United Airlines: Wear headphones or get booted off

[Genie+]

It's been awful all over the place, don't think you need to kick people out everywhere but reminding people of proper etiquette in common spaces is good.

Usually that works, not always. Some people push back saying they are not breaking any actual rules or laws. For those type of people United can now point this policy, and that there can be repercussions (banned from flying again).

 

[SteveH]

It's been awful all over the place, don't think you need to kick people out everywhere but reminding people of proper etiquette in common spaces is good.

I agree, but I think the airline employees are sick of the complete lack of common sense and etiquette. So this gives them the "stick" they need after they ask nicely once.

 

[EACarlson]

I'm assuming "adult" content will be blocked (if it's not already). Similar to how your business does so on their wifi.

It's still available, it just takes a little technological knowledge to get around those blocks. Also wouldn't stop any media you already have on your device.

 

[fatmanatee]

Usually that works, not always. Some people push back saying they are not breaking any actual rules or laws. For those type of people United can now point this policy, and that there can be repercussions (banned from flying again).

I agree, but I think the airline employees are sick of the complete lack of common sense and etiquette. So this gives them the "stick" they need after they ask nicely once.

Obviously point didn't get across properly but I agree...

When I say "everywhere" I mean outside of planes. Like I don't think you need to kick people out of the grocery store but a gentle reminder over the PA wouldn't be the worst idea to start.

No issues with booting people off of planes for refusing to use headphones.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Sound heard outside of the headphone is normally but not always due to sound leakage. If you're not wearing an over the ear vs on the ear headphone or if you're using ear buds you're more likely to experience sound leakage. The volume being up high enough to truly bother other people isn't the root cause in general. On an airplane sound has to be higher anyhow because of engine noise.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

It's a good rule to fall back on. It's not been super common but we've run into a person or two who listened to a video while on the plane, taxing but not yet in the air and it fathoms me why someone would think others actually want to hear what they are listening to or watching. Phone calls are another annoying thing. It's fine if you're in the jet bridge but one you're getting on the plane itself the phone often distracts people from being efficient in putting their bags in the overhead bin, getting settled and well being in a small contained space. Video chats are bad but just talking on the phone is bad too. People want to carry on conversations rather than being able to say "on the plane now gotta go"

 

[sam_gordon]

When I say "everywhere" I mean outside of planes. Like I don't think you need to kick people out of the grocery store but a gentle reminder over the PA wouldn't be the worst idea to start.

No issues with booting people off of planes for refusing to use headphones.

I disagree. Any business can refuse service to any one for practically any reason. "Using a speaker" would not be a "protected reason". So yes, if someone is in the grocery store and their kid is watching a video/playing a game to keep them occupied (fine), but there a sounds coming from the speaker... "Please turn the sound all the way down or use headphones." If they don't comply, kick them out. Same with a phone conversation happening on speaker.

 

[peder]

Dress codes and behavior codes are coming for every industry. For one thing, adding just a couple of rules like this means a bunch of people will choose to avoid the service entirely rather than conform, and a bunch of others who choose not to conform will be banned for life.

The net result is a much more positive experience for the average customer, which is good for business. It's been a long-overdue societal correction IMO.

 

[kdonnel]

I'm just glad that my kids grew up before shoving a screen in front of them at a restaurant, in a stroller, etc, at full volume became the norm.

Because I know I would have certainly been one of those parents, anything to keep them from screaming.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I'm just glad that my kids grew up before shoving a screen in front of them at a restaurant, in a stroller, etc, at full volume became the norm.

Because I know I would have certainly been one of those parents, anything to keep them from screaming.

My parents used to bring brain quest cards to restaurants (and we'd do it at home too). And yeah if it was bad enough we'd be taken out of the restaurant to get a mini break. Screens make it easy to do but they are hardly the only choice even though tech has gotten infinitely better over time...although I wouldn't condone what we saw a family do one time a few years back where they gave their kid a large set of metal keys to which they just proceeded to bang it on the table for a very long time, plastic keys were made for a reason (at the very least they make less overall noise).

 

[disneydreamer1980]

Great policy, wish it would apply everywhere. On our most recent trip to Disney there was a little boy on living with the land sitting behind us on his parents phone with no headphones, watching and blasting some cartoon in another language. Was really irritating.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Great policy, wish it would apply everywhere. On our most recent trip to Disney there was a little boy on living with the land sitting behind us on his parents phone with no headphones, watching and blasting some cartoon in another language. Was really irritating.

I don't think "in another language" matters, kinda an off detail TBH to include.

 

[eticketplease]

I'm just glad that my kids grew up before shoving a screen in front of them at a restaurant, in a stroller, etc, at full volume became the norm.

Because I know I would have certainly been one of those parents, anything to keep them from screaming.

I think it was several years ago Jimmy Fallon said it was the cheapest baby sitter

 

[hardcorestitch]

I think it was several years ago Jimmy Fallon said it was the cheapest baby sitter

Gawrsh, iPad kids…

 

[disneydreamer1980]

I don't think "in another language" matters, kinda an off detail TBH to include.

It matters because it’s even more annoying when it’s high pitched chatter in a language no one on the boat understands

 

[slo]

Now if only restaurants would institute this…

All I can say to this is - 100% YES!!!

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

It matters because it’s even more annoying when it’s high pitched chatter in a language no one on the boat understands

Understanding the language makes it no more tolerable if you're issue is the actual noise that is being perceived as inconsiderate. Otherwise your issue is not the sound but that you can't understand it, maybe say that out loud and see how odd that sounds.

 

[disneychrista]

How was this not already the way it worked?

 

[Christine]

How was this not already the way it worked?

Too many institutions/companies completely relying on people to be considerate and self-aware. It's a sad state of affairs when companies have to police behavior that should be considered normal etiquette. No one knows how to behave in public anymore.

 

[hardcorestitch]

Too many institutions/companies completely relying on people to be considerate and self-aware. It's a sad state of affairs when companies have to police behavior that should be considered normal etiquette. No one knows how to behave in public anymore.

Amen to that.