or sleeping, for that matter), it is synonymous with peaceful surroundings, which means there should be little noise to prioritize other passengers who want to rest.
But some passengers are left frustrated, with limited options other than politely asking others to wind down. Many of them would ask for assistance from flight attendants, while others seek refuge in noise-canceling headphones, which others say aren’t actually effective in closer conversations.
However, some passengers just don’t follow airline rules. In March, American Airlines was lauded for enforcing United Airlines’ headphone ban on an unruly passenger who refused to use headphones when she reportedly played a 30-second video at 50% volume.
For now, Delta Air Lines has not enforced a headphone ban like United, but the carrier advises passengers to use headphones or earbuds when using electronic devices during the flight as a courtesy to others.
But in one recent incident on Delta, a passenger complained about the blaring volume of his seatmate’s music (with Nickelback in the background), even when wearing headphones throughout the flight.
The realities of red-eye flights, long-haul travel, and crowded cabins continue to evolve, as carriers like Delta Air Lines deal with growing pressure to ensure passenger comfort and a positive experience.
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