Non-binary gender option on bookings introduced by United Airlines, first airline to offer

Thursday, March 28, 2019

To correspond with the gender-neutral passport that are issued by some US states, the United Airlines will be allowing its customers to select M (male), F (female), U (Undisclosed) or X (unspecified). This will be the first airlines to provide with a non-binary gender options for passengers booking flights.

The new set of best-practice standards for carriers had been first adopted by the United after the trade bodies Airlines for America (A4A) and the International Air Transport Association approved changes to the booking procedures and include non-binary gender options.

Further, there has been addition of Mx in the online drop down menu of United for those who do not wish to indicate gender. The Airlines is working with advocacy groups  The Trevor Project and Human Rights Campaign to train staff on preferred pronouns like the LGBT workplace, competency and other inclusivity initiatives.

Toby Enqvist, the chief customer officer at the United said that  United was 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.

Beck Bailey, the acting director of the workplace equality programme at human Rights Campaign said that being acknowledged as the gender you identify with is part of treating everyone with dignity and respect.

In 2017 Oregon was the first US state that approved the inclusion of the non-binary X gender on ID cards, passports and driving licenses. This was followed by Washington DC, New York, California, Maine, Minnesota, Arkansas and Colorado.

The UN agency for the air travel , the International Civil Aviation Organisation  has recognized the indicator.

Gender-neutral travel documents can be obtained outside the US in Canada, Australia, Denmark, Germany, Malta, New Zealand, Pakistan, India, Ireland and Nepal.

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