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United Airlines just gave passengers a reason to scream.
The major airline quietly updated a noise policy that, before the change, had flyers nearly losing their minds. United told The Post that back in February, the company started enforcing headphones when listening to content on phones, tablets or anything that makes sound.
This means passengers are no longer able to blast TikTok or watch movies without the use of headphones. United’s Contract of Carriage — essentially a rules and policy handbook — was updated on February 27 to add the new “headphone language.”
“We’ve always encouraged customers to use headphones when listening to audio content – and our Wi-Fi rules already remind customers to use headphones. With the expansion of Starlink (a high-speed, satellite internet service from SpaceX), it seemed like a good time to make that even clearer by adding it to the contract of carriage,” the airline told The Post.
The rule now falls under the brand’s right to refuse section where the airline lists a slew of ways passengers can get the boot. Customers can check out the full list, but don’t miss the bottom of Rule 21 where you’ll find the update that states the brand will refuse guests “who fail to use headphones while listening to audio or video content.”
Those who fail to follow the rule “on a permanent or temporary basis” will be removed from the plane at any point, the section reads. Putting the rule under the new section seems quite significant as it sits with other serious violations.
For example, the updated policy comes after harassment, disruptive, offensive or abusive conduct. It also follows intoxication, foreigners’ proof of vaccination, and folks carrying unauthorized weapons.
The switch is a real shift in cabin behavior, as what was once polite feedback from flight attendants is now a rule that could get passengers removed. The timeline of the revision lines up with the rollout of Starlink’s in-flight Wi-Fi on over 300 of its aircraft. An additional 500 aircraft will also be launched by the end of 2026.
United announced the milestone just days before the Super Bowl back in February, allowing customers the chance to watch live sports, play online games and more. It was especially popular just days ago as passengers were able to watch the World Cup live.
“We are focused on what we call ‘travel truths’ in our advertising, so with this spot we wanted to recognize the truly giant leap Starlink Wi-Fi represents for our customers and what is now possible. Starlink is transforming the inflight experience on United planes with reliable connectivity that enables everything from productivity to streaming the biggest football game of the season,” said Maggie Schmerin, United’s Chief Advertising Officer, in a press release.
While the airline wants to be a leader in connectivity, the headphones policy proves United does not want to sacrifice on customer satisfaction. The company said in the press release, “it is all part of our commitment to bring this innovative service to our entire fleet.”
Because passengers are required to wear headphones, the airline will still pass them out during the flight for free. Also, many newer planes have seatback screens that are upgraded with Bluetooth so customers can connect with wireless headphones.
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