United Airlines has formally added a requirement for passengers to wear headphones while listening to audio or video content to its Contract of Carriage. The airline can now refuse transport, either temporarily or permanently, to any passenger who violates this rule.
The policy update, confirmed as of February 27, was reinforced following the expansion of Starlink Wi-Fi on its flights. Passengers without headphones can request a free pair of earbuds if available.
The main topics covered are the new headphone policy, its enforcement consequences, and the rationale for the timing of the update.
United Airlines has updated its “Contract of Carriage” to include a line that requires passengers to wear headphones while listening to audio and video content on flights, CBS News reports.
United Airlines can permanently ban passengers who don’t wear headphones
United can now “refuse transport” to anyone who refuses to wear headphones while listening to content on their flight.
United can now “refuse transport” to anyone who refuses to wear headphones while listening to content on their flight.
Under the updated contract, United can “refuse transport on a permanent or temporary basis” to passengers who don’t follow a list of rules, which now includes listening to audio without wearing headphones. The policy also states that United can remove those passengers from the aircraft “at any point.”
United spokesperson Stella Balaskas confirmed in a statement to The Verge that the policy was updated on February 27th, saying, “We’ve always encouraged customers to use headphones when listening to audio content – and our Wi-Fi rules already remind customers to use headphones.” Balaskas added that the expansion of Starlink to United flights last year made this “a good time” to reinforce the airline’s headphones requirement by adding it to its contract of carriage.
According to United’s website, passengers who don’t have headphones are able to request a free pair of earbuds, “if they’re available.”
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