Inflight Entertainment or Earache? Passengers Forced To Endure Concert During Ground Delay

A group from the Society of Musicians of Ireland Cavan Town branch broke out in a performance during a weather delay on the ground prior to flying from Frankfurt to Dublin.

Busting out their banjos and bodhrans, the young Irish musicians decided to perform a selection of lively, traditional tunes for their fellow passengers.

…[A] group of professional content creators and press were on the Aer Lingus flight that was returning from a Red Bull event in Frankfurt that saw Ireland competing in a global dance competition.

The music is excellent, but this isn’t what everyone had signed up for. There’s isn’t a “no music” section of the aircraft. While some will enjoy it, others might describe it as ‘Aches On A Plane’ and we’re all just waiting for Samuel L. Jackson.

Fortunately no one decided “that’s what emergency evacuation slides are for.” Also, there’s a line of behavior even for Aer Lingus as the carrier banned Azeealia Banks in 2019.

Here’s the thing: these musicians keep doing this. It wasn’t even a one-off. Mere days earlier they performed while in the boarding area for their outbound flight to Germany.

Back in March passengers pulled out their violins and played for the cabin as St. Patrick’s Day quickly approached on an Aer Lingus flight from Dublin to New York JFK. This came mere days after a violinist performed on Southwest Airlines.

It seems to me that when then-Senator Ted Kennedy successful secured passage of the Airline Deregulation Act in the United States, which created a dedicated regulator for the industry in order to ensure safe and efficient air travel, stopping this was precisely what the drafters had in mind. The music is lovely, but when you’re inside a metal tube and it wasn’t advertised with your ticket, it’s precisely what I imagine CIA rendition to be like. Maybe a matter in this case for the European Court of Justice?

About Gary Leff

Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel - a topic he has covered since 2002. Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »

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Comments

  1. In the terminal, fine. There’s someplace else I can go.

    On the plane. Heck no. I’m complaining. There’s no way to escape.

  2. This feels like one of the lower pits of hell. Talk about overwhelming amount of privileged thinking – that just because you have an awful hobby that you should be willing to force it on the world and even worse think you are doing everyone a favor. Before Ireland became a low-tax EU haven, it was very troubled for a long time. Now I understand why.

  3. Talented musicians with some lively music. I’d rather have that going on than fighting. Hopefully this won’t start any fights.

  4. Good luck playing when I blast a rescue whistle in your face. What, only you get to decide you’re going to make noise?

  5. With everything going on in this world, this is what we’re writing and complaining about?

    You have a group of talented musicians trying to change the mood on a delayed flight, which if you watch the video, you’ll see it’s working.

    If people don’t like this, they really need to stay home or just fly private.

    Oh, if you want to come up to the pointy end of the plane and complain, myself and other pilots would welcome the visit. We will likely tell you (I will for sure) that we’re sorry this is bothering you and that if it’s that disturbing then you’re welcome to get off the aircraft and I’m sure our ground staff will work to find you another flight as we want you to enjoy your journey with us.

    Lighten up folks and enjoy life a little, you may actually find how much better it is mentally and physically.

  6. No. Just no.

    I don’t want music or wedding proposals or whatever.

    If I want to be entertained, I’ll find a YouTube video or something.

    I don’t need to “get off the plane”. I didn’t book the music flight. Have some courtesy toward your passengers. Or let them in the cockpit to entertain YOU.

    Being held hostage yo music I may not care for is NOT my idea of a good time. Hell, I even hate boarding music.

  7. 818Pilotguy – “talented” in your opinion. GFYS. It’s an in-flight / onboard disturbance, and you’re a worthless POS for not listening to those that don’t want to hear it.

  8. Aer Lingus: a laid-back leisure airline for drunk tourists, karaoke singing, and busking musicians? Or a hard-hitting business airline for .recently no. 1 wealthiest GDP per capita counry in Europe?

    Granted, I don’t know of any serious flier who actually wants to fly Aer Lingus; nonetheless, Aer Lingus persists, unlike Alitalia which had to be reborn as ITA. What do I know?

  9. I think this is great. But a good reason to always bring along noise cancelling headset when flying in case not in the mood.

  10. Pure Hell!! Torture!! In a space where people can get away that’s fine, but in an enclosed place it is beyond disrespectful to do this no matter how good some feel the music is. It’s not everyone’s taste. For myself, I just want quiet and basically to be left alone. That’s THE main reason I stopped flying Southwest years ago. You get the games, the singing, the flight attendants wanting to put on a show, being a comedian, and the whole “let’s all be friends y’all and sing along and play games” mentality is appealing to some, but not all. What about those who are suffering with a migraine? Or those who are traveling to a sick relative? Or those who are mourning? I don’t care how good someone thinks the music is, it is incredibly disrespectful. On a plane, there should be silence and respect.

  11. @ Walter. Having a bad day are you? Besides, “yourself” is one word regardless of slang.

  12. Forced family fun my sister in law calls it. Wait until someone sings an opera for 45 min and see the attitude of the airline change. The magic flute would be nice

Comments are closed.