United Airlines can now boot passengers for one of the most annoying airplane habits

United Airlines has updated its in-flight noise policy, making headphone use mandatory for passengers who listen to audio or video without exception. The change was added to United’s Contract of Carriage on February 27 under “Rule 21,” after the airline began enforcing the requirement in February. United told The Post that flyers can no longer play content aloud on devices like phones or tablets, including watching movies or using services such as TikTok, unless they use headphones. The policy allows the carrier to refuse boarding and remove passengers “on a permanent or temporary basis” if they fail to comply. The update aligns with United’s rollout of Starlink in-flight Wi‑Fi on more than 300 aircraft, with plans to expand to an additional 500 by the end of 2026. The competitive context is connectivity-driven service leadership, including improved onboard streaming capabilities.