The New United Airlines Policy That Could Get You Kicked Off a Flight

There are many things that can get you kicked off a flight in the U.S., like failing to comply with the instructions of flight crew members or being too drunk on a plane. But United Airlines recently updated its policies to add a new one: Refusing to use headphones when listening to your electronic devices.

United updated its “Contract of Carriage†document on Feb. 27, 2026 in a move only recently spotted by NBC 5 in Chicago. Rule 21 includes the “Rules of Transport, which lists all the things you can be denied a seat for, which now includes “Passengers who fail to use headphones while listening to audio or video content.â€

United confirmed the changes to Gizmodo in an email Wednesday, sending along the list of rules that appear on screen for people who use wi-fi on the airline’s flights.

“We’ve always encouraged customers to use headphones when listening to audio content – and our Wi-Fi rules already remind customers to use headphones,†a spokesperson for the airline told Gizmodo.

“With the expansion of Starlink, it seemed like a good time to make that even clearer by adding it to the contract of carriage,†the spokesperson continued.

The Chicago-based carrier has rolled out Starlink internet service to over 300 aircraft and expects to have another 500 outfitted by the end of 2026.

There are now 22 reasons listed under “safety†that could get you booted from a United flight, including things like:

• Passengers who are barefoot, not properly clothed, or whose clothing is lewd, obscene or offensive
• Passengers or Passengers’ Service Animals whose conduct is unlawful; indecent, lewd, or sexual in nature (including viewing offensive content); harassing; disruptive; disorderly; offensive; abusive; unsanitary; or violent
• Unaccompanied passengers who are both blind and deaf, unless such passenger is able to communicate with representatives of UA by either physical, mechanical, electronic, or other means.
• Passengers who have or cause a malodorous condition (other than individuals qualifying as disabled)

A “malodorous condition,†in case you’re unfamiliar, is body odor.

But the 22nd on the list is now refusing to wear headphones. If a person forgets their headphones, they might be able to get a free pair from a flight attendant, according to NBC 5.