American Airlines has stopped collecting Bang & Olufsen headphones early on many premium flights with plans to fully scrap this annoying practice later in 2025.
Bang & Olufsen No Longer Collected Early On American Airlines
In my flight review from Los Angeles to New York I published just last week, I said, “AA has nice headphones from Bang & Olufsen…but the annoying thing is that flight attendants collect them an hour before landing (to ensure they are not stolen). I understand the concern, but this really reduces their value and is very disturbing to those who are trying to sleep.”
Per One Mile At A Time, that policy changes today, April 23, 2025. Now, premium cabin passengers can leave their headphones on their seats–flight attendants will no longer collect them early.
The policy change will apply to:
- All US inbound flights
- Hawaii Flagship Service
- Transcontinental Flagship Service
Starting later this year, it will apply to international flights departing the USA.
I understand the concern that American Airlines does not want its fancy Bang & Olufsen headphones stolen. People can be jerks and some feel entitled to take everything with them when they fly in a premium cabin, from the blankets to the plates to the headphones. These headphones may not be wireless, but they are still nice noise-cancelling headphones that could be rewired to fit mobile phone jacks.
Will AA put tracking devices on these headphones? I’d have to doubt it…it would be too much trouble to go after passengers who pilfer these headsets. But I’d also have to imagine that if AA starts seeing these stolen, the policy will revert back…which would really be a shame.
This Is How You Make American Airlines Premium Again
I know it’s a very small move, but nothing says “premium” like waking people up to collect headphones an hour before landing and then handing them cheap, disposable headphones that do not even work.
This is a positive move for customers, not just in terms of the headphones themselves, but in giving flight attendants more time to provide service. A premium carrier is built not by flashy Champagne and caviar, but by delivering a consistent product that offers comfort and reliability.
This move furthers that goal.
CONCLUSION
American Airlines will stop collecting its Bang & Olufsen headphones early on many premium flights. As small as this move is, it is something I have been calling for years and I know I have not been alone. It’s a small change, but a big deal.
What do you think about AA no longer collecting headphones early?
you truly have to ask why other airlines have been able to do this – and realize the value in allowing customers to keep headsets throughout the whole flight – a long time ago and it took AA THIS LONG to finally make the change.
The best thing to do with headphone collections before you are finished is to explain you’re not finished and then continue doing what you are doing, the flight attendant can stand there until you are if they want to. You don’t pay a premium fare for this sort of nonsense to happen before the end of the flight.
On AA? Those flight attendants will have the police waiting for you!
Knowing that police will enforce AA’s bottom line without question is probably why this is only available on domestic routes and flights to the US. Police in Germany aren’t going to attack a passenger over $50.
I’m so excited that we will finally be able to enjoy the lengthy credit card pitch blasted straight through our premium headphones instead of having to listen to it through the overhead speakers like a peasant.
Have the headphones hard-wired to the seat like LH.