New Passenger Behavior Clause Could Get You Kicked Off a United Airlines Flight
There are a few unwritten rules to flying etiquette. United Airlines is putting an end to that by literally putting it in writing.
The airline recently announced a new rule that could potentially get a passenger kicked off its flights. United Airlines' Contract of Carriage, updated on Feb. 27, now includes a new rule that passengers must follow to comply with the contract.
It's prefaced this way:
"UA shall have the right to refuse transport on a permanent or temporary basis or shall have the right to remove from the aircraft at any point, any Passenger for the following reasons."
The New Rule
Currently, there are nearly two dozen rules passengers need to follow. There used to be 21 on that list, but that number has since been increased to this new rule:
"Passengers who fail to use headphones while listening to audio or video content."
Yes, if a passenger refuses to wear headphones while listening to music, podcasts, audiobooks, playing video games, or watching a TV show or movie, we'll issue a warning and remove them from the flight if they don't comply.
What's Next?
Footage from the cabin of a United Boeing 787 shows passengers carrying their luggage during the emergency evacuation of Flight 2127 at LAX — a procedure that is supposed to be completed in 90 seconds or less.
— Turbine Traveller (@Turbinetraveler) March 3, 2026
We never learn, do we?pic.twitter.com/91LdZq5C8D https://t.co/VzUneZAJzU
Passengers are fed up with others violating the unwritten rules of flying, from those who immediately get up when a plane is taxiing to those who chat away on speakerphone.
Recently, United Airlines Flight 2127, en route to Newark, New Jersey, was diverted back to LAX with 256 passengers and 12 crew members after issues with the left engine. The plane made an emergency landing, and the slides were deployed.
Related: Airline Passenger Blasted for Breaking Key Rule During Emergency Evacuation
With smoke and fire visible from the left engine, some passengers made the situation even worse when they paused to grab their belongings.
One X account suggested, "Overhead bins should lock automatically when a slide is deployed."
Add it to the Contract of Carriage?