there's better, but they're still pretty good. If you have the money to spend, get something better. I've also been tapped on the shoulder because I couldn't hear the flight attendant. I fly about 2x a month.

Noise cancelling phones cancel noise. You still hear bumps, crying kids, loud talkers. Engines are noise (constant hum). Crowds of people chatting is noise. Those people with noise cancelers who say their headphones kept them from hearing the crying baby are really referring to their headphones' isolation ability (which is usually also good in a noise canceling set).