WineCountryUA

??? I believe UA does "own" gate areas in many locals

Gate "ownership" in airports is a complicated arrangement based on local policies. Where UA does not "own" it is the responsibility of the airport operator.

lincolnjkc

This is why I think the response (combined with the two other employees who declined to enforce the policy) indicates that the policy, specifically,

is a sham. For most airports in the US, UA has an exclusive or preferential use lease on those gates -- internationally and in some domestic ports common use gates are more common -- these are typically easily identified by the lack of any permanent UA branding and more generic/airport standard furnishings/gate equipment. if it looks/smells/feels like a UA gate more often than not its an exclusive or preferential use gate.

As far as I know, except possibly in hubs, UA owns (in the literal sense) no airport terminal property, however as a tenant they (based on typical airport leases at least) have essentially the same ability to control activities on their leased premises as a literal owner would; if UA is going to have the policy that masks must be worn in their gate areas but decline to enforce it because they "do not own [they] rent" -- the policy is worth less than the bits it traveled the Internet on, and similarly ineffective for baggage claim and ticket counters, arguably even clubs. (For my own curiosity I've submitted a FOI request for the DCA airline use agreement and premises lease since MWAA's FOI policy says it should already be on their website but the link is missing, ovbiously that's not really here nor there in the long term -- if UA has decided to have an unenforceable policy that's their call)

WineCountryUA

While understanding your disappointment, a significant portion, a majority?, of UA's domestic traffic is thru hubs where the hopefully things are better enforced. So while outstations may not get the full treatment due to those airport policies, I tend to go for the cup is half full vs half empty. But I am not traveling for many reasons and I guess i can be more philosophical.

bocastephen

United is nothing but consistent

One club has a scrum crowd jockeying for space at the bar, maskless people crowded together, no place to sit, while another has bowls of mini-oreos and pita chips for dinner, yet another now has table-side heuer d'oeuvre service.

Flying Machine

This is the same club (DEN) that was suggested to contact the county health department a few posts back

cesco.g

Oh well: Surprise & Delight coming back!

bocastephen

no that was Houston

Flying Machine

I stand corrected

wpcoe

Don't worry, a seat should be available soon...

gmt4

I see what you did there. Well played.

bocastephen

and probably a violation of local county health laws about distancing as part of indoor dining. Report them.

SuperFlyBoy

bocastephen

It is shameful that UA tolerates this behavior in lounges. So everyone needs to wear a mask on board, but can behave like an animal inside of a lounge? This is what, the 4th report of this kind of chaos inside the lounge and UA is failing to do anything about it? Maybe a few more visits from the local county health inspectors will move the needle on their focus.

lincolnjkc

While I'm not going to be the one calling a health department on UA [and a significant part of me is curious to what extent a health department's regulatory powers are preempted by the Airline Deregulation Act if UA really wanted to fight it]…

Based on interactions I've personally had with UA regarding mask usage, their basic position is that they have no power or will to enforce a mask policy anywhere other than onboard. -- all of the ground based policies are purely illusory/suggestions with both UA front-line UA employees stating that they cannot enforce the policy anywhere within the terminals (and at one point telling me that it was just "something the airport requests...United has nothing to do with it" when in a state with an active public health order mandating it and UA customer care confirming that that is the corporate position.

I'd personally rather UA have no policy at all rather than one they're unwilling to enforce, but that is the state of things.

bocastephen

The county health board has total authority over any lounge offering food/beverage services, no different than a restaurant - and I've sent the health inspector into UA and AC lounges before, so I have some experience with this.

I understood the UA policy applied to onboard plus any airport space that they owned or leased - a check-in area, or a lounge would certainly fall into that category.