San Francisco Airport’s ‘Quiet Policy’ Turns Down the Volume—But Not Everyone’s Cheering

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is getting a lot of buzz lately—and ironically, it’s because they want less of it. The airport’s ‘Quiet Airport’ policy, launched back in 2018, is turning heads on Reddit and beyond, thanks to a traveler who shared a photo of SFO’s monitor screen declaring, "This is a quiet airport," complete with a crossed-out speaker symbol.

The gist? Flight announcements are only made at the boarding gates. Passengers have to rely on display screens or airline apps for real-time updates. No more loud, echoing reminders about gate changes or final boarding calls blaring across the terminals.

People online are split. One Reddit user was all for it, saying there are so many ways to get notifications—email, text, push alerts—that overhead announcements are basically obsolete. Another chimed in, suggesting the only time you need to interrupt the peace is if someone leaves behind a suitcase or, you know, loses a child or a grandparent.

Others shared their experiences, with one traveler raving about a four-hour layover that felt almost serene compared to the usual airport chaos. As they put it, the quiet seemed to make people calmer and less frantic. (If only tranquility could make the TSA line move faster, right?)

Still, not everyone is convinced. Some pointed out that more screens and clearer signage would help, but worried about accessibility—especially for the visually impaired, who might now need to hover near their gate the whole time. Another user jokingly suggested mandatory headphones for everyone, which honestly sounds like a dystopian sci-fi airport I’d still rather visit than Newark.

According to SFO, the program was designed to "limit sound footprints" and set rules about music in airport shops. The Customer Care team also adjusted where and when public address announcements are made, cutting more than 90 minutes of daily noise—a 40% decrease. That’s a lot less overhead chatter, and probably a few less heart attacks when you hear "final boarding call" for the wrong city.

Travel writer Brandon Blewett, author of "How to Avoid Strangers on Airplanes," admitted he didn’t even realize the policy existed, but he likes the idea. He painted a familiar scene: hard floors, beeping carts, FaceTime calls at top volume, and gate agents shouting for the right passengers. Airports, he said, aren’t exactly sanctuaries of peace.

Still, Blewett cautioned that the policy could be tricky to enforce. He joked that managing targeted announcements could end up as a high-stakes game of "sonar whack-a-mole"—which, let’s be honest, sounds way more fun than most layovers.

SFO’s effort to dial down the decibels might not work for every traveler, but it’s giving people plenty to talk about—even if they have to do it quietly.