Overview
- United updated its Contract of Carriage on Feb. 27, adding a Rule 21 requirement that passengers use headphones when playing audio or video onboard.
- Passengers who refuse crew instructions may be removed from a flight or permanently refused transport, and they could be charged for costs the airline incurs.
- United links the policy to wider deployment of high‑speed Starlink connectivity that is expected to increase in‑flight streaming on personal devices.
- The airline has not detailed how often it will enforce the rule, though the contract change gives flight attendants clearer authority to intervene.
- Travelers without headphones can request complimentary earbuds if available, and the move has drawn broad public support, including praise from Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.