When the federal transportation mask mandate was overturned by a judge, and the administration decided not to seek an immediate stay of the order but instead to cease its enforcement, airlines began lifting their mask rules.
Southwest Airlines didn’t just send out a statement to customers and to the press that they were lifting their mask rules, Southwest Airlines dispatch sent a message to pilots Monday evening letting them know that the rules had changed mid-flight,
You may be the hero pilot and tell the pax Southwest has issued mask optional policy starting now.
I sent that message! I was the dispatcher!
— Ashley Winston (@AshWinston1) April 19, 2022
I’m not sure if announcing the change in mask policy mid-flight was advisable. I could have seen plenty of conflict among passengers with different ideas about masks. But it doesn’t appear to have gone bad.
I certainly feel for anyone who felt confident booking travel because of the mask requirement who was then trapped in a metal tube with passengers now allowed to take their masks off. That certainly doesn’t represent a majority of passengers at this point, but it seems unfair to those who flew knowing mask requirements were in place only to have that change when they had no options and no way out.
With the federal government no longer enforcing mask rules, airlines could make up their own mind on mask requirements. All of the major carriers were on record stating (correctly, in my view) that masking ought to be up to the individual. Concerned travelers should wear better-quality, well-fitting masks, and I plan to do this myself in certain circumstances.
However airlines didn’t have to lift their rules immediately, let alone inflight. A reasonable decision might have been that dropping of the rule began with departures starting from the announcement forward.
I’ll wear my mask until , Fauci CDC says ok . Period , a judge is not a doctor .
I was in-flight yesterday (on United) when United announced, via tweet, that masks would no longer be required. I had shared the Court’s ruling with the purser when I boarded and she indicated that they’d been in the air for a while and hadn’t heard the announcement or received any direction from corporate. Even though the FAs and crew were notified while we were midair, no announcement was made and everyone kept their masks on. Once we were in the terminal at LAX, many removed their masks. I had to remove mine for the Global Entry face scan, and just kept it off afterwards
“Fair”? What kind of question is that? What does “fair” have to do with what Southwest did?
Whatever, the way people in this country uses “masks”, it makes little difference they do it or not.
I have my N95, rest of them can infect each other to their hearts’ content, I don’t give a flick.
Americans show yet again the only people they care about are themselves. It sad how much our society has fallen. There was a time when people helped each other even if that meant some slight discomfort for yourself. That time is long gone. US is all about me, me, me, me, me. No wonder donations to non-profits and soup kitchen are way down. Disgusting.
chris – I agree with you and I will continue to wear a mask until I am absolutely sure it is safe. Apparently others do not value their lives – or the lives of others. As “mon” said, it is always all about “me, me, me”
Sorry life is too short for me a care about others. Especially in a country that allows lgbt nonsense. Couldn’t care less what happens to the rest of you ilk.
It’s not only Southwest Airlines; the confusion seems widespread. It’s idiotic to complain about the mask requirements. I have flown during Covid to Jordan, Egypt, Mexico, and Switzerland, and while the masks are not the most comfortable, think about all the nurses and doctors that have to wear them every day, most of the time all day. Is it really such a big deal? I, for one, will not travel without it. Too many of my friends have gotten Covid and have long-term, pretty nasty after-effects, including my mother-in-law, that is now unable to walk. A bit of inconvenience is a small price to pay to ensure you are not responsible (I already had my second booster, still!) for getting/or making anyone sick.
Koggerj – one problem with your response – like it or not, other people are everywhere and you will be amongst them – and they could be infected – but,hey, it’s your life.
It was only a 4 or 5 days ago when Biden administration extended the transportation mask mandate till May 3rd, and before then it was unknown whether it will expire or be extended.
I would think the overwhelming majority made their bookings for yesterday’s flights before this fed decision so those who booked and “felt confident booking travel because of the mask requirement” had to have made the booking between Wednesday of last week (4/13) until yesterday’s reversal.
Agree completely. I was on a transcontinental flight yesterday and our Captain made the announcement with more than three hours to go. I felt very bad for the (apparent) octogenarian who was double-masked across the aisle from me to didn’t seem too pleased (and clearly had no way out at this point). I kept my mask on as a curtesy to that passengers and others in a similar boat. We’ve waited two years; no reason to make sudden changes when passengers could not opt-out. Freedom goes two ways, and anybody in a tin can at that moment was stuck until at least landing…
Given that just every commercial aircraft has internet that allows news sources to be accessed in the air and a number of airlines have seatback of streaming cable and/or network news, there was no way that people could not have known once the judge ruled.
Given that several airlines took a couple hours to wait for the TSA’s response and consult their legal teams, nobody came unglued when masks came off in-flight or for having to wait for the plane to land.
As much as the administration might act like it will appeal, the mask mandate is over and will not likely ever be repeated. It will be nothing but a fool’s errand to try.
Hopefully, this will stop all of the aggravation that passengers have had to endure when the selfish refused to wear a mask, (warranted or not) causing delays, removal of a loaded plane before a flight commenced and all of the screaming and fighting.
Just saw on CNN article, “And when later pressed on the trip about whether there would be an appeal, Biden repeated, “I haven’t gotten any brief from my CDC. I don’t know. We’re following the science.”
“my CDC”!! So the organization he owns has to tell him what to do next, nuff said!
Luke – Everyone has to tell the puppet brain dead Biden what to do….
@ David Miller — Really? Joe Biden is not brain dead or senile or whatever childish names FoxNews has come up with.
I’m wondering if there are any additional aspects of masks issues that VTW has not covered yet that can be covered. Maybe get into how they are made? Or the materials used to affix them to one’s head? I’m sure there are all sorts of additional areas you could cover.
Or maybe just decide that enough is enough with the tedious topic?
Gene – you must be delusional – listen to him speak and watch him wander around. Plus he is ruining America. Christ, you must be one of these ignorant ,lying liberals.
Seriously dude. How many articles do you need about masks. Do you really have soo little to offer in terms of travel commentary that all you an churn out is an article anytime someone brings up face masks?
“When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to TAKE OFF YOUR MASK.”
“Free at last, Free at last, Thank God almighty, we’re free at last”
“I’m not sure if announcing the change in mask policy mid-flight was advisable.”
I don’t care what you think. Sheep that still wanted to war masks could continue to do so.
I’ve been pretty much anti-mask, except around my elderly mom, 84 and undergoing chemo and radiation for stage IV cancer. I did get 3x vaxxed, as did my entire family, and we all felt we were pretty safe. Imagine my shock when my 29 year-old daughter, also 3x vaxxed, came down with Covid while she was visiting us–and nobody else in the family caught it, despite the fact that we were all stuck together in a small, air-conitioned condo! We didn’t even know she had Covid until after a week of becoming progressively more ill, and she finally tested herself. It took her 3 weeks to feel ‘better’ and 2 months to resume her sense of taste and smell.
Having seen what she went through, I’m not as liberal about anti-masking as I once was. Last thing I want to do is become ill on a trip. My travel strategy is to wear an N95 or similar when in a highly congested area. But if I’m flying biz class in a lie-flat seat I will certainly forego the mask.
I think it’s all about reasonable precautions.
@Gene he is all of those plus dementia. Maybe you should watch Fox more and less of the liberal media you might be more informed.
Maybe someone can docs the woman who says she sent out the message? Would that be fair?
Im a flight attendant and I’m just gonna say I’m super thrilled for this. Yup I don’t care at all.
I was an EMT and worked helping people but despite that I don’t care about people? Get outta here. I can do a million good deeds but because I don’t wear a mask I don’t care. I bought this homeless guy lunch the other day he approached me said he was very hungry and without hesitation I bought him lunch. Nobody else did. However, because I don’t wear a mask and don’t want mandates I don’t care. This is why y’all have zero credibility with me because it doesn’t matter how many good things I do I’m still mean for not wearing a mask.
I was inflight with United and the news broke (including United’s announcement they were suspending it) just as we were taking off. A handful of people removed their masks and about 20 minutes later the FAs came on and said they heard the news (not the UA press release), but had not been given any new information and had also checked and were told no changes. Therefore they were maintaining the enforcement of mask wearing. Those who removed, complied and put them back on.
There is zero evidence that masks prevent the spread of COVID. ZERO. This has all been about control.
First off, I’m all in favor of personally wearing masks and I intend to continue do so on my upcoming flights. But I can understand people’s celebration of it no longer being mandatory. As to whether it’s fair to other passengers – I don’t think it matters one way or another. If people have serious health conditions and are worried about COVID, then they shouldn’t be flying or should be wearing a proper fitting N95 mask, in which case it won’t matter if people around you are masked or not. Cloth masks have questionable efficacy in blocking COVID transmission and people have been able to take off masks to eat and drink anyways. These recent halfway measures may largely just be theater.
I was midflight when the announcement was made on my Southwest flight. They should have waited until the end of the flight to make the announcement. Give people the FREEDOM to asses the risks of flying now that there are no more public health measures onboard with respect to masks. Give parents of children under 5 who can’t yet be vaccinated the FREEDOM to decide if they want to risk flying with their young unvaccinated child now that there is no mask rule. Making the announcement midflight of this rule change — made not by public health official but instead by an activist judge — was plain bad form. P.S. Covid don’t care if you’re “over” the pandemic or not.
@tp: you may or may not be mean, but you are certainly dumb.
@Davidmiller: you may be educated (but I doubt it)…. Pity the fool. Mr. T must have known you! He made a fortune off knowing you.
Lol. Can’t believe some con artists here believe that Fox News tells the truth. Wonder if those commenters are tanning their gonads as they type this.
747 – And I can’t believe that you morons buy the lies that CNN, MSNBC, and the rest of the lying media spew. The one thing that nullifies their lies is the reality of what has transpired to America since brain dead Biden and the DemocRats have been in control.
Even if this gets reversed on appeal
Good Fucking Riddance even if for a short while
If not forced, I’m not wearing a mask – EVER
feel free to wear one if you want, I won’t laugh out loud [just underneath 😉 ]
David Miller,
Ah yes, Biden’s track record.
– Unemployment has dropped from 6.3% in Jan 2022 to 3.6% – fastest decline ever
– 7.9M jobs added (another record)
– US GDP 5.7% – double the average since 1976
– Deficit down year/year $1.3T – biggest drop ever.
Oh, sorry- were you upset because you had to pay more for gas?
George — 1.- Afghan fiasco, 2.- highest inflation in over 40 years @ 8.5% and climbing, 3.- energy crisis with gasoline up $3-4 / gallon, 4.- border crisis with 2 million illegals crossing into America with more coming every day, 5.- Fentanyl flooding into America and killing thousands, 6.- Mexican cartels controlling border crossings, raping and killing thousands, 7.- empty shelves and ever raising prices in stores, 8.- covid deaths doubled in 2021 vs. 2020 because of Biden mishandling the pandemic, 9.- millions of small business went under because of Biden mandates, 8.- millions quit working because of Biden money giveaways, 10.- trillions of unnecessary new debt added to national deb, with more debt coming, 11.-defunding of police and the resulting rising crime rates across America, 12.-attacking parents who refuse CRT and gender teaching in schools, 13.- your unemployment and jobs added numbers are the result of people who quit working while getting free money are now returning to work ( that is not “job growth”). There are many more examples— Laugh now, – you liberal imbecile
It was completely fair, because forcing passengers to wear masks in the first place was found to be illegal. Nobody should expect any airline to violate the law for their convenience.
FAs in flight were not aware of the mask news? What are they doing on their phones the whole time?
Arthur – Mask guidelines have been in place since early May, 2020 and now you have the audacity to complain about flight attendants, in mid flight, not knowing about the new ruling? Maybe they were “on their phones” using their phones for what they were meant for, such as talking to people.. What a DUMB question…
David Miller – +1000
The law is clear that masks can only be imposed under a declaration of emergency. The emergency pretext for mask mandates disappeared long ago — if it ever really existed. And all the ineffective masks, improper mask fits, and constant donning and doffing of masks in-flight for eating and drinking made the mask a weary reprise of Covid theater for 2 years.
Denial of freedom and personal liberty cannot be justified for even a second based on the paranoia of a few hypochondriacs who can choose to wear KN-95 masks properly fitted and NEVER removed like in a hospital operating room.
The arguments of mask maniacs could be used to argue slavery should not have been abolished, because it was going to go away by itself anyway, due to increasing agricultural mechanization and industrialization in the late 1800s
Let’s see Gene. So far under Biden we have seen the borders flung open allowing tens of thousands unxaxed individuals into our country while Biden insisted the rest of us social distance and mask up. My 401k has taken a plunge, I am paying $4.69 a gallon for gas, interest rates up, empty shelves at my grocery store, ……..yes Gene I am better off! Not!
George Are you getting your figures from MSNBC? They certainly don’t match up what other economists are saying?
George – Where did you run off to? Back in your basement, crouching in your “safe place”? It is morons like you who voted for brain dead Biden that resulted in the current ruination of America. Happy now?