Yet More Carrier Lies When We Want Safe Flying

By Robert McGarvey

I fell for them yet again.  I cannot explain this slip but I will tell you the level truth. In recent weeks, as friends asked me if I believed it safe to fly now, I unhesitatingy said yes.

Dumb me.

That is because I believed carrier assurances about flying with fewer passengers (empty middle seats!) and also believed them when they said passengers would be required to wear facemasks.

I offered my caveats – don’t use the restrooms, don’t eat or drink on the plane (except what you personally bring), and sanitize the tray table if you plan to use it.

“You’ll be good to go,” I said.

Erase every word of my positive vote.

That is because carriers are carriers and they can be counted on to lie.

Case in point: United, which will not block middle seats and where at least some planes are going out full.  

Right now, Delta and Southwest still say they will block middle seats but they will be watching United’s sales and if they get jealous, you know what they will do.

What about American?  Here’s a story about a packed American flight that was triggered by this tweet:

@Tamgonzalez28

Just flew on @AmericanAir flight AA1154 from Fresno to Dallas. Apparently airlines are exempt from CDC guidelines for social distancing. All rows with the exception of maybe 4 rows were completely full of passengers. I’ve never felt so unsafe in my life. @CNN @CDCgov

In response to the tweet, American said, “We’re working hard to create more space by limiting the number of customers on each flight. We’ll share your feedback with the right team.”

In a statement to Storyful, American said, “The aircraft was not at max capacity. As part of this limit, American will not assign 50% of main cabin middle seats or seats near flight attendant jump seats on every flight, and will only use those middle seats when necessary. Gate agents will also continue to reassign seats to create more space between customers or to accommodate families who need to be seated together.”

Which means?

Pretty much nothing in my reading.

Unmasking the Mask Hoax

Which brings us to the hoax question.

Central to my belief in the safety of flying today was the belief that all passengers would be required to wear masks.

Silly me.

While most carriers say masks are required – as they should be – the same carriers are simply not enforcing that policy.

Southwest acknowledges it has told staff not to deny boarding to passengers without masks.  

Here’s a story that claims half the people on a Southwest flight were maskless.  

Apparently no major US carrier is actually enforcing the facemask rule.

Airports Are the Wild West

There are no set rules regarding masks and airports. Of course there should be but just as we have an incoherent crazyquilt response to Covid-19 across the US, so it is with airports. Some – Pittsburgh – require masks. So does Phoenix Sky Harbor, starting June 1. LAX too requires masks. In Washington State SeaTac requires a mask – Spokane doesn’t.

A big question: how vigorously will this requirement be enforced?

And how’s a traveler to know where masks are required and where they aren’t? Confusion is inevitable with the nation’s piecemeal policies. Hint: just wear a mask wherever you go in public spaces. Also know that more airports now have vending machines that will sell you a mask!

What We Need to Feel Safe in the Skies

Before I again tell people flying is safe, we need to see three things:

Reduced capacity on flights, empty middle seats

Passengers required to wear facemasks at the boarding gate and inflight.

Airports require facemasks for all.

That’s not asking for much and as soon as we get the package I’ll happily advise people to resume flying.

Until then my suggestion is drive or stay home.

Know Your Rights

Do you have a right not to wear a facemask? Sure. If you sit on the wing.

Seriously, however, airlines refuse to board passengers because of trivial attire issues. 

American has kicked a family off because of body odor.

Some passengers have been kicked off planes for speaking Arabic.

There are many reasons airlines can invoke for ejecting a passenger. Not wearing a facemask could and should be one of them.

Do I like wearing a facemask?  Of course not.  But it’s the right thing to do.  It may keep me healthier and if I am sick it may keep those around me healthier.  

It’s part of being a good citizen.

Note: JoeSentMe members qualify for a deal on face masks. Stock up. While I am glad I discovered that airline amenity kit eye masks can be conscripted to stand in for a real face mask, the eye masks are harder to breathe through and not especially comfy when used as a face mask. Use the real deal. You’ll be glad when you are on flights.