Jun 17, 2020, 4:09 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Debating the value of masks is not appropriate for the UA forum -- we will discuss the UA requirements, enforcement and/or compliance. The value of masks is not UA specific issue (and not airline industry-specific either) and is best discussed elsewhere in a more universal format
WineCountryUA
UA coModerator
.22 April UA to provide "Social distancing" by blocking middles from advance seat assignments -- note middles can be assigned for those traveling together or at the gate if needed ... example notice and COVID-19: What we're doing to keep customers and employees safe
20 May 2020 United Launches United CleanPlus: A New Standard of Cleanliness and Safety in Partnership with Clorox and Cleveland Clinic ... (post)
"allowing customers to take alternative flights when we expect a flight to operate over 70% capacity." is included in the above announvement
Also NSRA not allowed if above 70%
15 June 2020 United Airlines Strengthens Onboard Mask Policy to Further Protect Passengers and Employees Against COVID-19 Spread ... (post)
July 2020 -- appears UA has dropped blocking pre-assignment of middles, still notifying if 70% booked
20 July -- "Traveling is different now, but we're still committed to your safety What to expect when you travel next", e-mail
22 July -- United Extends Mask Requirements to Airports
17 August 2021 -- TSA to extend transportation mask mandate into January (18, 2022)
WineCountryUA
UA coModerator
.22 April UA to provide "Social distancing" by blocking middles from advance seat assignments -- note middles can be assigned for those traveling together or at the gate if needed ... example notice and COVID-19: What we're doing to keep customers and employees safe
20 May 2020 United Launches United CleanPlus: A New Standard of Cleanliness and Safety in Partnership with Clorox and Cleveland Clinic ... (post)
"allowing customers to take alternative flights when we expect a flight to operate over 70% capacity." is included in the above announvement
Also NSRA not allowed if above 70%
15 June 2020 United Airlines Strengthens Onboard Mask Policy to Further Protect Passengers and Employees Against COVID-19 Spread ... (post)
July 2020 -- appears UA has dropped blocking pre-assignment of middles, still notifying if 70% booked
20 July -- "Traveling is different now, but we're still committed to your safety What to expect when you travel next", e-mail
22 July -- United Extends Mask Requirements to Airports
17 August 2021 -- TSA to extend transportation mask mandate into January (18, 2022)
UA COVID19 precautions: **REQUIRING** mask usage per CDC/DoT
May 23, 2020, 1:01 pm
#271
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
May 24, 2020, 10:06 am
#272
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Haze gray and underway
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Slightly off topic. I found myself joining in with my seat mates yesterday in snickering at the preflight announcements that included how to sneeze correctly and the various face mask requirements and enhanced cleaning being preformed. Having set a light hearted and jovial attitude I decided to raise the stakes and took the used disinfectant wipe and ran it down the length of the ventilation outlet over the window and showed it to them. The wipe and vent had changed colors. The wipe was now gray and the vent became it’s original off white. So much for enhanced cleaning. The AC was an EMB #N86347 and my seat mates were mostly repositioning flight crew.
May 24, 2020, 10:31 am
#273
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2010
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Slightly off topic. I found myself joining in with my seat mates yesterday in snickering at the preflight announcements that included how to sneeze correctly and the various face mask requirements and enhanced cleaning being preformed. Having set a light hearted and jovial attitude I decided to raise the stakes and took the used disinfectant wipe and ran it down the length of the ventilation outlet over the window and showed it to them. The wipe and vent had changed colors. The wipe was now gray and the vent became it’s original off white. So much for enhanced cleaning. The AC was an EMB #N86347 and my seat mates were mostly repositioning flight crew.
Hint to UA: if you are really going to claim "clean" - then actually CLEAN!
David
May 24, 2020, 2:17 pm
#274
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Of course, the question remains why they were obviously quite cavalier in the past happy to leave us in a toxic, filthy plane before. It's not as though "hygiene" has just been invented. 
May 24, 2020, 2:56 pm
#275
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Colorado
Programs: UA Gold (.85 MM), HH Diamond, SPG Platinum (LT Gold), Hertz PC, National EE
Posts: 5,656
I’m no expert, but I think dirty surfaces don’t necessarily mean they are laden with bacteria or viruses. Short of steam cleaning the entire airplane you are always going to have this.😷
May 24, 2020, 4:45 pm
#276
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton ♦ , Hyatt Carbonado, Wyndham ♦, Marriott PE, "Stinking Bum" elsewhere.
Posts: 4,998
Look, the truth is that this virus is fragile and denatures pretty easily. Contact with soapy water destroys the lipid envelope and the virus literally falls apart, like a broken candy jar, in a few seconds. In addition UVC and even UVA light have been demonstrated to denature this virus quickly (sunlight, almost instantly). So, notwithstanding the collection of nuts, hair, wrappers and various sticky things jammed in, around and under the seats (meeting the traditional definition of "dirty"), all we need to stop contact spread of this virus is a protocol whereby the surfaces touched the most by passengers get a dose of soapy water or alcohol before a new group boards.
Last edited by zombietooth; May 24, 2020 at 5:03 pm
May 24, 2020, 6:35 pm
#277
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM
Posts: 6,355
(I recall UA flights [after meal service] that were so uncomfortably hot, they would have killed any SARS-CoV-2 virus in 10 minutes!
)
May 24, 2020, 7:38 pm
#278
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: 6 year GS, now 2MM Jeff-ugee, *wood LTPlt, SkyPeso PLT
Posts: 6,526
Look, the truth is that this virus is fragile and denatures pretty easily. Contact with soapy water destroys the lipid envelope and the virus literally falls apart, like a broken candy jar, in a few seconds. In addition UVC and even UVA light have been demonstrated to denature this virus quickly (sunlight, almost instantly). So, notwithstanding the collection of nuts, hair, wrappers and various sticky things jammed in, around and under the seats (meeting the traditional definition of "dirty"), all we need to stop contact spread of this virus is a protocol whereby the surfaces touched the most by passengers get a dose of soapy water or alcohol before a new group boards.
So United's sanitize, clean, etc, does not really address the issue, which is aerosolized transmission. Masks and as much distance as possible (i.e. empty middles) is the only workable solution. Alas, UA is not really doing either consistently. As a result I will not be flying them.
May 24, 2020, 8:07 pm
#279
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,854
(BTW, I have chosen not to fly as I would agree, there is no risk-free choice at the moment)
May 25, 2020, 12:02 am
#280
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
We all have different perspectives. I'd happily take a 100% full flight if I wasn't subject to Hawaii quarantine on return. We more things out there to worry about on a plane than Corona (flu, colds - whatever else). If I wanted risk-free, I'd never get to travel again.
May 25, 2020, 7:17 am
#281
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I flew a pair of E75s last week. On each of them 1A, 1C and 1D had straps saying "DO NOT USE" across them. However on ORD-RDU a deadheading FA sat in 1A. She offered to go to the gate agent and find out what seat in Y she could have but the lead FA told her it was fine to sit there.
May 25, 2020, 8:23 am
#282
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton ♦ , Hyatt Carbonado, Wyndham ♦, Marriott PE, "Stinking Bum" elsewhere.
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The truth is that most cases, the vast majority of them, are indoor aerosolized transmissions. Outside transmission (because infection comes from viral load, and the virus defuses more widely outside) requires close contact and lengthy exposure or a super spreader with very high viral load and exposure.
So United's sanitize, clean, etc, does not really address the issue, which is aerosolized transmission. Masks and as much distance as possible (i.e. empty middles) is the only workable solution. Alas, UA is not really doing either consistently. As a result I will not be flying them.
So United's sanitize, clean, etc, does not really address the issue, which is aerosolized transmission. Masks and as much distance as possible (i.e. empty middles) is the only workable solution. Alas, UA is not really doing either consistently. As a result I will not be flying them.
You won't be able to fly at all I fear because human behavior is just too hard to change. If it was easy to change behavior with threats and laws, we would have eradicated drug abuse long ago.
May 26, 2020, 12:24 pm
#283
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: EWR
Programs: Latam Pass Black; UA 1K, 1MM; Marriott LT
Posts: 300
I giggled a few times yesterday flying with both UA and LH... lots of time spent asking people to keep 6 feet apart in the boarding area and the jet bridge, then you get on a plane and can literally poke multiple people from your seat.... like, what is the point of social distancing in the gate area and jet bridge, and then getting into a petri dish with your new bffs.
May 26, 2020, 12:59 pm
#284
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,461
I giggled a few times yesterday flying with both UA and LH... lots of time spent asking people to keep 6 feet apart in the boarding area and the jet bridge, then you get on a plane and can literally poke multiple people from your seat.... like, what is the point of social distancing in the gate area and jet bridge, and then getting into a petri dish with your new bffs.
May 26, 2020, 12:59 pm
#285
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 2,531
I giggled a few times yesterday flying with both UA and LH... lots of time spent asking people to keep 6 feet apart in the boarding area and the jet bridge, then you get on a plane and can literally poke multiple people from your seat.... like, what is the point of social distancing in the gate area and jet bridge, and then getting into a petri dish with your new bffs.