The title for this piece is taken from an article in Elliot Confidential by Christopher Elliot. In the article titled: “Are you becoming the passenger everyone hates?” he states that by removing seatback screens, airlines unleashed a cacophony of leaky headphones and bright laptops. He points out how not to be part of the problem.
He wrote in his article some stories to drive home his point:
On a flight from San Francisco to New York, Luca Dal Zotto encountered a fellow passenger whose electronic habits disrupted the peace. The man watched “John Wick 3” on his laptop with maximum screen brightness and booming audio leaking from thin headphones. This incident reflects a growing trend: electronic annoyances on flights have surged 47 percent since 2020, according to a survey by Del Zotto’s computer rental company. The top culprits include substandard headphones (62%), bright screens showing inappropriate content (41%), and noisy electronic toys (38%).
The rise in these disturbances is partly due to airlines removing seatback entertainment systems, encouraging passengers to bring their own devices. This shift has led to a cacophony of sounds — beeps, pings, movie scores, and even the grating chime of the Duolingo app — creating stress and sparking conflicts onboard. Etiquette expert Nick Leighton, host of “Were You Raised By Wolves?”, notes an increase in “etiquette crime reports” involving noisy electronics.
Del Zotto’s solution during his flight was simple but effective: he lent his neighbour a better headset, which was gratefully accepted. This gesture highlights that many passengers may not realize their devices are disruptive. Experts advise giving seatmates the benefit of the doubt and approaching the situation calmly. Escalating tensions can lead to serious consequences, including emergency landings and legal trouble.
Jodi RR Smith of Mannersmith Etiquette Consulting emphasizes staying composed and avoiding confrontation. Rosalinda Randall suggests reading the cabin and choosing the right moment to speak up — perhaps addressing a parent if a child is the source of noise. If direct intervention fails, passengers are encouraged to discreetly ask flight attendants for help, ideally by visiting the galley rather than pressing the call button.
Headphone quality plays a major role in noise leakage. Acceptable models should contain at least 75 percent of sound, with 90 percent being ideal. The Sony Pulse Explore Truly Wireless and Moondrop Blessing 3 are praised for minimal leakage, while the HiFiMan Arya Stealth Magnets are notoriously loud. A full list of headphone ratings is available on Rtings.com.
The article also shares a personal anecdote from a flight between Dublin and Istanbul, where a toddler played a TV show at full volume without headphones. The author admits to reacting poorly — first with disapproving looks, then a passive-aggressive request to the parent. Though the issue was resolved, the author reflects on the importance of patience and self-awareness in such situations.
Ultimately, the message is clear: respect and mindfulness are key to harmonious air travel. Passengers should consider how their devices affect others and take steps to minimize disruption. Whether it’s choosing better headphones, lowering screen brightness, or simply being considerate, small actions can make a big difference in the shared space of an airplane cabin.
Sindy Foster of Avaero Capital Partners stated in a position paper that: “Over the years, aviation in Nigeria has faced challenges that go beyond aircraft, beyond schedules, and even beyond economics. They touch on trust, behaviour, responsibility, and respect. How passengers and airlines interact; how regulators and agencies play their part, determines the experience of millions of Nigerians and international visitors.”
She stated further that “I would like us to broaden this discussion beyond passenger rights and responsibilities alone. Passenger rights are important, but these rights cannot exist in a vacuum. Rights are sustained by responsibilities. And responsibilities, in turn, must be shared across every stakeholder in the aviation system – passengers, airlines, the regulator, agencies, ground staff, and crew alike. Even down to the human level, crew and aviation employees have rights too…”
Foster concluded her thought saying: “Passenger rights matter. Passenger responsibilities matter equally. Crew and staff rights matter too. And across the system, every actor – …. – carries a responsibility. If accountability is shared, then respect grows. If staff feel protected, they can create a welcoming atmosphere. If passengers feel fairly treated, they will comply more willingly. If regulators and operators act in visible partnership, public trust will return.”
Her charge is: “If accountability is shared, then respect grows. If staff feel protected, they can create a welcoming atmosphere. If passengers feel fairly treated, they will comply more willingly. If regulators and operators act in visible partnership, public trust will return.” This is the mandate for those seeking to create a positive customer experience for the passenger across all modes of transport.
Ekelem Airhihen, an accredited mediator, has an MBA from the Lagos Business School. He is a member, ACI Airport Non-aeronautical Revenue Activities Committee; his interests are in market research, customer experience and performance measurement, negotiation, strategy and data and business analytics. He can be reached on ekyair@yahoo.com and +2348023125396 (WhatsApp only).
