Noisy electronics on planes are becoming a big problem. Here’s what to do about it.  

On a recent flight from San Francisco to New York, Luca Dal Zotto found himself sitting next to a noisy airline passenger.

It wasn’t what he said that was noisy, but what he did. The man opened his laptop and began watching John Wick 3 with his screen at 100 percent brightness.

“The audio was booming out of his thin headphones,” remembers Del Zotto.

Del Zotto knows a thing or two about electronic annoyances. His computer rental company regularly surveys customers on the subject. And his latest poll found electronic annoyances on flights have risen 47 percent since 2020.

The worst culprits are substandard headphones (named by 62 percent of respondents), followed by bright screens displaying inappropriate content (41 percent), and electronic toys with sound control problems (38 percent).

But why are noisy electronics such a problem? How can you know if your electronics are a problem? And what can you do if you’re confronted with a noisy seatmate? The solutions are simple, but following the expert advice isn’t.

Why noisy electronics are a problem

Del Zotto isn’t the only one who has noticed an issue with loud electronics. Nick Leighton, host of the etiquette podcast “Were You Raised By Wolves?,” collects what he calls “etiquette crime reports” from his listeners. And he’s noticed an uptick in reports about noisy headphones and other gadgets.

“Airlines that encourage you to bring your own device certainly make it easier to commit etiquette crimes,” he says.

It’s true. A few years ago, some U.S. airlines began to remove seatback entertainment devices, particularly on some short-haul flights. Today, it’s hard to find a passenger without a tablet, phone, laptop and a headset. 

Well, sometimes the headset is optional.

The result is a cacophony on every flight. You hear beeps, pings, movie soundtracks and that really irritating sound the language learning app Duolingo makes when you answer a question correctly. It is the world’s most annoying sound.

All the noise creates more stress for passengers, which provokes more in-flight conflicts between passengers and crew members. So much for friendly skies.

But for every etiquette crime, there is a consequence. Del Zotto didn’t want to spend seven hours listening to his neighbor’s headset. So he lent him his extra headset.

“He was very grateful,” he remembers.

Are my headphones OK for a flight?

The worst thing you can do on a plane is listen to music or watch a movie without headphones. That’s a clear breach, not only of in-flight etiquette, but of airline rules. And there are no exemptions for young children who haven’t figured out how to use headphones. If they can’t use headphones, give them a toy. A quiet toy.

In terms of acceptable headphones, experts say anything with more than 75 percent sound containment is good, but you should aim for at least 90 percent. 

The least leak-prone headsets are the Sony Pulse Explore Truly Wireless and the Moondrop Blessing 3, both in-ear headsets with perfect ratings. Oh, and if someone sits next to you with a pair of HiFiMan Arya Stealth Magnets, you’re going to hear everything. It’s the leakiest headset on the market. You can find a full list of models on Rtings.com, a consumer electronics site. 

What should you do if you’re next to a noisey device on a flight?

So what if you’re seated next to a passenger who is violating several in-flight noise ordinances? Experts agree that you should give your seatmate the benefit of the doubt. Often, they don’t even know that their headphones are leaking noise. 

Stay calm. You might feel like lashing out at the headphone scofflaw, but don’t, says Jodi RR Smith, who runs Mannersmith Etiquette Consulting. An escalation on the plane can be a serious issue for you and your seatmate, leading to an emergency landing and you being led off the plane in handcuffs. So please think before you start browbeating the passenger seated next to you. “Remember,” she says, “some people are just oblivious.”

Read the cabin. Find the right moment to approach the offending headphone-wearer. It might not be the person making all the noise, notes etiquette expert Rosalinda Randall. “For example, if you think the parent looks approachable, discreetly request they provide little Johnny with earbuds,” she says.

Appeal to a higher authority. If the passenger refuses to address the problem, etiquette experts recommend that you privately ask a flight attendant to intervene. After all, most airlines have rules about playing loud music, and a leaky headset certainly qualifies. Don’t jab the flight attendant “call” button; instead, walk over to the galley when you can and ask. The crew members may be able to move you to a different seat.

Thomas Plante, a psychology professor at Santa Clara University, says it comes down to respect.

“Be mindful that the world doesn’t revolve around you and your needs,” he says.

OK, it’s easier said than done

I was on a recent flight from Dublin to Istanbul when a passenger behind me started playing a kids’ TV show at full volume behind me — no headset. It was a clear violation of the in-flight rules they deliver before takeoff. But then, the offending passenger was a toddler.

I probably made every mistake in the book. I started by giving a disapproving look to the child. The kid couldn’t take his eyes off the episode of Bob the Builder. Next, I gave Mom the evil eye. Nothing.

This went on for a while. I felt my blood pressure rising slowly. Kids may love watching Bob the Builder, but to adults, it’s pure fingernails on chalkboard. Finally, I couldn’t take it any longer. I swiveled around and asked Mom if she could please find a pair of headphones for her snowflake. 

OK, I didn’t use the words “snowflake” — but the “please” sounded about as sincere as the parking lot guys at Disney World when they take your $30 and say, “Have a magical day!”

She complied. But I was ashamed of my behavior. I should have taken a few extra breaths before getting all bitchy with her. And I’m only saying this because I know that when it comes to noisy electronics, it’s easy to overheat. Don’t let that be you.