Major U S Airlines Are Making Changes To Be More Inclusive

Airlines are changing their booking processes to be more inclusive, allowing passengers who don’t identify as either male or female to choose from non-binary options.

The airlines making this change include American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Southwest, United Airlines, and Hawaiian Airlines. A spokesperson for the Airlines for America organization confirmed that these carriers, in collaboration with the International Air Transport Association have “approved a new international standard to account for non-binary IDs.”

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In a statement to People magazine, the spokesperson indicated that the change will be effective on June 1, 2019. Until then, passengers must still select either “male” or “female” during the booking process.

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This shift coincides with some states’ efforts to add non-binary gender options to state IDs and driver’s licenses. In October 2017, Senate Bill 179 was passed in California allowing residents to use an X to indicate gender on their licenses.

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