Airlines are taking the first true step against annoying passengers who watch videos with the sound on speakerphone. United Airlines now requires passengers to use headphones to enjoy content on their devices during flights.
In early March 2026, United amended Rule 21 Refusal of Transport within its official Contract of Carriage to include “Passengers who fail to use headphones while listening to audio or video content.”
In short, if you force other passengers to listen to your smartphone at full blast during your Bridgerton marathon, you give United the right to “remove [you] from the aircraft at any point” and even “refuse transport on a permanent or temporary basis.”
About United Airlines’ Headphone Policy
United (and other airlines) already included partial and total bans on the use of electronic devices in their regulations, such as making calls after the cabin has closed or using devices with “airplane mode” disabled.
However, this addendum to United’s Refusal of Transport rule addresses a trend that emerged with the arrival of internet-connected portable devices and worsened after the Covid pandemic.
Social distancing and high travel prices after 2021 seem to have birthed a type of arrogant traveler who feels entitled to misbehave without repercussions. Social media is rife with reports of travelers desecrating tourist attractions, assaulting service staff, and even getting into fights at Disney.
Based on our personal experience, this phenomenon of watching content on smartphones and tablets without headphones is on the rise. We’ve witnessed people using their devices on speakerphone during more than half of the flights we’ve taken since 2023. On one particular six-hour-plus route, we sat behind someone sleeping across their entire row of seats while their phone played gossip shows on speakerphone.
Common Sense and Other People’s Rights
Between loud snorers, incessantly crying babies, and the constant roar of jet engines, today’s air passengers already endure a fair amount of noise pollution on every flight. These sounds, while annoying, can be justified up to a point.
We’ve previously discussed the importance of traveling with earplugs or noise-canceling headphones for rest and to prevent hearing loss. We understand that some people may not prefer either option since prolonged use could cause ear infections.
Yet the use of devices on speakerphone goes way beyond that. Those who listen to content out loud disregard other people’s personal space. They demonstrate poor common sense, terrible manners, and a lack of respect for their fellow passengers.
Repercussions of the Speakerphone Ban
With its headphone policy, United Airlines seems to be winning the goodwill of its customers, and other airlines are beginning to follow suit.
Although there are no reports that American Airlines has changed its rules, a passenger was reportedly removed from one of its planes by law enforcement after watching videos without headphones and yelling in self-defense while intoxicated.
We believe this response is appropriate for the safety and well-being of all passengers. The crew needs no distractions that impede their duties, and passengers shouldn’t be forced to consume content against their will. When airplanes used analog screens, the sound came through headphones at each seat, which you could choose to use or not.
In short, think carefully if you need to use your smartphone’s speakerphone on your next flight. You can always buy headphones for your portable device (wired or Bluetooth) at reasonable prices. If you don’t have headphones, United and other airline staff can provide you with some (often at no extra cost) so you can listen to your music and watch your videos as loud as you like.
