By Coco Dollanganger

Published Feb 28, 2026, 11:15?PM EST

Coco Dollanganger is a travel journalist with multiple years of experience covering breaking news and current events in the travel space, reporting on the impact of world events on travelers.

Prior to joining TheTravel, Coco covered current events for Travel Lens and The News Lens International. Her writing has also appeared on MSN and in China’s Business Times. When she is not writing, she can often be found exploring the music of different cultures and visiting historical sites.

Another controversial policy that Southwest Airlines has quietly enforced leaves its employees off guard after the carrier rolled out a sweeping ban on smart glasses, which they can't use during work hours. This move comes after Southwest Airlines' latest baggage rule, leaving flight attendants furious amid new passenger seat ban chaos.

In an internal memo reviewed by Skift, Southwest Airlines prohibits its employees from wearing any smart glasses while on the job, on or off premises, to ensure "clarity and consistency across the company and support our legal, safety, and operational responsibilities." The carrier also bans wireless earbuds that are capable of recording.

Southwest Airlines follows Delta Air Lines as the first carrier to issue a ban on AI-powered smart glasses for flight attendants. These high-profile smart glasses have hit record highs in sales over the last year, and are being seen as a threat to privacy.

Southwest Airlines Prohibits Employees From Wearing Smart Glasses

Southwest Airlines check-in counters in LaGuardia Airport, New York City, United StatesCredit: Heather Mcardle | Dreamstime

Southwest Airlines did not publicly announce the new policy on wearing smart glasses and wireless earbuds, but the new directive was outlined in a new memo and is expected to affect all employees, especially frontline staff across airports and onboard flights. Although the wireless earbuds ban wasn't specifically detailed, the new policy suggests that wearable earbuds that are capable of recording aren't allowed.

As it says that these devices aren't allowed on and off the company premises, it basically means employees cannot wear or use smart glasses and wireless earbuds during working hours, regardless of their location, may it be in hotel shuttles, remote work locations, layovers, or curbside areas.

The new policy, though, according to the memo, is only for "all employees — corporate and frontline," and "does not apply in any way to customers."

"At Southwest, safety and respect for personal privacy are foundational to how we work together and serve our customers. With new wearable technology becoming more common, we’re introducing a new Smart Glasses and Wearable Recording Devices policy. This policy ensures clarity and consistency across the company and supports our legal, safety, and operational responsibilities," reads the new internal memo to employees.

Southwest Airlines' new ban on wearing smart glasses and wireless earbuds is a broader restriction that applies to employees when they are representing the carrier or while they're on the clock, even if they're not physically at a Southwest location.

Headquartered in Dallas, Southwest Airlines is one of the "Big Four" carriers in the U.S. that dominate the airline market, alongside United, American, and Delta Air Lines — the latter of which was the first airline to ban flight attendants from wearing smart glasses.

The Privacy Debate Over Smart Glasses In The Workplace

Smart glasses, particularly the AI-driven Ray-Ban Meta, are basically computers being worn. They provide information about what the wearer sees, and their capability to record is what many companies, like Southwest Airlines, are concerned about, especially when used during work hours.

According to Southwest, "safety and respect for personal privacy" are their foundation to serve their customers, and creating one clear rule for all employees will limit legal risk, reduce confusion, and protect the carrier's operations.

Delta Air Lines' ban on smart glasses, effective just last year, has earned positive responses from the public, and some even floated the idea of including passengers in the ban to keep everyone safe from stalking and deepfakes.

Southwest Airlines terminal at Los Angeles International AirportCredit: Vitalyedush | Dreamstime.com

The smart glasses' ability to record without consent is highlighted by many companies, as it raises questions about privacy, workplace surveillance, and how the rise of wearable devices is reshaping company operations.

Flight attendants, for instance, may have their personal phones while on duty, but strict airline policies prohibit using them to ensure attentiveness and safety.

Airlines That Have Banned Employees From Wearing Smart Glasses

Although Southwest Airlines has caused a stir recently over its seating rules, as well as the "logistical nightmare" when a questionable photo went viral showing a passenger with an oversized carry-on bag amid tight enforcement of rules, its recent wearable device ban could create stronger compliance regarding privacy, not just for work operations, but also for customers.

Prescription Smart Glasses Remain A Threat To Workplace Privacy

Smart glasses manufacturers, like Ray-Ban Meta, also offer prescription lenses to customers. However, under company policy, they're also not allowed to be used in the workplace. Southwest Airlines did not explicitly outline the prescription smart glasses, but it's a broader policy for any smart glasses and wireless earbuds that are capable of invisible recording.

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In this Facebook thread, one individual posted in a Ray-Ban Meta forum about his company banning smart glasses at his workplace, but he is more concerned about having prescription smart glasses. One person commented that the glasses can be turned off while at work, as the lenses with prescription remain effective even when the technology feature isn't active.

Close-up of the Meta Glasses with the Ray-Ban logo and the built-in ultra-wide 12 MP camera.Credit: Shutterstock

Others said that more companies will enforce these bans soon, as smart glasses become more popular, citing privacy and safety concerns, just like what Southwest Airlines pinpointed in its internal memo to employees.

Smart glasses aren't inherently dangerous, but due to their discreet recording capabilities and network connectivity, which enable the wearer to identify potential private information, many companies see them as a threat to workplace privacy and to dodge any lawsuits, privacy violations, regulatory penalties, or recording-consent issues.