Airline issues with social distancing

T

The Sound Guy

Pursuit Driver
It appears that airlines are in the hot seat either way. The planes are empty and they are losing money, or they are full and people are having panic attacks.

Air travel during the coronavirus pandemic is hitting record lows. American Airlines suspended more than 60 percent of its capacity in April as compared to the same period in 2019. The air carrier is planning to suspend 80 percent of its capacity in May.
However, one passenger is concerned the limited flight options are causing full flights in some cases, and do not allow for social distancing. After more than a month of self-quarantine in Brooklyn, Erin Strine flew to her hometown of Chapel Hill on Saturday.
“My grandmother passed away recently so I felt it was important to be here with my family,” Strine said. Strine did not expect the experience she had on American Airlines Flight 388 from JFK Airport in New York City to Charlotte. “I just started to panic,” she said.
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“They actually came over the speakers to say the flight was nearly full and that people would not be able to move seats to social distance,” Strine said. The airline spokesperson also says the CDC is not requiring masks for passengers aboard flights. Strine says that is unacceptable. “I really felt like my life and the life of everyone around me was at risk,” she said. “I just sat there silently crying into my mask because I was really overwhelmed by how unsafe I felt.” Strine said she will be canceling her return flight and driving back to Brooklyn.
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JetBlue is at least trying something to allow them to be safer, they are the first in the US to require masks for everyone on board: (Canada is requiring it as well)

JetBlue was one of the first U.S. airlines to mandate crew to wear masks while working. And now, it’s the first to require the same from passengers. This new policy, which goes into effect on May 4, 2020, will be applied throughout all steps of the passenger journey — from check-in all the way through deplaning. JetBlue plans to remind passengers of this policy both before their flight and in the airport terminals.
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In explaining the news, JetBlue states that it’s modeling its policy off of the CDC guidelines stating that wearing face coverings help slow the spread of the coronavirus. The Long Island City based carrier states that the mask must cover both the nose and mouth to satisfy these requirements Notably, small children who cannot maintain a face covering are exempt from the policy.
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I was on a call with my manager last week and we discussed when we'd travel again and what that would look like. Airliners have always been an easy route for sickness to spread and I'm not thrilled with the idea of getting on one again soon. May end up driving to Arkansas next time.
 
I can remember when there were wider seats and more leg room on planes. During my last deployment to Afghanistan, I had non-stop flights from Atlanta to Dubyai (the same coming back) that were 14 hours. There was absolutely no leg room and the seats were narrow as hell. Delta had us crammed in pretty tight.
 
Airlines have treated passengers so poorly since around 2000 when the airlines agreed to pay the pilots huge salary and retirement increases that there was no way to pay for... then 911 happened and their house of cards was rescued by claiming bankruptcy, massive layoffs, defaulting on the pensions, there by making the government liable for them through the pensioners guaranteed fund, then asking for bailout money.

After 911, when we gave up our rights to privacy, and ultimately agreed to be strip searched with x-rays that see down to our knickers... the treatment of the traveling public got even worse. No longer could you go to the gate to see your loved one off. No longer was a meal part of the service you paid for... better bring a peanut butter sammie... oh yeah, you can't it might be an explosive. So you can buy overpriced airport food, or an overpriced airline meal. Then they started to cram more rows in by tipping the angle of the seat up higher that put you knees closer to your chest so they could put the seat in front of you closer.

The airlines consistently have boom times and spend every billion they earn, never holding back for a rainy day. Top CEOs always depart in the bust times with massive golden parachutes, and the taxpayer is always on the hook to bail them out.

I used to love flying in the 80's and 90's... now I dread it.
 
Far West said:
Airlines have treated passengers so poorly since around 2000 when the airlines agreed to pay the pilots huge salary and retirement increases that there was no way to pay for... then 911 happened and their house of cards was rescued by claiming bankruptcy, massive layoffs, defaulting on the pensions, there by making the government liable for them through the pensioners guaranteed fund, then asking for bailout money.

After 911, when we gave up our rights to privacy, and ultimately agreed to be strip searched with x-rays that see down to our knickers... the treatment of the traveling public got even worse. No longer could you go to the gate to see your loved one off. No longer was a meal part of the service you paid for... better bring a peanut butter sammie... oh yeah, you can't it might be an explosive. So you can buy overpriced airport food, or an overpriced airline meal. Then they started to cram more rows in by tipping the angle of the seat up higher that put you knees closer to your chest so they could put the seat in front of you closer.

The airlines consistently have boom times and spend every billion they earn, never holding back for a rainy day. Top CEOs always depart in the bust times with massive golden parachutes, and the taxpayer is always on the hook to bail them out.

I used to love flying in the 80's and 90's... now I dread it.
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Flying in the 70s was great. There was so much room. Meals and snacks were bigger. I remember in '65 while flying to Okinawa, we had steak dinners on the plane.
 
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