headphones earbuds
These are the earbuds by Billboard currently available aboard flights operated by Delta Air Lines. Note the soft tips to be inserted into your ears. Photograph ©2014 by Brian Cohen.

You Can Now Use Personal Headsets on Flights Operated by Air Canada

Although this is not an April Fool’s Day joke — sticking with the Canadian theme since posting the article pertaining to the annual video offered by WestJet — you can now use your personal headsets anytime that you are a passenger aboard an airplane operated by Air Canada throughout the duration of the flight.

You Can Now Use Personal Headsets on Flights Operated by Air Canada

This is the official announcement pertaining to the use of personal headsets which was released from Air Canada:

New policy concerning personal headsets

March 29, 2018

Air Canada is happy to announce that, beginning on April 1, 2018, passengers on our flights will be able to use their personal headsets (of any kind) on our in-flight entertainment system or their personal mobile devices. This service is available from gate to gate at any time, except, of course, while the safety video is being played.

The only times at which passengers are discouraged from using personal headsets is:

  • During a demonstration on safety
  • While receiving an individual briefing related to safety
  • During a planned emergency which involves preparation of the cabin

Summary

I was rather surprised that one could not use personal headsets during flights on airplanes operated by Air Canada until today, Sunday, April 1, 2018, which would seem like a rather arcane policy — especially as I used my personal headset while I was a passenger during a flight aboard an airplane operated by WestJet last year with no issue whatsoever…

…but for many people, this announcement from Air Canada is literally music to their ears.

Photograph ©2014 by Brian Cohen.

  1. You could use personal headsets and ear buds before April 1st but not gate to gate. Prior to take off, you could only use personal ear bugs (no head sets) connected to the plane entertainment system.

    1. Thank you for the clarification, JB. I appreciate it.

      I figured that the policy prior to the official announcement from Air Canada had to be more benign than that…

  2. As JB said, this is an expansion of the old policy, which allowed personal earbud-type headsets from gate to gate if they are connected to the in flight entertainment system. Other types of headsets, and anything not connected to the in flight entertainment system could only be used in flight. The new rule will allow for any type of personal headset connected to anything, gate to gate.

  3. Will Air Canada jacks provide in-flight audio (music and movies) if I use Klipsch® Reference R6 On-Ear Headphones? Thanks to anyone who knows the answer for this old dinosaur!

  4. Air Canada is now prohibiting Bluetooth headphones and Buds on all their flights.
    3 weeks ina row on 777’s & Q 400’s and not allowed.
    We’re strange

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