FOX Business’ Jeff Flock reports on how airlines fare during coronavirus outbreaks and how the sector responds to National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director Dr Anthony Fauci saying he would not fly or eat at the moment at restaurants.
Travelers who refuse to wear protective face masks or covers during the coronavirus pandemic may risk their chance to reach their favorite major airline.
This news comes days after Alaska Airlines announced that it will make face cover mandatory for every passenger over the age of two and will even issue warnings or stop future flights for a period if it does not comply. The new protocol has been in effect since 7 August.
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Major airlines introduced mandatory mask policies several months ago and some keep an internal list of names of passengers who refuse to comply.
A spokesman for American Airlines told FOX Business that the company “has added some customers to that list,” which is a policy that has been in effect since June 16.
People check in on July 16, 2020 at the American Airlines counter at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Photo by Joe Raedle / Getty Images)
“Americans are already enforcing this policy at the gate and will refuse dismissal to customers who do not comply. America can now also refuse future trips for customers who refuse to wear face cover, ”a press release was issued around the time of the policy update. “America made this change after working with Airlines for America on a sector-wide response.”
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Delta Air Lines added in July an involved “Clearance-To-Fly” process for passengers who believe they have an underlying health situation that prevents them from wearing a mask. Expenditures are awarded to passengers after they have received a consultation and appointment from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Although the process exists, the Delta is still encouraging passengers to reconsider air travel if they are unable to wear a mask, according to an internal July 23 memorandum.
In this July 22, 2020 photo, a Delta Airlines ticketing agent gives a boarding pass to a passenger while checking in on a flight at Denver International Airport’s main terminal in Denver. (AP Photo / David Zalubowski)
The correspondence, which was reviewed by FOX Business, stated that Delta had banned 120 passengers for future travel with the airline because they refused to wear a mask while on board.
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Frontier Airlines also keeps track of which passengers do not follow the mask guidelines.
A passenger, left, checks with an agent at the ticket counter for Frontier Airlines at Denver International Airport, Sunday, May 3, 2020, in Denver during the coronavirus outbreak. (AP Photo / David Zalubowski)
“We keep a register of passengers who refuse to follow crew member’s instructions by not wearing a mask and placing them on a list that prevents them from flying with us in the future (typically for a certain period of time), a spokesman for Frontier wrote to FOX Business.
| Ticker | Security | Last | Change | Change% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALK | ALASKA AIR GROUP | 39.25 | +2.64 | + 7.21% |
| AAL | AMERICAN AIRLINES GROUP INC. | 14.00 | +0.97 | + 7.44% |
| DAL | DELTA AIR LINES INC. | 29.34 | +2.16 | + 7.95% |
| LUV | SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO. | 34.99 | +1.71 | + 5.14% |
| JBLU | JETBLUE AIRWAYS | 11.69 | +0.93 | + 8.64% |
| RED | SPIRIT AIRLINES INC. | 6:30 p.m. | +1.02 | + 5.90% |
| UAL | UNITED AIRLINES HLDG. | 37.54 | +3.21 | + 9.35% |
Southwest Airlines may also ban passengers from non-compliance with its mask policy, but the airline told FOX Business that its “approach” is to inform customers before they travel to prevent people from boarding without personal protective equipment.
Passengers wearing personal protective face masks will walk past the Southwest Airlines ticket counter Tuesday, June 16, 2020 at Tampa International Airport in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo / Chris O’Meara)
“As of June 16, customers must acknowledge our mandatory face declaration through Southwest’s Customer Health Statement, which will be presented during the online check-in process on the Southwest app, Southwest.com, and the Southwest mobile website,” he wrote. a spokesman for Southwest FOX Business via email. “Southwest also communicates this policy in pre-trip communications and expects compliance with this policy to prevent the customer from having to prohibit a future trip.”
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JetBlue, Spirit Airlines and United Airlines did not immediately return FOX Business’ request for comment on mask-related travel deals may or may not be maintained in a post-coronavirus world.
A Jetblue Airways Airbus A320 with registration N595JB takes off from Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL) in the United States. Jetblue is an American low cost airline and the fifth largest airline in the US with its headquarters in New York. (iStock)
However, JetBlue has strengthened its face policy this week by no longer giving passengers permission for exemptions.
In the same way, Spirit Airlines does not allow passengers who do not wear a face mask on their planes. Exemptions only exist for beekeepers who are two years old or younger.
A Spirit Airlines Airbus A321 with registration number N658NK takes off at Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL) in the United States. Spirit Airlines is an American low cost airline headquartered in Fort Lauderdale. (iStock)
If a customer is unable to wear a face mask for some reason (even a verifying medical condition), we regret that we are unable to transport the Customer at this time, due to security risks of asymptomatic COVID-19 transmission by customers without face coverage, “says the airline’s current safety measures.
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The most recent travel report from the United States states that masks are mandatory for all passengers older than two.
A United Airlines passenger shot down a luggage cart past closed check-in kiosks at San Francisco International Airport on July 8, 2020 in San Francisco, California. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)
“A face shield alone does not count as a face mask. “Passengers who do not wear their face mask at the airport or board can be denied transport and could also lose their travel privileges on future United flights,” the airline reports. “Children under 2 years of age are exempt.”
