Hi all, has anyone been on an Emirates flight in Business or First class recently and could provide some comments on the noise cancellation and comfort factors for their complimentary noise cancelling headphones?
I think this might only be available on an A380 or similarly large plane.
I ask, because I would like to get to sleep easier so the two above factors are critical to me. I will purchase some QC35 or XM3 headphones if the feedback from you guys isn't great.
Thanks!
Good find thanks
I would like to get to sleep easier so the two above factors are critical to me.
Then just purchase your own, that way you won't be disappointed.
Because if I don't have to buy, then I won't.
And travelling with toddler. Trying to pack as little as possible.
And travelling with toddler.
A toddler in business class? Oh the horror……. You're going to be 'loved' by all around you.
@kickling: Because toddlers are noisy and business class tickets are expensive. So you want to get some sleep and you have a toddler - nah, ain’t going to happen unless you find something to give the kid.
@try2bhelpful: There was a baby flying First near us on an A380 SYD-DXB…
Did not hear a peep! Also a teenager was with another couple.
But fair enough, neither were toddlers.
@OzzyOzbourne: Going by my encounters, this is a fair assumption.
I suggest it needs more peer review. Send nu points!
@BargainHunterMYz: A bit hard to ignore idiot parents that decide their child flying is much more important then the comfort of the people around them. They should be "sorry" unless the kid is well behaved; only a sociopath is not "sorry" if they are negatively affecting other people. The real kicker is they are not only affecting the people around them they are, obviously, distressing the child. A plane if not something you can pull over and give the kid a break from. We flew from Europe back to Australia and the poor little toddler in front of us did the same 20ish hours we did; she was distressed for most of the journey. I'm sure the parent talked about how "well the kid travelled", when talking to her friends.
@try2bhelpful: @try2bhelpful how else do you expect a parent should travel with their child from Europe to Australia? Get a private plane or row a boat?
@pitiek: They should be in ecomony with the rest of the screaming kids.
I'm guessing this kid won't have a seat to the sounds of it, so will be 'sharing' the parents, so will be all over the place.
People are paying $5k+ for a business flight to get away from kids and get some rest during the flight.
I for one would complain if I was in business class and had a screaming kid/adult/anything after forking out all that money.
@JimmyF: I hear you, but most business flights have noise cancelling headphones for this exact reason.
Toddlers and babies do pay for international flights, at a percentage of a full-fare seat, and if the parents got the money, why not?
@JimmyF: @try2bhelpful wasn't referring to business/first class. He was likely flying in economy. Most parents can barely afford economy for +two kids so unlikely in the normal circumstances they can get in first/business class.
Care to hear any real world story of anyone here who had seen this happened.
@pitiek: I've seen babies/toddlers in business class a few times. Never really bothered me.
I have movies playing on my headphones when I'm awake and when I'm sleeping I use ear plugs. Absolutely no problem.
Just use some sedative. I heard peeps use anti-histamine to "calm" down their toddler…though I didn't use one on mine.
@cloudie9: You do know histamines are the first stage of your immune system? Ie turning off your (or child's) immune system with anti histamines on a plane of all places can't be a great choice!
You're in Emirates business class and you want to sleep? I understand if you fly in this tier often but doesn't sound like you do. Don't waste your time sleeping! Plenty time for that when you land.
If you're by yourself then I understand.
Business class is for sleep, First Class you must be awake PLUS the showers ;)
Business class is for sleep
But Emirates business class is a lot of dosh.
Used points. Going business because of toddler also travelling.
Don't worry, I'll be drinking their $1000 brandy, but with a big trip with toddler in tow, sleep is a priority.
but with a big trip with toddler in tow
I feel sorry for your fellow business class travellers.
Why is that?
i actually love babies so I dont' mind if they kick up a fuss, but I have been on work flights with screaming babies in premium economy and business class flights. Some people who fly business class don't have the temperament to tolerate a crying baby and will say something to the flight attendant. Just keep smiling at them if you get stares while the baby is crying.
@conservative: Yes. We understand and are aware of that.
Our child is happy and well behaved almost always. This is the first and only chance we will ever get to fly in a nicer service, and if the parents are more rested and calm, then so is the child.
@conservative: What's your reasoning for saying no?
Not saying you're wrong, but interested to hear opinions that aren't mine
@conservative: Sure. Can't argue with that.
I guess I wasn't clear previously. If we are both rested we'll be able to better care / be aware of/for the needs of our child and therefore a better chance of avoiding crying, essentially.
Not saying that it is a foolproof plan, and not saying crying will never happen, but it's part of our mitigation plan.
@conservative: Thanks mate. First long trip to make some precious memories as a small family before adding more to the mix later.
Yup. Got a list and we're checking it twice.
@kickling: Just ignore the clowns trying to make a big deal out of crying.
Obviously as a parent you don't want your kid to cry but life's not predictable.
Bring something for them to suck on for take off/ landing to reduce ear ache.
Not your job to fly one class vs another because you are worried about other passengers!
Our child is happy and well behaved almost always.
So is our youngest but nevertheless, he still kicked up a fuss at landing (possibly due to earache).
@[Deactivated]: And that is the issue. Unfamiliar surroundings, different food, people wandering around, air pressure changes. The kid might be fine or it might have the biggest meltdown of its life. Confined space, hard to tell. I was sick once, when I flew and I cried most of the 20 hours home. Softly, because I am adult, but was still awful. If I’d been a toddler I would’ve screamed until I was exhausted.
@kickling: Has your child been on a plane before? Have they experienced ear pressure pain in their ears before? No? Then how can you say for sure?!
@lainey13: Did I say that for sure 100% my child would not cry? No. That would be unreasonable. I said that most of the time he is happy and we plan to do the best we can to keep him under control.
Yes. We have flown with him before. We know about giving him a dummy and to watch him as the pressure changes.
Yes. We are not douchebag parents and are more than fully aware that noise may affect other passengers and will not just let our child cry away all day without care.
I don't understand why people are commenting / questioning on aspects of our parenting ability and the nature of our child instead of directly and simply answering my original question. It has nothing to do with my original post.
@kickling: Because you are taking a toddler on a plane and you are talking about headphones that allow you to sleep. Now if the headphones, and sleeping, mean that you don't miss your kid making a lot of noise and annoying the other passengers then fair enough, but if they do mean that, then not so fair enough. My personal view is if you can't reason with a kid, so it settles down, then taking it on the confined space of a plane may not be the best idea. Maybe your toddler has a great deal of maturity and knows how to behave perfectly but the odds aren't great. I apply this to all passengers, they should be respectful of others, don't get drunk, don't be noisy, don't be belligerent, don't be greedy. The toddler is going to remember exactly nothing about this trip so I wonder why people think that travelling the world with them is a good idea. What we are looking at is the big picture, not just the headphones.
@try2bhelpful: I am asking for advice on the quality on the supplied headphones. I am not asking for advice on how to handle my child. Period.
People are making assumptions on why I am asking for this advice, and how that relates to my toddler. They are unrelated. I want headphones so I can fall asleep quickly when my toddler is also asleep with me. Not to be a crappy parent and drown out his noise. Regardless of this added information, it does not change my original question posted.
That is your opinion, that travelling with a toddler is not wise.
And it is your own formed opinion that there are no reasons why people should fly with a toddler if the toddler cannot form memories.
You should think about the bigger picture as to why families go on overseas trips. There are many reasons, both for enjoyment and personal matters, that this happens.
@kickling: So you know your child won't wake up whilst you are asleep? I think we've both made our points. Personally I act in a way that minimises my effect on my fellow passengers. I've been on planes with toddlers, and they are rarely good and quiet for the journey, however, I give leeway to parents that are, actively, trying to engage and pacify the child whilst they are flying. I just query how sleeping with noise cancelling headphones is consistent with that. I think you might want to think about the "bigger picture" in relation to your fellow travellers and, actually, your child. Is it really going to enjoy this trip or is it just you?
@try2bhelpful: I'm going to make this the last comment on here, because obviously nothing helpful is coming out of this.
So you know your child won't wake up whilst you are asleep? - Did I say that I know he will not wake up? Do you know what my strategies are for if he wakes up? Do you know what my plans are for if he is X or Y?
Personally I act in a way that minimises my effect on my fellow passengers - That's great. So do I. All the time.
However, I give leeway to parents that are, actively, trying to engage and pacify the child whilst they are flying. - You are correct. Exactly what I will be doing, because of above point, and because I'm not a shit parent.
I just query how sleeping with noise cancelling headphones is consistent with that. - I already said, that I want the headphones so I can fall asleep quickly after my toddler is asleep with me, to maximise my rest and recovery. Am I not allowed to go to sleep after I have safely put my child to sleep? With my child on my lap, do you think that I will not wake up if he wakes and makes a fuss?
I think you might want to think about the "bigger picture" in relation to your fellow travelers and, actually, your child - I don't need to reiterate or justify. We already have, and always, think about others. Don't know why you can't understand this. And I don't know why you think that the mere attempt of anyone trying to travel with a toddler is such a dog act.
Is it really going to enjoy this trip or is it just you? - I… my brain…
@kickling: Mate don't listen to the negative people here that have never flown business. I fly business for work pretty often.
Regardless of babies or not, I use foam earplugs to sleep. Cuts everything out. When I'm awake, theres usually a movie playing so I dont hear any babies anyway. Also, I never sit close to any bassinet seats because they are usually too close to the galley or toilets anyway. Around mid cabin is the best for me.
Besides, because the cabin is so spread out with walls and stuff everywhere, you dont really hear much if a baby is screaming in business.
@PCHammond: And on the other side of the equation, I fly J and W pretty regulary both for business and leisure.
The difference between you and I is that when you fly for business, you don't see the amount of money spent on your airline ticket or even if you do - it's not directly impacting your wallet.
When you fly for leisure, paying 6-10K return (per person, pushing up to 20k for a couple) for a flight to the US you want it to be a great experience. A crying baby/todler in J is definitely not that experience. I tolerate it somewhat when flying work because I do it so often and am grateful my employer pays for seat in the premium cabins, but when on holiday? Hell. No.
@kickling: Whe my son was a baby / toddler he flew with me more than 20 times, many are 4 to 8 hours flights. He was well behaved, I tried to walk him around when he was a bit restless, but we always almost never disturb our fellow passengers.
I trust that your child will be like that.
However many people in this world are judgemental and has preformed opinion, just ignore them.
Taking business class with your child is a good move and you'll get a better rest. Enjoy your trip.
@BargainHunterMYz: OK, some things:
a) Some of us have been on the other side of this equation where a kid screamed it's head off for most of the journey.
b) Sounds like you were engaged with the kid; not putting on the noise cancelling headphones and sleeping.
c) How do you know if your fellow passengers were disturbed - I've been disturbed by kids in the past but I don't stand up and scream at the parent.
d) If you flew with the toddler due to some imperative with family, fine but if you are just taking it jaunting around the world then you are not showing consideration for your fellow passengers or the child. Wait until the kid is old enough to understand and enjoy the experience as well.
e) You can "trust" that the child will be like that but, excuse us, if the rest of us are a bit skeptical.
@BargainHunterMYz: Thanks mate.
Yes, I will be doing exactly that (walking around, entertain, distract etc). These other people don't know me or my child and what my strategies are.
@kickling: Whilst sleeping with your noise cancelling headphones? That is what you have already stated.
@kickling: Mate, don't worry about, trynot2bhelpful.
My toddler flew fine and being on an A380 worked well as there are areas you can take your child when you seen signs of restlessness (As long as it's safe to do so). We took turns taking our toddler to a self serve galley whenever things looked like they were going to unfold.
Didn't annoy any other passengers and two people even gave her trinkets instead. Other passengers are not all hateful and annoyed if you have a child in business.
@TheBean: I’m not hateful, what a completely silly expression by the way you sound like a teenager, or completely annoyed, as long as the parents are engaging; but if you say headphones to ensure you can sleep and toddler I do hear alarm bells. just because your toddler flew fine doesn’t mean this kid won’t have a massive meltdown and if the parent is not in charge then that is their fault. Not all people in business would be “hateful” or annoyed, but you would be the first on the barricades if someone had the temerity to say anything. I’m waiting for the “you were a child once” comment. Well yes, but I didn’t fly until I was in my late teens.
@try2bhelpful: Your default attitude seems to be pretty severely negative. I don't have kids, I've been annoyed by kids screaming throughout entire flights. But you know, not always. Usually kids are fine. And their parents are adults who will try to minimise disturbance out of respect for others around them. And other passengers are adults who can handle the odd reasonable disturbance as a part of living in society and not being absolutely selfish.
So why would you assume the worst and then insist on it so hard and expect parents to ignore their own judgment and simply rule out out travel for your own sake unless you have some very soft skin and the shortest possible fuse? Maybe you are the baby?
PS you have no idea how noise cancelling headphones work on a plane. It's actually easier to hear people and things around you when the droning plane noise is cancelled (not blocked) out.
@crentist: Yes I do know how noise cancelling headphones work but this parent is talking about sleeping. I don’t think I am being severely negative. I’m pretty sure that a sleeping parent is not in charge. Kids are not “normally” fine I’ve been on quite a few flights over the years and not having at least one screaming kid is very unusual. I am an adult and I expect a parent to behave as a responsible adult.
They are ok. My bose earphones at the time were better
Thanks for the useful response.
Or go to pharmacy and but Phenergan
Just don’t give it to the toddler. Phenergan can’t be given under a certain age and must be tested before the flight. Some children react to phenergan and it makes them hyperactive.
This! The first time my toddler had phenergen (for a bee sting) it made them hyperactive and lasted for hours. Definitely would not have liked to be on a flight under that circumstance.
I flew first on A380 to Europe (Prolly first and last time with enough FF points!) They make up bed with extra mattress and decent pillow and the food comes whenever you think you might like to snack-no need to schedule meals. I slept like a log and the headphones were OK.
Thanks. Very useful information.
I have beats studio 2 and they were better than them. I slept fine without them on. Beds comfy and plenty of space and not much noise. Its only the white noise from the plane anyways couldnt hear any other passengers.
Thanks for your useful advice
Should mention I was in first, and it was the new heaphones they have that just recently came out. Not sure what the bus class headphone are like.
On my flight last November, there are the headphones they provide in their business class;
I will look at my camera photos and upload some First Class headphones shortly…
Great.
Thanks for your help
Another point; sleeping with over-ear headphones can be tricky if you roll around / sleep on your side. I'd prefer using ear plugs for sleeping purposes.
Okay for nodding off/ napping in, but sleeping? As above, good earplugs for sleeping, good ANC headphones for watching shows or just listening to some tunes.
Thanks.
I should add that I have become accustomed to silence to fall asleep. I should actually say that I want ANC headphones to nod off to start my sleep cycle, not necessarily (but perhaps will happen incidentally) to sleep whilst wearing.
Earplugs hurt my ears so trying to avoid.
Lookup some airline reviewers
Eg Josh Cahill https://youtu.be/yermR-KIiCQ
Dennis Bunnick - https://youtu.be/ulgxwkG87Fs
Jeb Brooks - https://youtu.be/AsswlMIo4vY
Jeb will always comment on the headphones and will tell you if they are shit lol.
I personally prefer to byo.
Thanks very much, will check them out
If I was you I would get blockout earphones rather than noise cancelling, particularly if you get comply tips as well.
It is easier to sleep with buds, easier to pack and the comply improves comfort and blockout. Used this combo, often, in the past. I usually play some music from my phone and just zone out. Only time it failed was when I had a cold and ears were too sore to put them in.
Nice, thanks for the tips. Will check it out
They are Bowers & Wilkins ones and are available on the Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s. Haven't tried them as I prefer to use my own.
They are better than nothing. And when there is a screaming toddler they allow everyone in the space to ignore it. Best part of Emirates A380 with toddlers is the lounge. They can run around and your fellow passengers can coo.
I flew first and business last year. They have variations (different plugs) on QC35s for Business and B&W P7 for first.
The first class headphones were amazing.
Ya.. They work great.. Available on all their flights in business and above.. Not just a380
You fly business class and you are a card carrying Oz Bargainer????
Not only is that a contradiction of terms, but it breaks the spirit of the statutes in the OZB mandate; the laws that govern the lives of all true members.
As penance, go straight to the back of the plane and stand outside the economy toilets and hang your head in shame until you have corrected your way of thinking and fully atoned for your sins.
Erm. I'm flying business and first BECAUSE I am an ozbargainer…
Hey I am flying RTW in business in June/July you reckon Scotty can send me an OZB tshirt to wear on all my flights? @Scotty
When I flew in 2017 they were new and worked well, but have no doubt been updated since.
You don't need noise cancellation in A380 business, the only noise you have to worry about is your kid's!
can anyone confirm how the steering wheel on the new bentley feels? i bought a rolls last week and it just feels off.
Flown to Tokyo last Feb with stopover in Singapore. Total flight was appx 13hrs with XM3 used most of the time watching movies and sleep. ANC was superb, comfort however was only in the beginning, after 3 hrs your ears will get sweaty and hot.
I last flew Emirates business 2yrs ago. Back then I had QC25s.
Quality was good enough from the supplied headphones that I did not bother using my QC25s.
Soft foam earplugs are best for sleeping.
For sleeping you only need foam earplugs. Sounds like you better bring enough for the other passengers in business class too if you're going to be taking your child along. I think it's utterly selfish taking a child/toddler into the business class area; there is the potential for spoiling the flight of a large number of people who have paid a lot of money.
Totally agree with this as per my other comment.
The people that are saying it "doesn't matter" normally fly on the company dime (as I do regularly too). It really matters to people, including myself when I'm paying 6-10K for a return trip and it doesn't go well because of crying babies in J.
I flew both Emirates and Etihad business and the QC35 / MX1000 were both wayyyyyyy better than the supplied headphones.
Although tbh, you don't even need noise cancelling or even ear plugs in the biz. there are way less people and if you're an an A380, in-cabin is so quiet.
Emirates Business Class Headphones are pretty good compared to the standard economy headphones.
But they don't compare to Sony or Bose NC headphones.
Yeah me.
I jumped on the A380 Emirates Buz Class - they're large cup headphones which actually are noise-cancelling, i.e it reduced the engine and cabin noise by like 90%.
However they're not Senheiser or Bose, etc , just some other generic product.
P.S and you can't keep them as they want them back.
[This post is so going to be referenced in later years when i'm talking about saving money somewhere]
Do they disinfect the headphones? I would think/hope so, but I would want to bring my own for this reason. PS afaik (correct me if I'm wrong) Bose is the only one I know that can stay on under noise cancelling mode for a long period of time without automatically shutting off. Does Sony do this too?
They come with this paper wrap sorta thing, showing that it's been taken off the plane and hopefully cleaned.
My Sony's can stay on noise cancelling for a long time. Every noise cancelling pair of headphones that airlines have supplied have had no problem either.
If you want sleep… don't get any headphones…
Go the Ozbargainers way, who doesn't like a freebie.
Just get hammered with alcohol, free on flight. Emirates has heaps of nice ones in business and first.
Even if your toddler shouts or screams… you won't hear a thing!
google search reveals this tripadvisor post
TL:DR - consensus is they are good.