Airlines are having trouble enforcing their face mask policies
Source: CNN
By Pete Muntean, CNN Business
Updated 9:59 AM ET, Wed May 13, 2020
Washington (CNN Busness)Plans from several major US airlines on how to enforce their mandatory mask requirements reveal that, for the most part, they will rely on passenger cooperation rather than strict enforcement.
Separate memos obtained by CNN that American Airlines (AAL) sent to its pilots and flight attendants show that customers may be denied boarding for not wearing a mask. But once on the plane "the face covering policy will become more lenient" and "the flight attendant's role is informational, not enforcement," the pilot memo reads. It was first obtained by Reuters.
The American Airlines flight attendant memo describes how they should handle customers who don't comply with the policy: "please encourage them to comply, but do not escalate further. Likewise, if a customer is frustrated by another customer's lack of face covering, please use situational awareness to de-escalate the situation."
Like the American Airlines' policy, United (UAL) makes exceptions for a variety of reasons including medical conditions. Its policy also points to avoiding confrontation.
Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/13/business/airlines-mask-policy-enforcement/index.html
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This is falling at the feet of the airlines, this is BS, the FAA, TSA and Customs, the CDC should be having a talk about this issue, this is life or death issue, you can always find excuses and as for the terminal is not owned by the airline, it is leased, it is owned by the regional authority and everything on that property is enforced by the police, customs and the FAA........this is just amazing
nocoincidences
(2,195 posts)off their planes for other things.
If they do it to a few of the no-mask folks it will show they are serious about it.
The truth is they don't want to lose paying customers over anything right now.
Selfish a-holes!
Grokenstein
(5,707 posts)But if the flight's halfway to Kansas City and some fool decides to "lose" their mask, what do?
Turn around?
Emergency landing?
Arrest on arrival?
Every one of those options will make headlines the next day, and the airline--already hit hard by this crisis--will be made to further suffer.
Blues Heron
(5,898 posts)What happened to all the 9/11 Homeland security no nail clippers attitude? We just allow these pigs to spread their nasty covid breath?
Pobeka
(4,999 posts)People are not generally drinking the koolaid, they know this virus kills. If possible customers know measures required for safety on a flight are strictly enforced then more people will feel safe getting on an airplane which translates into more ticket sales.
Arrest on arrival, do some time, and/or pay a fine for documented refusal to obey the flight attendents instruction. Won't take many of those enforcements to get the snowflakes to wear a mask.
DBoon
(22,288 posts)Have them arrested on the ground.
moreland01
(735 posts)But what about international flights? How do you not eat or drink anything for 8+ hours?
a la izquierda
(11,784 posts)Im flying JFK to Heathrow.
Igel
(35,197 posts)I neither eat nor drink anything for 24 hours. Give or take a few minutes.
I've known other Xians who routinely fast. It's not hard.
jberryhill
(62,444 posts)aggiesal
(8,864 posts)No different when anyone commits a crime on the plane.
What's the point of making them wear it when they board, but allow them to remove them when the door is closed and everyone shares the same recycled air source?
I'd rather they can board without a mask, but wear it while in the plane, once the seat is found.
crews and fellow passengers have to realize this is unenforceable and be a little flexible. People can be doing the best they can and still need to unmask from time to time, especially on a long flight. Masks don't do that much anyway, so if you are going to fly, you have to realize you are assuming a certain risk. I plan on flying in the fall and, depending on the situation then, I will wear an N95 that I will probably have to briefly remove about once an hour. The best way to avoid Corona is to remain in your house, never leave, and never admit visitors or unsterilized objects. Anything other than that includes a certain amount of risk. You pick the risk you are comfortable with.
JudyM
(29,122 posts)aggiesal
(8,864 posts)sharing the same air supply as an experimental petri dish.
That's a risk I'm not willing to take.
Not enforceable?
Of course it's enforceable.
TSA could just require that everyone will have to wear masks on flights over US.
No mask, you'll be arrested. Not much different from other TSA requirements.
If someone flies, and they gets Covid-19, and it traces back to the flight they took,
you don't think the airlines will get sued?
If the flight attendant and the pilots get Covid-19 from a flight because
they were forced to work or lose their job, that they won't sue the airline?
The airline is taking a big risk flying, especially if we open too early,
that they could go under from the lawsuits.
Unfortunately, no way the current administration is going to allow TSA to require
masks on any flight over the US.
They'd rather see us dead.
Igel
(35,197 posts)There's regulation.
Then there's corporate policy.
They are different kinds of things.
On edit:
Then there's my favorite post of the day. Simply because it's like a breath of fresh air.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213432253
Question assumptions. It's easy to question others--it's one's own that's damned hard to question.
aggiesal
(8,864 posts)DBoon
(22,288 posts)The publicity alone would put an airline out of business.
No need for a trial. Just a lot of people either choosing not to fly at all or going with a competitor that does enforce the mask regulation
Aerator
(189 posts)If they can enforce a smoking policy to protect someone from second hand smoke they can enforce a policy for second hand Covid
roamer65
(36,739 posts)The rest of us dont want ur bugs.
Have the pilots scream it over the intercom.
world wide wally
(21,719 posts)Preferably at 30,000 feet
bluestarone
(16,722 posts)Solve our problem forever
beachbumbob
(9,263 posts)Doreen
(11,686 posts)to be dangerous in one form or another? If so when they get to their destination they could be entered as a no fly.
Refund their money for the return flight and let them know they will have to find another way home that is COVID19 friendly.
Jirel
(1,993 posts)Gee, with the bomber of planes flying down to squat-all, you should be able to put an Air Marshall on each plane. If someone gets confrontational, a taser, cuffs, and duct tape work fine. Also, the airlines can tell people theyll be banned from flying if they dont comply. If you have a return flight or other tickets purchased, too bad. Cancelled, no refund. Share a blacklist, updated daily, between airlines. If any choose to ignore them and let a jerk rebook a flight, then let that airline be known as Plague Air so no smart person will fly on them.
Miguelito Loveless
(4,438 posts)that they will have no problem enforcing bans if the person is non-white.
Steelrolled
(2,022 posts)I give the passenger a gentle reminder, and then stay the hell out off it.