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
Apr 30, 2020, 1:19 am
#31
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: Mileage Plus Global Services 2MM
Posts: 1,200
Correct.
It's nothing but theater. The airlines cannot stay in business allocating 28 square feet* of airplane to every passenger. They're reticent to admit this in the current environment, so they're taking these measures as a marketing step. The only way to fly whilst adhering to the CDC distancing guidelines is private.
* 3 feet ✖️ πr²
It's nothing but theater. The airlines cannot stay in business allocating 28 square feet* of airplane to every passenger. They're reticent to admit this in the current environment, so they're taking these measures as a marketing step. The only way to fly whilst adhering to the CDC distancing guidelines is private.
* 3 feet ✖️ πr²
Apr 30, 2020, 1:37 am
#32
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,412
Even a blocked middle seat is only about 20" of space from the nearest passenger. To meet CDC guidelines, UA would need to block nearly 90% of their narrowbody inventory -- basically, you could put two people every three rows, although you might need to stagger them on the 76-seaters.
Apr 30, 2020, 7:33 am
#33
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Chicago
Posts: 1,161
2 things here... United have drastically cut future capacity (May-June) based on current demand. This has resulted in:
1) prices going up - cash or miles
2) loads going up
for example, I’ve continued flying IAH-CMH-IAH during the past few weeks. This route is/was a direct flight 3+ times a day
initially flights were cancelling left, right and center and the flights that did operate had ~10-pax (normally served by a 175)
Eventually we were down to 1 flight most days with 17 passengers on my flight IAH-CMH on Monday.
For my next flight in May there are no direct flights and I’ve been routed through ORD with much higher load on the ORD-IAH flight
this is resulting / will result in less social distancing on planes where several ppl (of the 17 passengers on Monday I counted 5 without masks including a non rev pilot in FC) will have zero common courtesy & respect for others and not wear a face mask...
So, I’m going to start driving it... 17 hours in the car isn’t fun, but at less than $100 each way for gas, and no risk from being in a Petri dish plane of ~75% capacity, to me it’s a better choice.
i think ppl will start freaking out when the flights are over 50% full again (how comfortable would you be sitting next to someone without a mask occasionally coughing for 2 hours?).
i don’t blame the airlines for matching supply to demand, but I think the net result is eventually going to be detrimental to getting ppl flying again this summer.
i predict a LOT of ppl will resort to traditional family road trip vacations to visit relatives in other parts of the country this summer...
1) prices going up - cash or miles
2) loads going up
for example, I’ve continued flying IAH-CMH-IAH during the past few weeks. This route is/was a direct flight 3+ times a day
initially flights were cancelling left, right and center and the flights that did operate had ~10-pax (normally served by a 175)
Eventually we were down to 1 flight most days with 17 passengers on my flight IAH-CMH on Monday.
For my next flight in May there are no direct flights and I’ve been routed through ORD with much higher load on the ORD-IAH flight
this is resulting / will result in less social distancing on planes where several ppl (of the 17 passengers on Monday I counted 5 without masks including a non rev pilot in FC) will have zero common courtesy & respect for others and not wear a face mask...
So, I’m going to start driving it... 17 hours in the car isn’t fun, but at less than $100 each way for gas, and no risk from being in a Petri dish plane of ~75% capacity, to me it’s a better choice.
i think ppl will start freaking out when the flights are over 50% full again (how comfortable would you be sitting next to someone without a mask occasionally coughing for 2 hours?).
i don’t blame the airlines for matching supply to demand, but I think the net result is eventually going to be detrimental to getting ppl flying again this summer.
i predict a LOT of ppl will resort to traditional family road trip vacations to visit relatives in other parts of the country this summer...
I think we’ll soon have antibody tests. UA requiring masks now, I believe?
Apr 30, 2020, 8:06 am
#34
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Chicago
Posts: 11,513
https://www.abbott.com/corpnewsroom/...body-test.html
UA is requesting that you wear masks during the safety demonstration. They will make them available to passengers in May. Crew are required to wear masks. Passengers are not required to wear them at this time. "VOLUNTARY."
Apr 30, 2020, 8:54 am
#35
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: IAH & CMH
Programs: UA GS, UA MM, Marriott Ambassador, Hilton Diamond, Uber Platinum :)
Posts: 773
Not sure what benefit the anti-body test availability gets me as it's still not known whether having antibodies will prevent you from getting it again (one would think it would, but nothing is certain at the moment). I think the implication is if you have the anti-bodies then you're good to resume 'normal living'. I hope so, but time will tell.
And no idea how you're getting close to $1000 in wear & tear on a 1200 mile trip - I'm not doing it in a Veyron!
UA are planning on making masks available to passengers beginning in May - no requirement for ppl to actually wear them.
And no idea how you're getting close to $1000 in wear & tear on a 1200 mile trip - I'm not doing it in a Veyron!
UA are planning on making masks available to passengers beginning in May - no requirement for ppl to actually wear them.
Apr 30, 2020, 9:47 am
#36
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 2,531
Even a blocked middle seat is only about 20" of space from the nearest passenger. To meet CDC guidelines, UA would need to block nearly 90% of their narrowbody inventory -- basically, you could put two people every three rows, although you might need to stagger them on the 76-seaters.
Blocking middle seats on a low-LF flight is not that big of a deal because people wouldn't select middle seats anyway. I guess it opens up E+ to non-elites sooner if E- starts to fill up.
Apr 30, 2020, 9:33 pm
#37
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: New York / Hawaii
Programs: UA Global Services, HH Diamond
Posts: 5,178
Apr 30, 2020, 9:40 pm
#38
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Colorado
Programs: UA Gold (.85 MM), HH Diamond, SPG Platinum (LT Gold), Hertz PC, National EE
Posts: 5,656
Apr 30, 2020, 10:41 pm
#39
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,412
UA to require face coverings for all passengers, effective May 4
Well, it's gone from unthinkable to inevitable to announced: https://hub.united.com/united-corona...ght-attendants
Among US carriers, B6 started this, F9 followed, and UA, AA, and DL all appear to have followed suit today. No end date is listed.
Presented without further comment in an effort to avoid going OMNI.
We will also make face coverings mandatory for all travelers and will be providing them for free to our customers starting May 4.
Among US carriers, B6 started this, F9 followed, and UA, AA, and DL all appear to have followed suit today. No end date is listed.
Presented without further comment in an effort to avoid going OMNI.
Apr 30, 2020, 11:26 pm
#40
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton ♦ , Hyatt Carbonado, Wyndham ♦, Marriott PE, "Stinking Bum" elsewhere.
Posts: 5,000
Well, it's gone from unthinkable to inevitable to announced: https://hub.united.com/united-corona...ght-attendants
Among US carriers, B6 started this, F9 followed, and UA, AA, and DL all appear to have followed suit today. No end date is listed.
Presented without further comment in an effort to avoid going OMNI.
Among US carriers, B6 started this, F9 followed, and UA, AA, and DL all appear to have followed suit today. No end date is listed.
Presented without further comment in an effort to avoid going OMNI.
May 1, 2020, 2:07 am
#41
Join Date: May 2004
Location: HYI/AUS/SAT originally TTN/EWR/PHL
Programs: Southwest Rapid Rewards, Jetblue TrueBlue, American Advantage
Posts: 1,190
I wear N95s whenever I appear in public now, not for my benefit, but to make others feel better. In my line of work, I am used to working in various kinds of respirators, so it's no big deal to me. I understand that if you are not used to them it can be disconcerting, but it is what it is and you are going to have to knuckle under if you want to fly.
https://nypost.com/2020/04/24/driver...ring-n95-mask/
May 1, 2020, 5:09 am
#43
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM
Posts: 6,355
Are N95s advisable for long periods such as flights? I am high risk and I certainly want to be safe but there are reports that a guy passed out after wearing one for awhile while driving.
https://nypost.com/2020/04/24/driver...ring-n95-mask/
https://nypost.com/2020/04/24/driver...ring-n95-mask/
On flights dating back to January/February 2020 I was on numerous long-haul flights where [almost] everyone was wearing masks (surgical, N95 up to P100) for the duration of the flight (with exception of meal & drink intake), as well as at the airports.
That above article is a bit ridiculous, and I wouldn't worry about it. Besides, how could they possibly know he didn't just fall asleep behind the wheel as has been a common occurrence since the invention of the motor vehicle!
Flying with UA whilst wearing a mask should cause no serious issues, although a slight discomfort may set in, especially if one isn't used to wearing a mask for prolonged periods of time.
A pic showing 50%+ already wearing masks at HKG on February 1st:
May 1, 2020, 8:58 am
#44
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton ♦ , Hyatt Carbonado, Wyndham ♦, Marriott PE, "Stinking Bum" elsewhere.
Posts: 5,000
I understand that they're not required, it's just that I have a big stash of them-not because I was hoarding, but because my work involves exposure to silica dust, which can cause silicosis. I honestly find them comfortable but do experience fogging issues when using a face shield or safety goggles.
May 1, 2020, 12:38 pm
#45
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Kansas City, MO
Programs: AA Gold
Posts: 3,648
What will happen if pax wear the masks while boarding and then after the plane takes off they remove the mask to drink and eat? Or if someone just takes it off and claims they can't breathe. What will anyone do about that?