United Adds Headphone Requirement to Contract of Carriage

United Airlines has updated section 21 of its contract of carriage, which outlines reasons the airline can refuse to transport passengers. The update adds a 22nd reason: "Passengers who fail to use headphones while listening to audio or video content." This formalizes the expectation that passengers wear headphones to prevent audio bleed, moving it from an informal courtesy or announcement to a contractual obligation. The airline notes this addresses the increasing problem of audio leakage due to personal devices and Wi-Fi usage, particularly with the rollout of Starlink