A travel habit has become such a nuisance that a major US airline has implemented a total ban.
Nothing quite compares to the disruption caused by a passenger who is listening to their music out loud, without headphones — otherwise known as ‘barebeaters’.
But if you’re flying with United Airlines, you’ll be irritated no more. The airline, which carried 2.4 million British passengers in 2024, has said staff will now be able to remove them — and the ban could be permanent.
In an update to its ‘contract of carriage’, its added a clause which means passengers who ‘fail to use headphones while listening to audio or video content’ can be asked to leave the cabin.
Releasing a statement United Airlines (UA) said: ‘UA has the right to refuse transport, on a permanent basis, any passenger who engages in any of the activities in this Rule’.
United Airlines facilitates up to 24 daily departures from the UK to US destinations like Chicago, Texas, and Los Angeles, meaning headphone-less Brits need to take notice.
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While you may not have heard of the term before, every airline has a ‘contract of carriage’. In short, it represents a legally binding agreement between the airline and its passengers.
Detailing terms such as passengers rights, airline responsibilities, and limitations and exclusions, it’s basically a one stop shop for everything you might need to know in case any issues arise.
Moreover, these contracts differ from airline to airline, so it’s always important to check prior to travelling.
United Airlines did clarify that any passenger who is removed under this new clause may be eligible for a refund if they ask for one.
And if you board the plane and all of a sudden realise you’ve forgotten your headphones, don’t worry about being booted off the flight just yet. According to the airline’s website, free air buds are available on request.
United Airlines aren’t the first to implement such a ban.
Just last month, the Indian government reminded travellers to use headphones during flights in order to avoid facing legal repercussions.
Specifically, officials emphasised that anyone playing music out loud on an aircraft may be subject to penal action, including fines, for this type of ‘unruly behaviour’.
Where do United Airlines travel to from the UK?
In 2024, United Airlines flew more than 2.4 million passengers and over 80,000 tonnes of cargo on nearly 15,000 flights between the UK and the US.
Currently, these are the flights available to passengers wanting to fly United:
From London Heathrow:
- Seven flights to – Newark Liberty International Airport, New Jersey
- Three flights to O’Hare International Airport, Chicago
- Three flights to San Francisco International Airport, California.
- Two flights to Denver International Airport, Colorado
- Two flights to Washington Dulles International Airport, Virginia.
- Two flights to George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Texas
- One flight to Los Angeles International Airport, California
From Edinburgh:
- Up to three daily to Newark Liberty International Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport, and O’Hare International Airport
From Glasgow:
- One daily to Newark Liberty International Airport
‘I find headphones can be quite isolating’
To try and understand barebeaters a bit more, Metro recently spoke with some of the culprits to find out why they commit this heinous act.
Ryan Barclay, 26, from Glasgow, tells Metro that being aware of your surroundings for passenger information announcements is, in his opinion, a ‘valid reason’ to listen to TV shows or podcasts without headphones.
He regularly listens to podcasts on public transport without headphones, for this reason, but also because he thinks ‘headphones can be quite insular’ and ‘isolating’, preventing you from striking up random conversations with fellow passengers about what you’re listening to.
‘I think people expect a certain level of noise on public transport,’ he continues.
‘If people ever raise any concerns or issues, then I would respond respectfully and politely,’ he adds.
Read our full article — and the thoughts of other self-confessed barebeaters, here.
'Barebeaters' are plaguing London commuters
Flights aren’t the only places where this frustrating travel habit occurs.
Back in 2025, London Mayor Sadiq Khan launched a campaign with Transport for London (TfL), which encouraged people to use headphones while travelling on public transport.
The annoying trend, known as ‘barebeating,’ in which a passenger pulls out their phone and plays music, watches YouTube videos, or even has a full-blown conversation on speaker, was found to be disruptive to 70% of travellers, according to a TFL survey of 1,000 people.
Seb Dance, Deputy Mayor of London for Transport, said at the time: ‘The vast majority of Londoners use headphones when travelling on public transport in the capital, but the small majority who play music or videos out loud can be a real nuisance to other passengers and directly disturb their journeys.’
Back when the campaign was first announced, Metro asked its readers what they thought of the idea. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with several suggesting how it could be extended.
Sandy Klein suggested there should also be a fine for ‘talking on the phone loudly as if they are alone’, while Karolina Ait-Abdelkader argued ‘loud chewing gum’ should fall into the same category.
Raonaid Uallas made the point: ‘If you can afford a phone you can afford headphones…’
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