United Airlines’ new headphone policy puts the kibosh on passengers playing audio on their personal devices out loud while flying.
The airline’s rule is to enforce headphone (or earphone) usage and implement “safety” while 30,000 feet in the air and in mixed company. United now lists the policy in its Contract of Carriage Document, which can be accessed online. Under the “Refusal of Transport” area, it states that the carrier maintains the right to deny transport “on a permanent or temporary basis,” or remove a passenger from the plane “at any point.” That would be the case of one or more listed reasons (or passenger infringements), which now include failing “to use headphones while listening to audio or video content.”
United’s headphone policy also falls under a safety section. The latter notes the airline’s right to action “whenever refusal or removal of a passenger may be necessary.”
In essence, now, listening to music, social media clips, movies, or anything else played out loud during your flight could potentially result in United permanently banning you. You could also get kicked off your flight.
What Else Is There To Know About United Airlines’ Headphones Policy?
According to CBS News, United’s headphone policy was quietly added to its contract of carriage back in late February. USA Today reported that the airline confirmed the news in a statement. Notably, United already urged its passengers to use headphones to listen to personal audio on flights before formalizing the common courtesy in its contract of carriage.
“With the expansion of Starlink, it seemed like a good time to make that even clearer by adding it to the contract of carriage,” the carrier reportedly explained.
And if you forget your headphones, don’t be worried that you’ll have to raw-dog the flight. United details on its website that it provides free headphones (if available) upon request.
