I have plenty of travel pet peeves, but one stands above the rest. Sitting on a plane or in an airport lounge while someone watches videos, streams music or takes a call on speaker without headphones is incredibly frustrating. It is distracting and inconsiderate. I have seen it happen all over the world, with the exception of Japan and across all age groups and backgrounds. This is not limited to one type of traveler. It is a widespread habit that continues to surprise me.
Judging by social media, I am far from alone.
@shawnthefoodsheep: Listening to music or watching a show without headphones on a plane should honestly be a federal crime.
@ryanthestephens: If you are on a flight. Please use headphones. No one wants to listen to your trash music choices
@kaedyart: On a plane yesterday faced with the sudden, horrifying realization that it now seems to be a totally normal thing for humans on planes to use their devices, without headphones, with the volume all the way up. Who agreed to this?! I am aghast and deeply irritated, and am asking for privacy during this difficult time.
@kristasurfshawaii: I don’t care who you are – wear headphones on the damn plane or turn off the sound! I don’t need to hear the K Pop demons song 100x while we wait for boarding.
@airplanetalk101: Can we normalize using headphones on the plane?
The irritation is clearly widespread.
Recently, I have noticed more flight attendants confronting the issue directly. I appreciate when crews announce that headphones are required when using a smartphone, tablet or laptop and that the rule applies to kids as well. On that note, my own children, ages 6 and 9, are typically well behaved in the air because we do not allow them to use their iPads at home. They only get screen time while traveling and only with kid approved headphones. They are so excited to use them that they often say they prefer long haul flights, which still makes me laugh.
Now United Airlines has put its policy in writing. The carrier recently updated its contract of carriage to clarify that passengers who refuse to use headphones while listening to audio or watching video content can be removed from the aircraft. Under Rule 21, Refusal of Transport, the airline outlines situations where it may deny boarding or remove a traveler for safety reasons. The revised language specifically includes passengers who fail to use headphones.
The contract also notes that any traveler whose actions cause the airline loss, damage or expense may be required to reimburse those costs. United reserves the right to refuse future transport to passengers who violate these rules, and such behavior may be considered a material breach of the contract.
The real test will be enforcement. If someone starts blasting audio midflight, a diversion seems unlikely. A warning followed by a possible ban from future travel appears more realistic.
For frequent flyers who want a quieter cabin, this change is encouraging. Clear rules give crew members authority to act and may finally discourage travelers from treating the cabin like their living room.
Related: 10 Air Travel Pet Peeves and How To Deal With Them
H/T OneMileAtaTime
