United is cracking down on passengers who listen to their phones and other devices without headphones.
The airline recently updated its “contract of carriage,” which outlines its booking and service policies. Under its “refusal of transport” subsection, the carrier said it now reserves the right to remove and permanently ban “passengers who fail to use headphones while listening to audio or video content.”
United added the language some time earlier this week but did not announce it through its usual media channels. News outlets began reporting on the update on Tuesday.
Experts cited by CBS News said United is the first major U.S. carrier to implement such a rule.
United already prohibits voice and video calls after an aircraft’s doors have been closed.
