WineCountryUA

There was long discussion of this in Using a half face respirator on UA flight? and the reported experiences were as long there was a compliant mask (such as a surgical mask) covering the vented mask, you were fine (assuming fitting properly). Extra masking that does not interfere with the required mask seemed not to raise an issue in the past and not sure anything of the new regs would change that.

Dublin_rfk

I’m shocked! Shocked I say! Don’t you spent every waking hour searching for new government rules and regulations? Actually I heard about Monday night as it was being discussed as being an urban legend.

The new cdc guidelines strongly recommend against non professionals from wasting half masks on everyday use.

jmastron

I think the issue is that gaiters and bandanas *can* be multi-layered and provide similar outgoing protection...but many/most are just a thin single layer, and there's no good way to verify at a glance. There were some at the beginning of airline mask requirements who spoke proudly about getting away with knitted scarfs and pieces of gauze hanging off their nose; it is definitely good for the CDC to finally give some standardized guidelines on this.

Yes, it would be have been nice for UA to add a warning to the checkin screen or something, but I believe they make some masks available so it's not like you get sent home with the trip canceled if you didn't know.

Double masking -- from what I've heard from people, if you show up with a reasonable setup already in place (vented N95 or respirator with a surgical style mask over it fully covering such vents) nobody's had an issue as it's obvious you've thought of and addressed the issue (if they even notice the vent under the main mask). Showing up without the full coverage layer, mixing through the airport that way and waiting until "caught" by a boarding agent and only then grudgingly saying you'll cover it is met with less tolerance.

arles

From what I saw on news reports, the new mask requirement also applies to the airport and waiting areas. I heard someone from the TSA say that previously they had no enforcement authority and no way to force someone to comply with the mask requirements but now they can enforce it. So I guess that both the TSA failed to enforce the new requirements when going through security and then the GA failed to enforce it prior to boarding. And then the FA is made out to be the bad guy having to enforce the rules.

WineCountryUA

Correct

UVU Wolverine

The FA was the first person to notify me, so that’s my first experience with it. I had heard news reports of the new mask requirement being on federal grounds, but I didn’t expect it to be a federal regulation that was required on airplanes and enforced by TSA as well, nor did I read that neck gaitors were not allowed.

I assumed the FA was wrong since this is a relatively new requirement, and for all of the marketing UA does regarding travel restrictions, mandates, voluntary schedule changes etc, they did not send me any info about them switching to the new federal regulations. I don’t blame the FA (or TSA, or gate agent etc) for doing their job, but I do think United could have done a better job of informing their customers since they seem to be so proactive in sending out emails concerning COVID-19 yet fail to inform them of a seemingly large change.

Hawkeyefan

Um..gaiters are not banned.

Cat88L3

Yes, you missed the news.

Cat88L3

The CDC has been saying for the past few months that neck gaiters and bandanas aren't adequate protection and shouldn't replace a mask during this pandemic... So I'm not sure why this is even questioned. Even if it wasn't law before, it doesn't matter...It's just common sense to not wear one in the first place, especially on a plane

Hawkeyefan

​​​​​​This is the actual truth. Gaiters are not banned. The OP should have called bull on the FA. UA itself doesn't even know it's own guidelines.

UVU Wolverine

Common sense is different from federal regulations. Before, it wasn’t a Civil violation to wear one that satisfied United’s requirements.

Now, United has to enforce a mask policy (that TSA seemingly missed). The consequence is worse than a civil violation IMO; it’s a travel ban from United.

Edit: the CDC also didn’t recommend face coverings to begin with, so I’m not trusting where their opinion may be in a month or two.
For reference: https://www.npr.org/sections/coronav...asks-in-public

Hawkeyefan

Again, neck gaiters are not banned. That is fake news. Gaiters are not bandanas.

UVU Wolverine

I started this thread, and it has gone into the ‘mask vs. no mask’ issue (which, while I respect, I know moderators will delete or move). My question was answered since I’m not up to date on the daily changes we’ve seen with the new president.

I hope it stays so people can see that United has changed their mask policy (without notifying travelers that their policy is now regulated by executive order and providing a simple link to the order).

bocastephen

The problem with this new policy is a loophole in the federal guidelines that allow someone to avoid wearing a mask with a doctor's note - and we all know how easy it would be get a note, and avoid a mask. While United must follow the new regulations, I don't see any penalty imposed for improving on those regulations and requiring a mask regardless. I don't see any reason why someone cannot wear a mask of some kind.

UVU Wolverine

That’s not even close to the issue being discussed. This isn’t a a topic about how people get out of wearing one but how new federal regulations have changed what’s allowable on board United flights and how United failed to inform its passengers of the new change.