My sister and I reluctantly canceled our much anticipated trip today to see one of my sons in Colorado in August. We booked in December, non stop flights originally that now involve stops. Very sad but just the right thing to do with increased cases and we are no spring chickens! . At least we had booked with Southwest !
I read an article today and I’m not at all sure I agree. It was about how to travel as safely as possible. It advocated connecting flights instead of a longer non-stop flight. It said that lowers your exposure time to a potentially sick person on the flight- and makes it less likely to have to use the plane bathroom. I agree that it is easier to keep your distance from people in the airport as opposed to on the plane, but it does lengthen the travel and expose you to MORE people.
^I agree with you. I think a direct flight is better. Connecting flights often have a longer flying time since they don’t go on a straight line. My direct flight is about 4-5 hours long. So far, I was able to avoid using bathroom on the plane.
Didn’t they get money from the government to keep flying? And favorable loan terms to keep them float? Doesn’t that mean they should play nice and be good to the taxpayers/customers?
I’m not trying to preach but if I needed to fly, or just wanted to fly, I’d do so knowing the risks. I agree with United and American that keeping the middle row empty is not protecting me more and it costs them more, which in the end would cost me more because they are going to pass those costs on to passengers.
I want them cleaning the planes, making people wear masks, not serving food or booze as I think those things have more risk than adding another person to my row. I think every person should get a squirt of hand sanitizer as they get on the plane, and maybe several times during the flight and that the airline should provide wipes so we can re-clean the tray tables and arm rests. Just getting on the flight itself carries risk, and I don’t think flying at capacity increases the risk to me. I understand others think differently, and that’s why there are other airlines still blocking the middle seats.
I do think you should be able to buy the middle seat at a discount (less weight on the flight, less fuel cost to the airline). Frontier proposed that for $39 and people complained. My niece flew Frontier recently and there was someone in the center seat but they rearranged people because there was room.
I disagree. I think filtered air coming through the vent is clean. Without the middle seat passenger, the air I breathe in is most likely from the vent. With the middle seat occupied, not anymore. My 2’ cone of clean air zone is invaded. Instead of 6’ SD, they should lesson the requirement in the airplane to 2’ and enforce it. That way airlines can’t wiggle out, “there’s no way you can keep 6’ SD in an airplane. You may as well not do any SD…” BS Anyway, AA never banned middle seat, ever. I don’t know where “starting July 1…” came from. I’ve flown AA three times now since the opening. The first time was the only time the plane was empty. I had the middle seat and the whole row as well as the row in front of me free for both outgoing and incoming flights. During the second trip, the middle was occupied initially but they managed shuffle around and freed up the middle where I was sitting. In the back tho, I believe it was totally full. The last trip was a full flight, every seat taken, well before July 1.
It’d depend on the flight. If I have to fly to the other coast, I’d break the long flight into two flights, each less than 3 hours, so I don’t have to use the lavatory or eat on the plane. I’d also choose a less congested airport if there’re multiple choices in the origin or destination city.
Then your decision is made - you want the middle seat empty so you need to go on a flight that guarantees that, and some of those have that policy only through July 31.
If you are flying for business, you should ask your employer to pay for a flight you feel more comfortable on.
Who is ‘they’? The airlines are setting their own policies and the federal government has no special covid requirements. Most seats are not 2 feet wide, and most aisles are not 2 feet wide. You are closer than 2 feet from others, even with the middle seat empty.
I admit I don’t like a lot of government regulation of private business and I don’t want to see airlines fail because they can’t fly full. Too many restaurants in my area are announcing permanent closings because they can’t make a profit with all the new distancing rules. Airlines are also losing a lot of money. I also don’t want to see tickets go to $600 each.
They are the government who is bailing out the airline industry until the end of September. “they” could attach a string to the bail out money and the favorable loan, to make it safe to fly to bring back passengers. After all they are spending the money to return to “normal”. It is not that hard to understand that, is it? After September, the airlines can do however they wish to. Besides, AA outright lied when they said starting July 1… as if they weren’t already selling middle seats. Again, they never stopped selling middle seats.
I am not the only one complaining about the crowded AA plane.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/us-senator-wants-propose-legislation-151400398.html
Right now, I’m supposed to be in Rome with DH, DS, and extended family members. Haven’t seen DS since mid December and don’t know when we will again since we live on opposite coasts. I will not feel comfortable flying until there is an effective vaccine. So far, we have had three flights (two domestic, one international) on Delta, refunded with no problem. Kudos to them. Same for one flight on JetBlue. The one problem we’ve had is Alitalia. I purchased DS’ ticket as a birthday present, direct flight from SF to Rome, which was canceled. I called to request a refund. Not only did the rep say she couldn’t send an email confirming the refund request, when I reached out on their Facebook page, they responded “don’t bother us for at least another month”. Needless to say, won’t ever be booking with that airline again.
My husband’s sister has just passed away after a short illness (not COVID-19). In Florida. We are very sad but we will not be going there to be with family, either by driving or by air.
I don’t expect to fly again until the middle of next year at the very soonest and I do not want anyone to visit from anywhere if it involves planes or airports. I miss my family but it’s far too much of a risk. Luckily, both our kids are within driving distance, work from home and take masks and social distancing very seriously because not being able to ever see them would be truly awful.
It is possible to purchase a seat next to you in order to help with spacing. This has been recommended for years for people who have trouble fitting into one seat.
For those that are wanting to visit the USVI, here is the latest on travel and required testing:
https://viconsortium.com/vi-coronavirus/virgin-islands-bryan-says-covid-19-travel-restrictions-will-take-effect-next-monday-temporary-hold-on-off-island-contractors-headed-to-limetree-bay-announced
“…As of next Monday, incoming travelers whose state of origin was Arizona, Texas or Florida are required to have a negative Covid-19 test within 72 hours of travel or a positive antibody test, meaning that they had the virus and have antibodies that will stay in their system for 6 months…”
Bring your masks with you for shopping, restaurants and bars, ordering food at the beach. Social distance! As long as you take these steps, you should be good to go. And please remember to bring reef safe sunscreen.
I listened to the USVI Gov announcement today. I was pretty sure my state would be on the “don’t show up” list, but it wasn’t. The people from those 3 states are really screwed, since it is very difficult to get the results that quickly. There have been a lot of comments online. Most of them are going to cancel. Unless my state gets added in the next couple of weeks, I think we are going to make the trip. I have a lot of concerns, but we’ll be fine once we get there.
@JZMOM2 when we got the same story from JustFly.com, I called CapitalOne and they are going to remove the charge, for the original airfare plus the $70 “handling fee” we paid to get a refund.
This will be unpopular but I don’t feel bad for people from those states. I believe it is reckless to leave an area with a severe outbreak, get on a plane with residents from all over that state, and to go to a place where the medical facilities can be quickly overwhelmed. SMH
That’s what NYer’s did in March and April. They say many cases in the country originate from NY.
All the more reason not to do it now. It’s not about you and your assessment of risk. It’s about what is best for the community you are coming from and the community you are going to.
@thumper1 – It’s an 1886 farmhouse in southern VA. Quilters come for a retreat in groups of 12 – most are friends/fellow guild members who know each other already. I was on the list for a “singles” group, which means the participants don’t know each other and come from all over. Everyone must agree to self-quarantine two weeks in advance.
But yeah, it’s a no-go for the foreseeable future.
Tomorrow (or when I have several hours to wait on hold or for a callback) I will see if Delta will refund the cross country tickets rather than make us take e-ticket vouchers.