Delta Air Lines has just taken an important step to make it difficult for anti-masks to fly with the airline.
Airlines have a mask application problem
At this point, all major U.S. airlines require passengers to wear face masks when flying. In general, the use of face masks on airplanes is much more consistent than practically anywhere on the ground. However, there are two main problems:
- Passengers don’t have to wear a face mask when they eat or drink, and some people really take their time with this.
- The much bigger problem is that airlines have a face mask exception for those who have a disability or a medical reason why they can’t wear a mask
If someone has a medical reason why they can’t wear a mask, that’s fine (although they should really avoid flying as much as possible as they are putting others at risk). However, unsurprisingly, we have also seen several stories of passengers feigning a medical condition to “exercise their freedoms.”
The airlines are understandably in a difficult situation, as a gate agent or flight attendant is not qualified to assess someone’s medical condition, and that also seems like a lawsuit waiting to happen.
Fortunately, Delta has found an ingenious solution, as bringing a copy of the Constitution and a “mask-free card” you printed at home will no longer work …
How Delta is improving the application of masks
Delta Air Lines has made changes to its face mask policy, and I love the way the Atlanta-based airline handled this. First, Delta states:
“Customers with health or disability issues who explicitly avoid wearing a face mask or facemask are strongly encouraged to reconsider travel.”
But this is where it gets right. Passengers with a condition must report to the airport early to complete an “Authorization to Fly” process before departure, which could take over an hour. This process will include a virtual consultation with a health professional, who will consider your circumstances and may make exceptions on a case-by-case basis.
Any passenger who makes false claims about a disability or health condition to obtain an exemption may have travel privileges on all Delta flights suspended for as long as the airline requires passengers to wear face masks.
As a Delta spokesperson explains:
“Medical research tells us that wearing a mask is one of the most effective ways to reduce the rate of COVID-19 infection. That’s why Delta remains committed to requiring customers and employees to wear a mask or face covering as a consistent layer of protection at all Delta contact points. We encourage customers who are unable to wear a mask due to a health condition to reconsider their trip. If they decide to travel, they can fly by completing a virtual consultation before departure at the airport to ensure everyone’s safety, because nothing is more important. “
Bottom line
For the most part, in my experience, airlines have done a better job of wearing masks than almost any other industry.
While fortunately only a very small minority of travelers refuse to wear face masks, it’s nice to see that Delta is taking a step to combat this.
Those who feel they have a medical condition that prevents them from wearing a mask should expect to have a virtual consultation with a healthcare professional at the airport, and that process could take over an hour.
Hopefully other airlines will introduce similar policies …
(Tip of the hat to paddle your own Kanoo)
