Cathay Pacific and Qatar are the two airlines that I recall (and there may be more). They’re foreign carriers but they also operate from/to the US. Domestic airlines are also looking into this issue and may implement something similar (at least on their international flights).
Speaking of train travel. Does anyone know if roomettes have their own air supply or if the air is recycled among the rooms? When I looked very early in the pandemic it appeared to me that you are sharing air with the other rooms in the car but I could be totally and completely wrong (and I would like to be!)
Thanks! Yup, foreign carriers. Different birds. 
That reminds me of one flight… on a German carrier, US youngsters could get away with drinking beer if they were of drinking age per German laws.
1 Like
There was an interesting segment on the TV news about a push to force airlines to extend vouchers. Evidently many agreed to credit flights for a year (similar to SW airlines regular policy), but the year deadline is now fast approaching. Anyone caught in this dilemma?
We used our pre-Covid Alaska $$ which would have expired this spring to book a flight to Hawaii this summer. Hope that travel will happen! 
Because we also got a stellar deal on the airfare, and I would hate to lose that.
3 Likes
Have you called AMTRAK to ask about the air supply in roommettes question? I would like to know as well.
I don’t know about the roomettes and their air supply, but I know we’ve been vaccinated and have antibodies to prove it, so I feel we’re safe.
If I were wanting to avoid Covid it would matter. For us now, we’re willing to trust the vaxes.
3 Likes
American Airlines extended our travel credit from March 2020, until March 31 2022.
I booked a flight using this credit for 10/21 ,and there was still a remaining balance. They issued a voucher for the remainder that was good for a year from that date. Instead I used the voucher to pay for a trip for one of my kids.
I also had companion certificate from a cc that was extended 6 months until 7/21 which I will probably not use.
1 Like
I am also interested in the roomette air exchange; so far all I could learn was this:
All trains are also equipped with onboard air filtration systems that Amtrak says offer “a fresh air exchange rate every 4-5 minutes,” and augmented onboard cleaning procedures include the use of EPA-registered disinfectant.
1 Like
Every 4-5 minutes is way better than a typical house with windows closed (once an hour is considered great).
Can the upper part of the window in the roomette be open?
Which airlines? I thought this was federally mandated.
1 Like
All are foreign carriers (see posts above).
If they are flying to US can’t do this. The TSA says that federal face mask requirement extends to “ the nation’s domestic network of airports; passengers and crewmembers flying aboard airplanes operated by domestic AND foreign air carriers with inbound flights to U.S. ports of entry;”:
I don’t know much about this but could the TSA mandates possibly exclude airspace? Maybe passengers have to wear it on US soil but since Qatar is a foreign airway, the planes are technically the property of another nation so maybe the policies are different (i don’t know. I am just brain dumping here).
1 Like
I’m no expert on aviation laws, but in my experience, as soon as these foreign carriers are off the ground and up to a certain altitude, they do as they please. Like handing an 18 yr old US citizen a beer.
3 Likes
The mandate means that if they have flown INTO the US and didn’t require masks during the flight they could face serious consequences and be denied further privileges to operate and land at US airports. If they are flying from the US they are not subject to the rule once in the air.
Not sure about the legal aspect of it. But here’s an article on Cathay Pacific’s mask exemption policy:
1 Like
Passengers who are eating or drinking can take off their masks. They can just constantly feed and water them.
3 Likes
Nope. The TSA mandate says that mask can only be removed “While eating, drinking, or taking oral medications for brief periods. Prolonged periods of mask removal are not permitted for eating or drinking; the mask must be worn between bites and sips.”
Our United voucher was extended to 2022. My kid has vouchers on Alaska, Southwest and Delta…all extended to 2022.
Two years from when they were cancelled.