Herb687

Clearly if people are showing up for flights with documentation from their ACTUAL physician that they should not wear a mask [under specified conditions/circumstances], neither you nor an airline should have standing to overrule the ACTUAL physician with knowledge of the ACTUAL patient.
You realize that has nothing to do with the subject of this thread?

Often1

This is incorrect.

You are confusing the question of whether AA may require you to wear a mask at all with the question of whether it must provide service to a passenger not wearing a mask for whatever reason.

No, AA may not require anyone to wear a mask. But, if one does not wear a mask, then one may not fly on AA (and if an employee, work there).

This represents a sounds safety and business judgment on AA's part because masks protect not only the individual in question but other passengers and employees as well. Balancing the risks and adding in the fact that AA could make the legitimate judgment that one who cannot wear a mask should not travel on a pressurized aircraft (whether you accept that or not), makes this an easy call.

sbrower

What you are missing is that the physician is NOT saying "In my medical opinion you must allow them to fly." In other words, the airline is not disagreeing with the doctor. The airline is saying that if you can't wear a mask because: a) it makes you feel unhappy, politically correct or just plain uncomfortable; or, b) there is a legit medical reason, we are fine with either one. You just can't fly on our airplane.

la2clt

Mic drop @sbrower! Mods can close this thread now.

Herb687

Wonderful. Thank you for going on the record, smugly at that, with your endorsement of airlines' ability to be arrogant and discriminate.

I'm pro-mask. But I sure as heck am not pro-airline arrogance. And that's what this is.

Antarius

How is this discriminating? Discrimination is saying that you can fly without a mask but refusing to let me fly without one. Not stopping both of us from flying without a mask.

AA has a dress code. You can't just fly in underwear, they won't let you on. Wearing just underwear in public is entirely legal, yet AA has a rule that exceeds the law. Is this discrimination too?

Often1

It is neither arrogant nor discriminatory. Rather:

1. It is safer for other passengers and crew.
2. It may be safer for the individual passenger (but that really is up to the individual)
3. It is good for business as every survey out there points to the fact that the public, while wishing it were not necessary, favors masks. Accordingly, people will select an air carrier which does more to protect them.

On the flip side, it simply creates a category of people who are not medically capable of both flying and abiding by the rules. A pity for them, but safer for more.

Dave Noble

This is the opposite of discriminating - it is saying that everyone must wear a mask

carlosdca

Why do someone has to declare oneself pro or anti mask?

I just went to the beach and the sand was very hot so I wore flip flops. My friend did not care and later got blisters. Should I declare my self pro-flipflops?

In any case , why does anyone think AA is arrogant? Im sure this has been a carefully thought decision. AA has probably concluded that most potential flyers will feel more comfortable if there are no exception to mask wearing. Hence, mask requirement equals more revenue for AA.

Wishing lawsuits for AA means that AA may have to stop requiring masks and people will fly less AA, AA loses money, less routes, less convenience for all of us that may need to fly. It boggles my mind why someone wishes legal trouble for AA.

Thumper

I believe your analogy is flawed.

I am all for people being allowed to ride motorcycles at 140 MPH without a helmet.
But I shouldn't be forced to go along for the ride.

Masks reduce the chance of you accidentally killing someone "because I guess I was wrong, I had it...."

Antarius

Agreed. I am ok with people riding motorcycles without helmets or people riding without seatbelts. The science is extremely clear, if someone chooses to be stupid, they are free to do so. I am not ok with someone driving drunk, because now their decision infringes on my and others safety.

AA is not saying that someone cannot ignore science, be foolish and potentially harm someone else. AA is just saying they can't do it on their airplanes.

NoLaGent

I guess there are still exceptions... (Anti-masker delays flight, is allowed to fly without a mask)

https://www.mediaite.com/news/pro-tr...-hipaa-rights/

Often1

Not surprising since yesterday was July 25 and the policy does not become effective until July 29 (as per express language on the AA website).

NoLaGent

Gotchya, my apologies as I don't really follow AA. I just found the pilot's decision interesting. I haven't seen that on UA or AS, even before their policies were updated and in effect.

DataPlumber

They should have just tossed him without pomp or circumstance, but instead they gave the 2bit side show, social media dope the attention they so desperately crave.

Way to take a stand, from coach