United Airlines Can Now Remove Passengers Who Refuse to Wear Headphones

United Airlines is now taking necessary steps against passengers who refuse to use headphones during flights. It’s no longer just the stink eye from other passengers that may stop travelers from blasting their music or TV shows during flights. 

United has updated its “contract of carriage,” which outlines the carrier’s rules and policies. This quiet policy change now requires all passengers to wear headphones when listening to a device. United also reserves the right to boot passengers who “fail to use headphones while listening to audio or video content,” according to its terms and conditions updated Friday. 

United warned, “UA has the right to refuse transport, on a permanent basis, any passenger who engages in any of the activities in this Rule.” However, passengers removed under the updated policy are eligible for a refund upon request.

If a passenger forgets to bring headphones, they can ask a flight attendant for a free pair. “Don’t worry if you forget your headphones for your flight. If they’re available, you can request free earbuds,” United writes on their website. 

U.S. Airlines Encourage Headphones But Don’t Mandate Removal

Travel expert Scott Keyes told CBS News that he is unaware of whether other major U.S. airlines have the same rule.

Delta Air Lines writes on its website, “For the comfort of everyone around you, please use earbuds or headphones with any personal electronic device during your flight.” Southwest Airlines, on the other hand, says on its website, “Headphones are required whenever a Passenger is listening to any audio.”

Other carriers encourage passengers to use headphones, but none explicitly state that failure to comply results in removal from an aircraft, according to Keyes.

“This is in line with how the vast majority of travelers comport themselves and would like others to comport themselves,” Keyes said. He added, “It’s usually only a small number of folks on airplanes who are making noise by not using headphones, so this is a graceful way to handle those folks.”