View from the Wing

Planes May Be Safe During Covid-19 But What About The Airport?

by Gary Leff on October 25, 2020

Oct 25 2020

A new study purports to show 59 Covid-19 cases ‘linked’ to a single flight, but that’s somewhat misleading.

Inflight transmission seems to be rare, it certainly isn’t impossible, and someone with a high viral load and lots of shedding may overcome the best precautions. The virus might spread at security, in a lounge, at the gate area, or simply transiting the terminal. It could spread on the jetway as well. Flying is safe, but not totally safe. In many ways, just like going to the grocery store.

13 Women Flying Qatar Airways Given Genital Inspection At Doha Airport

by Gary Leff on October 25, 2020

Oct 25 2020

Travel to places where human rights aren’t fully respected entails risks. Those risks are on the rise in China for instance. I’ve enjoyed visiting Doha. The Museum of Islamic Art is absolutely worth the stop. But this incident certainly gives pause.

Flight Crew Scatters After Fellow Crewmember Tests Positive For Covid-19, Should They All Quarantine?fter A Flight Attendant Tests Positive For Covid-19?

by Gary Leff on October 25, 2020

Oct 25 2020

A London-based flight attendant who worked United Airlines flight UA15 from London Heathrow to Newark on Tuesday tested positive for Covid-19. That flight attendant quarantined at an airport hotel. Eight London crew were supposed to work United flight UA829 from Newark to Mumbai the next day. They were taken off that four-day trip. The next day, I’m told, four of the eight tried to deadhead back to London Heathrow the next day but the flight’s Captain refused to carry them as passengers. So they traveled back on Thursday. Others pass rode back to Europe.

I asked United why passengers from the flight weren’t notified of their exposure and why the other flight attendants were allowed to deadhead back to Heathrow rather than quarantining?

6 Facts About The U.S. Government Confiscating Cash From Passengers When They Travel

by Gary Leff on October 25, 2020

hand holding hundreds of dollars in cash

Oct 25 2020

There were no drugs found. There was no evidence of wrongdoing other than carrying the cash itself which is perfectly legal. This was a domestic flight. But did you know you have to declare carrying cash greater than $10,000 when you leave the country – not just when you enter?

Nonetheless the American Airlines passenger won’t get their money back because they had the bad luck of connecting in Charlotte and because the government decided travel to California is presumptively tied to drugs.

American Airlines Senior VP: Inflight Service Will Come Back “In An Incremental Way, Slowly”

by Gary Leff on October 25, 2020

Oct 25 2020

One flight attendant asked American Airlines Senior Vice President of Flight Service Jill Surdek about the return of inflight service for premium customers after the American Airlines earnings call on Thursday. She said on board service would come back ‘slowly’.