Covid: Plane riders be aware of the unvaccinated and unmasked...

[mysteryowl]

Yesterday, I met a flight attendant that is NOT vaccinated and does NOT wear a mask anywhere.
They now don't have to wear a mask at work on a plane.

Maybe their are many doing this. Take care of yourselves.

[dutch777]

1. Yeah, we just don't need to get on a plane. Not worth the risk

[Marthe48]

2. Just heard on CBS radio news

That some airlines are considering full refunds to some people who don't want to fly without mandatory masks. They haven't decided yet. People who might get full refunds would have to show they have underlying health problems that make them more vulnerable to Covid-19.

[mysteryowl]

3. People have to prove their health risk!? Hogwash!

Everyone is at risk with this unmasked ruling.

[Marthe48]

6. Maybe their hospital team will violate HIPPA laws for

reluctant flyers >sarcasm<

I was out a few times this week, and saw very few masks. I won't be going out again any time soon.

[agingdem]

8. right...

I'm flying Southwest to Las Vegas next week...mask stays on...my little bags of peanuts/pretzels will have to go to someone else...damn!

[RaDaR63]

5. Refunds should be mandatory regardless of health status

Last edited Sat Apr 23, 2022, 10:51 AM - Edit history (1)

if the tickets were bought with the understanding that masks were mandated. Otherwise, it's bait and switch.

[Marthe48]

7. That makes sense

I'm sure whatever the airlines decide, it'll will benefit the airline much more than the customers.

Maybe the airlines and other public transport could dedicate flights that have mandatory masks and some that aren't. And when booking ask if the customer prefers masked or unmasked.

[Blues Heron]

4. they shot themselves in the foot on this one

plenty of people will now not be flying because of this.

[mn9driver]

9. Transmission risk is higher in the terminal and gate area than on the aircraft.

On my flights, I make sure to run the APU as soon as boarding begins since that increases airflow and brings the HEPA filters into play.

Once the engines are started, the airflow is even higher and the risk falls even more. You are at more risk standing in line at the Starbucks before boarding than on the airplane.

I predict we will see masks come back pretty quickly as the case count rises.

[Blues Heron]

10. unless the guy sitting next to you sneezes - then all bets are off

thats what it boils down to - people dont want to spend hours sitting next to some unmasked spreader hoping their own mask works.

[Ocelot II]

11. Too bad the old DC-9s are gone, that just sucked the air in

and blew it out without recirculating it at all.

[mn9driver]

12. I miss those old beasts.

[Ocelot II]

13. Fun times...

[Ms. Toad]

15. Air circulation is minimal during boarding

and deplaning which occurred immediately prior.

That packed sardine can, with lingering COVID from the last flight, being packed elbow to elbow with unmasked potentially unvaccinated individuals with COVID is not safer the terminal and gate area. Good HEPA filters work to clear the air in approximately an hour - far longer than the period fo active exposure while boarding.

I'm relatively confident once the engines are started and fresh air is cycling through (but will still be wearing a KF94 mask). But sitting on an airplane during boarding, packed tight with potential vectors for transmission, breathing in the air left by the last packed flight, is the least safe area I will have been in since spring 2020.

With airlines actively considering waiving the lifetime bans, I doubt masking will be back even as the case count rises. (We're already about 130% higher than two weeks ago and mandates are disappearing, not increasing.)

[mn9driver]

16. The APU provides a great deal of air on my aircraft, the A320.

When parked at the gate, APU air is usually optional until just before pushback. In that case, jetway air is used, which is a lot less air.

As I said in my earlier post, I personally start the APU as soon as boarding begins, about 45 minutes before pushback. I do this specifically to help mitigate the risk of spreading the virus.

The APU is a small jet engine specifically designed to put out a lot of air, and it does that very well. It also costs money to operate which is why most airlines try to get away with using it as little as possible.

With the APU running on the ground, the cabin air is completely changed out every 5 minutes or thereabouts, so your concerns about the air from a previous flight may be misplaced since boarding never occurs less than 15 or 20 minutes after the last inbound passenger has deplaned so that crews can change and the aircraft cleaned.

If you feel that the airplane isn’t being adequately ventilated during boarding, tell a flight attendant that it feels too warm (too cold also works in the winter) and stuffy in the cabin—they will almost always ring the cockpit and ask for more air, which reminds the pilots to start the APU and use that air if they have not already done so.

I hope this is helpful.

[Ms. Toad]

17. I have not flown since COVID -

But prior to that, it was the exception rather than the rule - and some were very explicit about NOT turning the APU on. When I've asked in the past about air circulation - the response has universally been, "Sorry, there's nothing I can do about it.)So - I don't believe your experience is the norm - as to running the APU in the first place, or to the responsiveness of flight attendants to addressing the lack of circulation.

And - without circulation, the flying can of sardines is is a greenhouse for growing COVID until it takes off (far more infectious than anywhere else I have been based on the density of people and - elimination of universal masking, and easing up on who (and how infectious) is allowed to fly.

There either needs to be a masking requirement - OR - a mandate to frun the APU whenever an airplane is on the ground awaiting the next flight.

(Sorry for the slow response - I've been in the hospital since Saturday and I'm just catching up.)

[Ms. Toad]

14. I've been looking forward to a June dive vacation in Cozumel -

Until 4/1, I worked 80-100 hours a week and haven't had time for a vacation (i.e. more than one day in a row off from work). I'd been promising myself a real vacation as a celebration for completing the first round of sarcoma treatment. (Currently 1.25 years with no evidence of disease.)

When a June dive trip popped up (when I am ordinarily I am usually in the midst of preparing students for the bar exam - AND - I had already approved my employee's vacation for the same week), I filed it away as impossible. Then in October, my boss forced my retirement as of April 1.

A prerequisite for being part of the trip is proof of vaccination and, although they originally planned to have non-participants in the hotel to fill empty rooms, I just learned that the trip is filling the entire hotel. The staff is fully vaccinated, so the staff on the dive boat are the only regular encounters I will have with unvaccinated people, and dive boats are obviously outdoors (as are most meals). As long as I mask when I'm indoors and not actively eating or drinking, it should be relatively safe.

I was really looking forward to my first time since 2016, and was thrilled that it was reasonably safe, as to COVID. Then I get this monkey-wrench. I had hoped the airlines would hold the line, but they caved immediately.

But your post does give me one idea - I haven't made flight reservations yet, so I think I'll at least find out the vaccination policy. Even if they aren't wearing masks, it would be helpful to find an airline that requires vaccination of staff.