US Airlines Crackdown On Face Masks: May Ban You If You Flout Rules

As a new study finds face masks critical in preventing Covid-19 infection, U.S. airlines are responding. By threatening to curb, and penalize, passengers who continue to flout the rules.

From Thursday, United Airlines says it could revoke flying privileges of those who refuse to wear face masks, under a tougher new policy. “While the overwhelming majority of passengers are complying with United’s mandatory policy, starting on June 18, any passenger that does not comply when onboard a United flight will be placed on an internal travel restriction list,” the carrier says. “Customers on this list will lose their travel privileges on United for a duration of time to be determined pending a comprehensive incident review.”

Less Tolerance Of Mask Flouters From Check-In To Onboard

Industry group, Airlines for America, says all its members are about to get tough on enforcing mask policies. New rules will require both passengers and crew to wear “facial coverings over their nose and mouth”. This in order to “mitigate” risk and protect customers and staff says A4A, which represents eleven U.S. carriers.

Other airlines preparing for tougher mask enforcement are: Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways and Southwest Airlines.

Here’s what to expect as they clamp down on mask protocol:

Stepped Up Pre-Flight Communications

1. Each airline will make its face mask policy clear when dealing with customers.
2. Passengers may be required during the check-in process to acknowledge the relevant rules.

Onboard Reminders

• Crew members will clearly announce specific details once onboard regarding the carrier’s face covering policy.
• Crew may even warn passengers of the consequences they could face for violating the policy.

Penalties For Non-Compliance

• Each carrier will decide what action to take against passengers who don’t comply with the rules.
• Airlines may revoke flying privileges for disrespectful flyers.

Airlines May Strip You Of Flyer Privileges–Even Ban You From Flying

Airlines have struggled to impose the practice of wearing masks on defiant travelers.

Suspension of flying privileges is one possible penalty other airlines may take too according to A4A president and CEO, Nicholas E. Calio. Banning passengers from flying is another. “U.S. airlines are very serious about requiring face coverings on their flights. Carriers are stepping up enforcement of face coverings and implementing substantial consequences for those who do not comply with the rules.

“Face coverings are one of several public health measures recommended by the CDC as an important layer of protection for passengers and customer-facing employees.” The measures are expected to remain in place throughout the COVID-19 public health crisis says the Washington, D.C. based lobbying group. United says its mask policy will stay in place “for at least the next 60 days”.

Some Airlines Have Not Been Strict Enough

This comes after repeated disregard for mask rules onboard. Leaving many passengers– and staff–feeling outraged.

“I’m on board my first flight since the quarantine, and it’s really exasperating that so many people think the mask requirement is a joke. A mask is not a chinstrap,” said San Francisco Bay lawyer, Walter Parsley, after flying from SFO to Fort Lauderdale on Sunday. “The flight attendants are not really enforcing it. Come on, JetBlue, you can do better!” That’s despite JetBlue being the first U.S. airline to announce that all passengers would have to wear a face covering on flights back in April.

Other customers too accuse airlines of abandoning promises to enforce face coverings.

“With little direction from the feds and pressure to fill seats as safely as possible as coronavirus continues, U.S. carriers offer significantly different policies,” writes Scott McCartney in the Wall Street Journal. Some have given it “cursory attention” he says, and the “inconsistency worries passengers concerned about virus exposure in tight confines.” Until the new get-tough policy, American, United and Delta have been enforcing face-covering at boarding but not in-flight he says.

Low-cost American airline Allegiant Air, is one who does not force passengers to wear nose-face covers. Despite providing a personal health kit that includes a single-use mask. Still they leave it up to the passenger to decide. It’s a choice thing. In a situation that requires strict rules.

As Sara Nelson, President of the Association of Flight Attendants points out in a statement: “The federal government has completely abdicated its responsibility to keep the flying public and aviation workers safe during Covid-19.”

The lack of a coherent international policy doesn’t help either.

Masks A Sure, Cheap Way Of Stopping Covid Spread Study Finds

The move to tougher enforcement is timely given the uptick in domestic and international air travel predicted over coming weeks.

It also comes after the university researchers in Texas and California found that not wearing a mask dramatically increases the risk of Covid-19 infection.

Comparing data on coronavirus infection rates in Italy and New York, it finds the introduction of mandatory face mask measures correlate with a lowering in cases. Face masks prevented over 78,000 infections in Italy between April 6 and May 9, and more than 66,000 infections in New York City, the scientists claim.

Wearing masks in public is the “most effective means to prevent interhuman transmission,” they conclude. And together with social distancing, quarantine and contact tracing it is one of the key ways to stop the pandemic, “prior to the development of a vaccine”.