For nearly two years now, we’ve more or less all been wearing face masks on planes. Many people can’t help but wonder if this requirement will ever be lifted, and if so, when. Well, one airline in the UK has just made face masks optional. Will this airline be an outlier, or is this a…
Continue reading: One Airline Makes Face Masks Optional
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Nice, now I'm interested in specifically looking for routings I can book on this airline on my UK trip this May.
Part of me would rather fly on a mask optional flight across the US on Spirit Airlines over a forced mask flight on United Polaris flat bed!
And yet you have airlines such as Qatar Airways maintaining blatantly racist policies that "passengers from Africa" (based on citizenship? point of origin? ethnicity? - never quite clarified) needed to wear both face masks and face shields on board their flights until just last week.
Smart move by Cathay. I've not worn mine when sleeping in business since the beginning in 2020. Just turn my head and put a light cover over me.
I've worn masks on flights before the pandemic since I'm highly susceptible to respiratory infections. Will be nice to have an option again.
Now do something about that ridiculous 1 day covid test requirement
My other half left LHR (no masks) to CUN (no masks). Yet BA forced everyone to wear them for the flight which all seemed rather silly.
For anyone concerned, just remember that the 6 foot rule stopped applying on airplanes really quickly... and trust me, this had nothing to do with profits, believe me... but rather, the air filtration system on these things is insane. It's the best, by far.
So if you spit into someone else's mouth while in the aisle, they won't get covid. It's that good.
....anyway, as I see it, you either require social distancing on the plane with masks, or if filtration is so spectacular that you don't need social distancing, then masks should go too.
It will be interesting to see how quickly those that have been chanting/singing/screaming "FOLLOW THE SCIENCE" will change their opinion as soon as "the science" no longer aligns with their political view of this...
There are subtle changes and reviews taking place across travel to and within the UK. I noticed on the Virgin Atlantic website that passengers over 12 now must wear a mask (previously over 2’s) and they are reviewing the situation in light of the UK Governments removal of all covid restrictions ( you no longer need to wear a mask on public transport or in stations). Heathrow website has not yet been updated with the new rules so I expect masks will no longer be required at airports shortly.
As you say, this is a complicated road, but I am encouraged that we are finally getting some movement on ending these masks requirements. It is long overdue since we have had a vaccine for over a year now. I am still not willing to travel internationally this year, not due to fear of COVID but more of a concern that COVID paranoia will result in a suboptimal travel experience both in-flight and while visiting places overseas. But I am considering my first cross-country trip on Amtrak this summer, while I know I can ditch the mask in a roomette, it would be nice not to have to go through mask theater every time you step out into the rest of the train. Here's hoping the politicians are getting the message and we won't have to wait until Jan. 2025 to be released from the mask police!
Good for the UK leading the way on this. Too bad the US government is "leading" from behind.
And to think it took a war for people to realize what a joke the masks and lockdowns were.
Very true. We know they will find some way to twist science, find obscure voices refuting the science, and generally clinging to their fear/desire to control/etc. You know...hypocrisy.
So true, so many people are not traveling international because of fear of getting stuck somewhere and useless covid political theatre. I guess it has become too good of a business with all the useless testing requirements and the kickbacks to politicians keep rolling in. Such a shame i have a job that im not legally allowed to do work when out of the country so if i get stuck somewhere because of an inaccurate test or some illogical change to restrictions i could lose my job despite being triple vaxxed.
While I do not see the point of the requirement, where did their requirement apply only to a single race? Do those of you who immediately scream "racist!" over...everything...ever stop to think how illogical your claims are in 2022???
That is the worst part of all of this covid nonsense is how political it got, both sides equally to blame, and it shows our politicians dont care about our health or wellbeing just our vote.
The end of the federal mandate will be a very interesting moment. It’s a certainty that, immediately, some airlines (Southwest?) will make masks optional, some (Delta?) will “strongly recommend” them, and some (United?) will continue to require them. Which airlines will fall into which categories will be fascinating to watch.
That's my concern. If I am out west and, for whatever reason I can't get on my flight back to Atlanta, worst come to worst, I can rent a car one way and get home. If I am in Europe and fail a COVID test when I feel fine - or if I happen to get it and be sick for a few days - I am completely stuck. And that is a bigger logistical headache then domestic travel. Hopefully next year I can get back to Europe! Been too long!
except guess who's still dying the most from Covid each day in the US? that's right, the Trump boot liking MAGA mouth breathing anti-vaxxers. Darwinism baby...
lol, masks were the most useless theater ever.
Just like taking off your shoes in security.
20 years ago, some government bureaucrat made a mandate.
And here we are.
More theater from the powerful, to keep the people weak.
Just give them a slogan! 'Free Tibet!' 'Follow The Science!'
And the people comply, happily.
--
You guys all got lied to for 2 years about covid.
That masks work (they obviously do nothing)
Vaccines stop the spread (they obviously don't)
And that mandates do anything (all the data says they don't)
Don't celebrate masks going away. Be angry they were ever mandated by evil people.
One guy tried/failed to bomb one plane with his shoe 20 years ago, and we're still taking our shoes off at airports (not Pre-Check!).
Liquids still limited to 100ml in a quart bag.
I agree with you, but I wouldn't hold my breath.
Sigh. We're going to be dealing with this for years aren't we?
Masks work. They work even better than we thought they did.
Vaccines work. They might not stop everybody getting infected, but they stop most people getting infected. This is better.
Mandates work, because they enforce the above.
Pretty simple really.
And to think it took a war for people to realise how ridiculous their concerns were about wearing a mask on their face for a few hours.
Ukrainians are heroes right now, anti-maskers very much the opposite
I've had BA crew who aren't so fanatical in enforcement, but UA, wow, they are just nuts. I got sharply repremanded when I was still putting my mask back on as I was coming out of the toilet. I thought I was back in school again. TATL in business both airlines.
Not surprising about SAS. In Sweden, if you go shopping, you will see most people bare faced.
There’s also the issue of international destinations still requiring masks - would the airlines require their full, convoluted exemption procedure or would they switch to self-attestation/the honor system?
Jet2 is not ultra low cost! It is a low cost airline with a focus on customer service - frequently gets the highest scores on customer service of any airline in UK surveys. Think of it as a bit like JetBlue without business class.
OMG... SO OVER THIS GARBAGE. Cathay Pacific doesn't require masks for biz class pax's while "sleeping"? You've got to be kidding me! The virus behaves bcuz they paid extra and they're asleep? I'd love to travel internationally but don't want to be denied passage back home if I test positive on the return. I know I could get to Mexico and pay a Coyote to get me to the border and then I'm home free but what a hassle- Medical/Political theatre is nearing the end of its life cycle. Passengers and crew that want to mask up by all means please do so. Wear TEN masks... who cares.
I think using the term "passengers from Africa" is pretty darn racist when discriminating against those passengers. Just my $0.02
Don, the MAGA mouth breather who only shows up on OMAAT to make Covid-related posts...go get your first ever passport already
UA-NYC can you please Troll on some other blog! So over your idiotic illogical posts! Maybe you can go visit your hero Cuomo. Understand he is feeling lonely due to the lack of recent media attention.
So what? It is not a major airline and it appears to depend on the origin and destination.
Right, right...wait ... ... ...
Except that rather significant amount of non-vaxxers/"anti" [if you will]-vaxxers in the Pacific Northwest that have a history of being against all vaccines...I'm pretty sure they aren't into doing anything with Trump's boots except something I cannot type on here...
Humm, wait, there's also that issue with the African-American/Black population and their vaccination numbers...Again, they don't seem to be big Trump peeps either...
Shoot @UA-NYC, I thought that you had made a valid point here, but it looks like, as it is with almost all of your posts, you didn't...
Stop spreading hate so much and remember that the Democratic Party is [was?] the Party of acceptance, not hate...
I cannot wait; I am completely fed up wearing a mask anytime. After getting covid in January it became obvious the masks are useless.
I live in Mexico and here most people within cities still wear masks even when outdoors. They call them cubrebocas (mouth covers) here so now if requested to wear one, I just cover my mouth. Not a single person has said a word.
People who believe masks are useless in containing virus, please be willing to live by that rule. If you ever need surgery, make sure you force the surgical staff to go maskless.
I creamed myself over $0.02 It was almost an acronym! Almost. Acronyms make me hard (hint)
Count yourself lucky Sean M. did not flood you with an acronym-laced reply to show how smart and 'with it' he really is! Once he replied with a post which was literally more than 50% acronyms, and got roasted for it. He's still trying to live down that shame..LOL (oh heck, I just gave an acronym). But try not to mention it. He's very touchy about that boo boo.
I can’t wait for airlines to get rid of the mandate. I personally am exempt from wearing a mask because of a medical condition but that results in a lot more hassle and paperwork and checks at the airport and when boarding. Which often turns what is supposed to be uneventful into something stressful and a memorable experience for all the wrong reasons. So I can’t wait for all this mess to be gone.
What do you mean it was "never quite clarified"...? It was point blank on their website and elsewhere that pax whose trip originated in South Africa, Zambia and Mozambique would have that requirement. Nothing to do with race. Stop the lies.