United Airlines threatens to ban customers who don’t use headphones

United Airlines customers who don’t use headphones to listen to music could be banned for life from their aircrafts, according to a newly enforced rule.

As of February 27, 2026, flyers will no longer be able to listen to music or watch videos out loud on United Airlines flights under a new Refusal of Transport clause.

Per the latest rules, “UA shall have the right to refuse transport on a permanent or temporary basis” for those who “fail to use headphones while listening to audio or video content.”

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“We’ve always encouraged customers to use headphones when listening to audio content – and our Wi-Fi rules already remind customers to use headphones,” the airline said in a statement.

“With the expansion of Starlink, it seemed like a good time to make that even clearer by adding it to the contract of carriage,” they added (via CBS News).

The airline also explained that those who forget their headphones will be given a free pair, with those avoiding the rules now facing removal from aircrafts or even a permanent ban.

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According to CBS News, travel expert Scott Keyes says that this marks the first time a US airline has enforced a ban of this kind, saying: “It's usually only a small number of folks on airplanes who are making noise by not using headphones.”

Other things that could land flyers a permanent ban include failure to pay, assault of a staff member, travelling barefoot, smoking on the aircraft, or being intoxicated.

In 2025, UK political party Liberal Democrats called for those who play music out loud on public transport to be fined up to £1,000 in an amended law that applied to buses, trains and the London Underground.

Gemma Ross is Mixmag's Associate Digital Editor, follow her on X