First airline with non-binary gender reservation options

United is now the first US airline to offer customers non-binary options when booking their flights, the carrier said Friday.

"United is delighted to tell our customers, whether they identify the binary male or female or not, that we are taking the necessary steps to show them our concern while providing additional training to our employees to make us even more comfortable. more welcoming to all our customers and employees, "said Toby Enqvist, Customer Manager at United.

The airline has worked with LGBTQ organizations such as The Human Rights Campaign and The Trevor Project to train employees along with these updates. This training includes the use of preferred pronouns.

"By offering a non-binary gender selection for box office and the gender-sensitive" Mx "in user profiles, United Airlines is making a significant step forward for non-binary inclusion", said Beck Bailey, Acting Director of the Workplace Equality Program of the Human Rights Campaign, added in the same statement.

United's announcement comes after two major commercial groups – Airlines for America (A4A) in the United States and the World Air Transport Association (IATA) – recently approved a new international standard of good practice proposing accommodation for travelers using "non-binary identifiers". "

The suggested standard would create an option for "unspecified" or "undisclosed" for passengers booking tickets. This option would be added to the "male" or "female" options.

This standard is expected to come into effect on June 1, but it was up to the individual airlines to offer the option to their booking platforms.

The five largest American airlines in the country – American, Delta, United, Southwest and Alaska – have all already told USA TODAY that they are considering following up on the suggestion of the trade groups.

USA TODAY has contacted other major US airlines to find out their respective deadlines when implementing a non-binary option.

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Contributors: Ben Mutzabaugh

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