united airlines new rule

Canadians could get kicked off U.S. airline for not following this new rule on board

Travellers from Canada could face serious consequences if they don't follow a new rule on board United Airlines.

The American airline recently updated its Contract of Carriage, which lists detailed terms and conditions for passengers.

If you're travelling with United Airlines, make sure to pack your AirPods or headphones if you plan to listen to music, catch up on your favourite TV show, or simply scroll through social media. According to the Feb. 27 update, passengers must use headphones when listening to audio or video content on a device, and any passenger who doesn't comply could face serious consequences.

The airline states that it can "refuse transport on a permanent or temporary basis," and passengers who don't follow these terms can be removed from the aircraft at any point.

According to the Contract of Carriage, all passengers are required to follow these rules when purchasing a ticket or flying with United Airlines.

"By purchasing a ticket or accepting transportation, the passenger agrees to be bound by these controlling terms of this Contract of Carriage, and no covenants at law or in equity shall be implied or incorporated," reads the site.

So, do Canadian carriers have similar policies in place?

In an email to us, a WestJet spokesperson stated, "At WestJet, we’re committed to maintaining a comfortable and respectful cabin environment. We ask guests to use headphones when enjoying personal entertainment or participating in video or voice calls."

We also reached out to Air Canada for a comment.

Have you ever been on a flight where you were affected by a passenger not using headphones? What are your thoughts on United Airlines' new policy, and do you think all Canadian airlines should enforce the same rule? 

Lead photo by

Ross Howey Photo/Shutterstock


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