Why airlines make passengers wear masks but can’t always leave the middle seats open
As airlines try to rebound from the coronavirus crisis, some of the new rules of the skies can be confusing.
For example, Fort Worth-based American Airlines and other carriers now require travelers to wear face masks. But, despite that precaution, when passengers board their flights they’re still sometimes seated just inches from other strangers on the aircraft.
This week some San Francisco-based health care workers who were returning from volunteering their time fighting COVID-19 in New York posted comments on Twitter about their flight home being full.
The outrage came after United Airlines had sent those passengers emails pledging that the middle seats would be left open on the flight for social distancing — but instead United put warm bodies in just about every seat.
“I guess @united is relaxing their social distancing policy these days? Every seat full on this 737,” cardiologist Ethan Weiss wrote on Twitter, as his plane departed Newark, N.J.
So where’s the logic in all this? What are travelers to reasonably expect during these epidemiologically turbulent times?
The dreaded middle seat
The middle seat of Boeing 737s and other narrow-body aircraft was a hated place long before coronavirus came around. Who wants to be elbow-to-elbow with strangers on both sides, even if they’re not displaying symptoms?
United, American and other airlines have begun the practice of not selling middle seats on flights. It’s an easy way to create social distancing space in an aircraft cabin that is otherwise crammed. Also, in most cases it’s not difficult for airlines to keep these seats open, considering that, according to American chairman and chief executive officer Doug Parker, about 80% of flights are pulling away from the bridge less than 25% full.
However, the airlines’ pledge to keep middle seats vacant isn’t a formal commitment. Airlines have said that, when the need arises — i.e. a couple of dozen health care workers need a lift back home — they may have to put people in those middle seats.
“Through May 31, American will limit the number of passengers on each aircraft. We will not assign 50% of the main cabin middle seats on every flight, and we’ll use those seats only when necessary,” Robert Isom, American Airlines Group president, said during a recent earnings call with investors.
Also, in some cases travelers may have trouble booking their seats together online. For example, a family of three might want to travel together in that middle seat.
In most instances, those travelers may not be able to book seats together online, but when they get to their departure airport they can speak with a gate agent and get reassigned to a row together, American spokeswoman Annie Lorenzana said.
What about face masks?
It’s true that, starting this week, American Airlines passengers and crew members must wear face coverings at all times on flights. Exceptions will be made for very young children, and others with a medical disability that prohibits the use of a mask.
American also plans to distribute sanitary wipes and face coverings to customers who need them, as long as supplies last.
“The American Airlines team continues to prioritize the safety of our customers and team members, and requiring a face covering is one more way we can protect those on our aircraft,” Kurt Stache, Senior Vice President of Customer Experience, said in an email. “We ask customers to bring their own masks or face coverings they’re comfortable with when they travel. American is working to procure face masks and hand sanitizer as a supplement.”
What else is being done
In addition to requiring masks and spacing passengers farther apart, the airlines are going beyond the norm in cleaning their aircraft. For example, all of American’s mainline aircraft and most of its regional planes are equipped with High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters, and the air circulating through the cabin air is changed 15 to 30 times per hour, company officials said.
Also, the aircraft are getting sprayed with disinfectant at varying stops, rather than just at the end of a day, an official said.
Airlines also have installed stanchions to encourage social distancing at gates and ticket counters.
Less clear is how long these anti-virus measures will remain in place.
During American’s most recent earnings call, Parker was asked by an investment analyst whether taking steps such as keeping the middle seats open could set expectations for passengers that might be difficult for the airline to keep long-term.
“Right now, we think that’s an important part of the message to our customers to know that we’re not going to have every seat on the airplane filled,” Parker said. “But again, we’ll see where that evolves over time. I don’t know if I can answer any better than that.”
This story was originally published May 12, 2020 at 6:00 AM.
