United to remove passengers who use their phones and iPads on flights without headphones

[LionKing]

I wonder how can they remove them? So simply throw them out of air?
I thought that would constitute murder?
Perhaps planes should introduce phone booths for people to make and receive calls and video conferences in air, and perhaps jam the mobile/WiFi signal to prevent people playing music out loud?

 

[Forg]

I wonder how can they remove them? So simply throw them out of air?
I thought that would constitute murder?
Perhaps planes should introduce phone booths for people to make and receive calls and video conferences in air, and perhaps jam the mobile/WiFi signal to prevent people playing music out loud?

Cut their ears off with the airline-logo machete that’s also used for removing feet found guilty of bulkheading?

 

[anat0l]

I am also quite curious to see how this all pans out in practice.

On the ground, alright, that seems easy enough, though it'll cost having to go back to the gate. Also, if the passenger simply gets put on the next flight for no charge, then so much for the "punishment".

In the air, what consequences could there be realistically? Confiscate the device? I doubt that'll hold up legally. If police meet the passenger on the ground, I guess the charge would be disregarding crew instructions, but UA may struggle to make a case unless it could be argued for safety reasons (and UA explicitly proves that the passenger's actions or inactions actually put other's safety at risk). I suppose UA could ban the passenger or cancel all miles and status for that flight or impose a similar "fine". Not sure how those hold up legally for UA.

It's known that FAs in LOTFAP have no hesitation offloading pax who seem to slight them in almost any way, but I'm curious to see how zealous they will be about this.

 

[Forg]

^ I doubt that confiscating the device would pose a legal problem if it’s returned.