Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

United Airlines Sets Extraordinary Precedent With New Non-Binary Gender Bookings

United Airlines Sets Extraordinary Precedent With New Non-Binary Gender Bookings
Robert Alexander / Contributor / Getty Images

Flights with United are about to be a bit less frustrating for non-binary individuals.

The airline released a statement on Friday outlining its new 3rd gender options when booking flights, including the ability to choose the gender neutral title "Mx." instead of just "Mr." and "Ms."


In addition, when indicating their gender during the booking process, customers will now have the ability to select U (Undisclosed) or X (Unspecified) in addition to the binary M (Male) and F (Female).

This will correspond to the gender marker on their ID or passport.

This change was motivated by the recent recommendation of 2 airline trade groups to make non-binary gender options standard for all airlines.

Airlines for America and the International Air Transport Association both voted to adopt a new best practice standard for customers who have "non-binary IDs."

According to USA Today, this new standard was to become effective on June 1, 2019, with airline participation ultimately being optional.

The US' five biggest airlines, Alaska Airlines, American, Delta, Southwest and United, all previously stated that they intended to comply with the standard.

United is the first to make it happen.

United worked with LGBTQ+ youth suicide prevention organization The Trevor Project while implementing the changes. This consultation included employee training programs, including information on using customers' preferred pronouns.

Amit Paley, CEO and executive director of The Trevor Project, said of the partnership:

"The Trevor Project is grateful for United Airlines' support of our life-saving work on behalf of LGBTQ youth."
"We are thrilled to bring Trevor's expertise on the mental health of LGBTQ people to United to ensure its employees maintain safe and inclusive spaces for LGBTQ employees and guests."

The Human Rights Campaign's acting director of the Workplace Equality Program, Beck Bailey, commented on the partnership as well:

"By providing non-binary gender selection for ticketing and the gender-inclusive honorific 'Mx' in user profiles, United Airlines is taking an important step forward for non-binary inclusion."

United's Chief Customer Officer Toby Enqvist issued a hopeful statement about the changes:

"United is determined to lead the industry in LGBT inclusivity, and we are so proud to be the first US airline to offer these inclusive booking options for our customers."
"United is excited to share with our customers, whether they identify along the binary of male or female or not, that we are taking the steps to exhibit our care for them while also providing additional employee training to make us even more welcoming for all customers and employees."

United also posted the announcement to Twitter, where it received quite a bit of attention.





Not all of the attention was positive, but there were plenty of people fighting back against the negativity.




For those who exist somewhere on the gender spectrum other than male or female, this is a very welcome change.

For those who do identify as binary male or female, this change won't affect them at all; "M" and "F" will still be right there on the form like they always have been.

More from Trending/best-of-reddit

Screenshot of Summer Lee
Oversight Committee Democrats

Dem Rep. Expertly Pinpoints Why Republicans Are Dismantling DEI Programs In Mic Drop Rant

Speaking during a House Oversight Committee hearing, Pennsylvania Democratic Representative Summer Lee expertly pinpointed why diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs are being targeted by Republicans nationwide, noting that "remedying past discrimination is not, in turn, a discrimination."

DEI programs are organizational strategies aimed at ensuring fair treatment and full participation for everyone, with a special focus on historically marginalized or discriminated groups. These frameworks strive to create an environment where all individuals, regardless of their identity or abilities, are valued and included.

Keep ReadingShow less
pho with vegetables beside chopsticks and glass of water
Matthew Hamilton on Unsplash

People Describe The Absolute Best Meal They Ever Ate

I've traveled quite a bit—for work and pleasure—and had some memorable meals along the way.

There was the borscht, pierogies, and sausage at Polish restaurant Mazurka (R.I.P.) on Rue Prince-Arthur in Montreal, Canada. The poutine I sampled across Quebec and the Maritimes. All the fresh breads, doner kebabs, schnitzel, and baked French onion soups I ate while TDY in Germany. The yakisoba, sushi, and seafood curry I had while working for the DoD in Japan.

Keep ReadingShow less
Gavin Newsom
Mario Tama/Getty Images

Gavin Newsom Admits He Has No Idea What A 'Zaddy' Is After Becoming Internet Meme

In the wake of the election, Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom has risen to a new level of fame after he was tapped as the "future of the Democratic Party" in the wake of Kamala Harris's loss.

That of course meant it was only a matter of time before all the internet's young people turned him into a meme. And THAT of course meant it was also only a matter of time before he became an object of people's thirst.

Keep ReadingShow less
Statistics on a laptop
Photo by Carlos Muza on Unsplash

People Explain How A Single Bad Decision Destroyed A Successful Company

We're human, and we all make mistakes. Most of the time, we can apologize, strive to do better, and move on.

But sometimes we make mistakes that leave a much deeper mark, and they can ruin a person's reputation, their future, or even bring down an entire successful business.

Keep ReadingShow less
Elon Musk; Matt Gaetz
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images; Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Elon Musk Mocked For Hilariously Wrong Prediction About Matt Gaetz—And Yeah, That Did Not Age Well

After former Florida congressman Matt Gaetz dropped out of contention for President-elect Donald Trump's Attorney General post, a hilariously over the top post from billionaire Elon Musk—who is tapped to lead Trump's "Department" of Government Efficiency—resurfaced that showcases how wrong Musk was about Gaetz's future within the second Trump administration.

Gaetz was previously the subject of a Justice Department investigation into alleged sex trafficking involving a 17-year-old girl and has faced scrutiny from the House Ethics Committee over accusations of sexual misconduct. However, that inquiry effectively concluded last week when Gaetz announced his resignation from Congress.

Keep ReadingShow less