Airline Policy Changes Amid COVID-19
Even though COVID-19 case numbers continue to rise in the United States, American Airlines and United Airlines have announced that they will now operate flights without any blocked-off seats.
Since April, American Airlines had limited its flights slightly to 85% capacity, and United also stated that middle seats were blocked. However, viral tweets have shown that wasn’t always the case. After facing backlash, United implemented a policy of notifying passengers 24 hours in advance if their flight is likely to be full. This policy offers customers the option to rebook on a different flight without change fees or to receive a travel credit.
Health officials, including Anthony Fauci, the leading expert on infectious diseases in the country, have criticized this decision. “When they announced that the other day, obviously there was substantial disappointment with American Airlines,” Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, stated in a Congressional committee. “We don’t think it’s the right message.” This reaction underscores the importance of maintaining safety protocols during air travel.
In contrast, Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines have vowed to continue capacity caps on flights and blocking middle seats until at least the end of September. Furthermore, Alaska Airlines is set to keep the middle seat free until the end of July, which may provide travelers with a greater sense of safety.
American and United Airlines are now fully enforcing their mask-wearing policies and will remove and ban passengers from flights who do not comply. United is also mandating that travelers submit health information as part of the check-in process. Consequently, these measures seek to enhance the safety of passengers and crew members alike.
This news comes as United announced that it is adding almost 25,000 domestic and international flights to its schedule in August, which is about 40% of its usual numbers. Resumed routes include flights to China, French Polynesia, and Europe, although Americans currently face a ban from entering the European Union due to pandemic-related restrictions.
