Mid-40s overnight flight passenger watches Netflix without headphones on flight of 150 travelers: 'I respond that she’s gonna have to turn it off then and she just tells me, "No I don’t"'

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Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Dec 4, 2025 3:00 PM EST

This overnight flyer instantly became the least-liked person on the entire plane after deciding it was time to watch her shows at top volume — without any earphones at all. 

There are a lot of theories about why people watch videos at full volume on their phones these days, declining to put in earphones even when that would benefit every other person around them. We all don't want to hear the bubble-popping sound from your mobile game, pal. We simply do not want to listen in on your 20-minute commentary YouTube video. Rest assured, no one else you're traveling with is excited when you turn on your latest Netflix show at a volume so loud it renders your phone speakers blown out and squawking. 

I actually don't think people do this to be impolite though (although it is impolite!), but instead because most phones don't have headphone jacks anymore. Sure, you can buy a dongle adapter, but I've had so many of those break on me that I just bought a pair of AirPods. And I don't know about you, but my AirPods don't last more than like 90 minutes to 2 hours. Sometimes they lose battery life mid-commute! If you're a busy parent who's got 30 childfree minutes to themselves while they're on the train, I kind of understand why they still want to watch their shows, even if they don't have or can't use headphones. Or if you work 60 hours per week and you just cannot fathom going to work without your distractions, you aren't going to be bothered by the glaring looks of everyone else around you — you're just focused on your own entertainment. Without headphone jacks, this problem is here to stay. 

However, this overnight flyer really took things too far. What she did at her big age of mid-40s to early-50s is just inexcusable. She reminds me of those people who decide that the perfect time to clip their toenails and file their feet is midflight. They haven't given a second thought to literally anyone else on board, and instead, they're acting oddly antisocial. 

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  • 01

    'Lady watching Netflix without headphones on flight'

    Young brunette woman in white tank top holds ears and grimaces
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • On a plane of 150+ people traveling throughout the night, you simply must adapt to what most flyers are going to be doing: sleeping! Please, just bring an eye mask or listen to music with headphones so that your super-bright screens don't bother anyone else. You've all paid a lot of money to be there — just relax, if possible, and know that in a few hours you'll be home on your couch where you can watch loud TV shows to your heart's content without bothering anyone else. 

  • 02
    I had an overnight flight yesterday and as soon as I sit down I notice the lady in my row (I'm window she aisle, middle seat empty) watching Netflix with no headphones. She is maybe late 40s or early 50s, not a teenager from whom I typically see this type of behavior on public
    via u/Helpful_Bee_1051
  • 03
    transport. I ask her to use headphones and she tells me she doesn't have any. I respond that she's gonna have to turn it off then and she just tells me "no I don't". Boarding has finished at this point but seatbelt signs aren't on yet so I
    via u/Helpful_Bee_1051
  • 04
    ask her to let me out and go talk to the flight attendant at the back. The flight attendant acts immediately and talks to the lady - I'm not sure what was said as I stay back to avoid any escalation, however the situation seems to have been resolved with her
    via u/Helpful_Bee_1051
  • 05
    giving the lady some headphones. I try to return to my seat and ask her to let me back in which she ignores the first time. The second time she tells me "You are disturbing me" - I guess. as some form of trying to get back at me. It seemingly hadn't
    via u/Helpful_Bee_1051
  • 06
    occurred to her that there wouldn't have been a need for her to let me out and back in had she just followed the very basic rule of not playing anything out loud on your phone in a confined space with 150 other people.
    via u/Helpful_Bee_1051
  • 07
    This was the first time I've had something like this happen on a flight (maybe other times I just didn't notice as I often wear noise canceling headphones) - but I fear it's going to happen more. frequently in future as I could also heard a guy play some sort of game
    via u/Helpful_Bee_1051
  • 08
    on his phone a few rows further upfront. Luckily that was droned out by the plane noise after takeoff though.
    via u/Helpful_Bee_1051
  • 09
    Woman in white shirt wearing eye mask on forehead sits on darkened plane and holds brightly lit phone
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 10
    Original-... Some people are not meant to be out in public.
    via u/Original-Fig4214
  • 11
    dark51de... I literally told a grown-ass man to put his headphones in on a flight three days ago. He actually looked offended? What is actually wrong with these people...
    via u/dark51de0fthem00n
  • 12

    Some people have their own clever methods of dealing with these situations!

    adarkaug... I usually just start commenting and responding to whatever the person is playing out loud; a movie, a podcast, a phone call. I feel like if they're playing it
    via u/adarkaugust
  • 13
    so loud then they MUST want my input... you'd be surprised how quickly they turn it off and walk away from me! Like, Heyyyy, I thought we was vibing?!
    via u/adarkaugust
  • 14
    JenBritti... I would be hitting that call button so fast.
    via u/JenBrittingham
  • 15
    Komman... Good on you for actually addressing it.
    via u/Kommanderson1
  • 16
    TheSquirr... So I don't fly much, but is that "common courtesy" rule, or a requirement on a plane? What if she still refused to stop playing it out loud? Would they remove her from the plane?
    via u/TheSquirrelly
  • 17
    Or is there nothing more they can do than ask? I have this happen when I'm eating out and I'm listening to a show on my tablet with headphones, but someone at a nearby table has a game or video on their phone
    via u/TheSquirrelly
  • 18
    so loud I hear it as loud as what I'm listening to with my headphones. Like, are you deaf?
    via u/TheSquirrelly

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entitlement flight entitled customers entitled people karma passenger entitled netflix airplane entitled people flying
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