Contract determines that airline has the right to permanently or temporarily ban anyone who consumes audio or video content without headphones
The North American airline United Airlines included a rule in its carriage contract that allows passengers to be prevented from boarding or removed from the aircraft if they do not use headphones when consuming audio or video content. The company may also ban them from flying with the airline in the future.
Passengers may still have to compensate United Airlines for any damages.
In rule 21 it is written that United Airlines “reserves the right to refuse carriage, permanently or temporarily, or to remove any passenger from the aircraft at any time” for several reasons. Among them, when travelers do not use “headphones while listening to audio or video content”. Here is the contract, in English (PDF – 306 kB).
According to the airline’s website, the text was updated on February 27, 2026 and, according to , it was on that date that the section about headphones was added.
According to the contract, anyone who fails to comply with any of the rules, such as not using the headset, and causes the company “any loss, damage or expense of any kind, you consent and acknowledge that you must reimburse” the company.
“Further, the activities enumerated in this rule will constitute a material breach of contract for which UA will be excused from fulfilling its obligations under this contract.”the document reads.
United Airlines said that passengers who are refused transportation can request a refund of the amount paid. “As an express condition to the issuance of any refund, UA [United Airlines] will not be responsible for damages of any kind.”declared the company.
