[MartynSinclair]

Firstly, I believe it is only the minority of travellers who are being difficult, especially on holiday related flights. Certainly the 2 scheduled flights i took (BA) to Scotland and back recently, the vast majority were wearing face coverings.

Secondly, our personal thoughts and opinions on mask wearing are irrelevant on whether your face needs to be covered. I was under the impression, mask wearing on aircraft was not a choice (nor is it a choice in shops). Just because one disagrees with a policy/rule, doesn’t give that person the right to ignore.

There are similarities to using a mobile phone during the safety briefing – it’s not allowed, cabin crew (on BA) ignore, passenger continues as they wish…

If cabin crew are to be respected, then they need to keep to “our primary concern is your safety”. Crew are professionally trained and management should allow cabin crew to confront those passengers who put others at risk (face covering and use of mobile phones just 2 examples).

The US current system of banning unruly passengers from future travel, is likely to work – apart from those who disagree!!!

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TupeloKid, ASK1945, DerekVH

[TupeloKid]

[postquote quote=1009076][/postquote]

I think banning is a good sanction.

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cwoodward

[cwoodward]

Canucklad wrote:

if it is, then why are we allowed to fly at all, especially to the US , India , France and other Hot Spots .

Why indeed ?

Presuming that your reference is re the UK I venture to suggest that it is because the UK government is, and has been for months negligent in these matters,has never had a proper policy direction or any proper method of enforcing the flimy, changeable, ill conceived and largely unenforceable policies that it has rolled out over the past months.
The predictable result of this shallow and muddled thinking is of course that the general public don’t trust that the government knows what it is doing and thus largely ignores any policies or advise that the government issues. A dangerous mess results!

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Jacob, ASK1945

[MartynSinclair]

Wearing Your Mask

“Medical research tells us that wearing a mask is one of the most effective ways to reduce the COVID-19 infection rate. For everyone’s safety, customers should expect to continue wearing masks or face coverings throughout the airport, in Delta Sky Clubs and on board the aircraft through the winter holiday travel season and beyond.

Customers who indicate they have an underlying condition that prevents them from wearing a mask are required to complete a “Clearance-To-Fly” process before being permitted to travel.”

Not wishing to hijack superchris’s thread, so copied onto this thread.

I wonder how many ‘protesters against face covering’ will be bothered to get a fit to fly certificate to enable travelling on Delta without a face covering.

Life would become somewhat simpler to understand if airlines or even codeshare partner airlines, worked in unison on this matter.

[mkcol74]

Is there not something in the Air Navigation Order about having to comply with the requests of the crew?

So while the crew can’t enforce the wearing of masks they can request it, and if that request is denied….or am I barking up the wrong tree?!

IMO if you’re exempt (on UK basis) from wearing a mask while in such confined spaces then you shouldn’t be travelling.

[SimonS1]

[quote quote=1009213]So while the crew can’t enforce the wearing of masks they can request it, and if that request is denied….[/quote]

It is the bit after that that is missing.

It could indeed be an offence under the Air Navigation Order, but what do you think the sanction would be?

The flight is diverted for an offload (highly unlikely given costs) or the airline spends time prosecuting the offender (highly unlikely, as it could result in a very protracted case) or the airline calls the Police to deliver the fixed penalty of £100 reduced to £50 if paid quickly (also highly unlikely, as they have other things to do) or a ban from the airline (which may be of little consequence if you don’t travel regularly).

So unless the passenger is seriously disruptive the reality is nothing will happen.

[MartynSinclair]

[quote quote=1009260]So unless the passenger is seriously disruptive the reality is nothing will happen.[/quote]

The reality is Simon that BA crew (maybe others) are told (apparently) not to be confrontational with passengers, hence why mobile phone usage during the safety briefing is never controlled, hence why cabin baggage was never monitored.. (except in AMS)….

Would it be so difficult for crew to announce the use of correct face mask, ask passengers to use them just as they instruct passengers to fasten seat belts and open window shades.. and remind passengers during flight, just in case they had forgotten….

The problem would be solved so easily, if crew politely addressed and educated passengers…. if “our primary concern is your safety” – why is this an problem… for cabin crew…?

Really quite simple….

[FaroFlyer]

[postquote quote=1009264][/postquote]

Hi Martyn,

BA are addressing the issue as I said earlier in this thread:
“Flew BA to LHR last Thursday and back yesterday. BA crew were very professional and reminded everybody about the correct way to wear masks. Made it clear that masks can be removed while eating and drinking, but should be worn at all other times. On the return the CSM asked a lady behind me if she needed a new mask. When she replied that she had one he asked her to wear it, please.”

[SimonS1]

[quote quote=1009264]The problem would be solved so easily, if crew politely addressed and educated passengers…. if “our primary concern is your safety” – why is this an problem… for cabin crew…?[/quote]

It isn’t difficult, however if as has been reported elsewhere people are taking masks off as soon as crew’s backs are turned, what is the next course of action?

[MartynSinclair]

[quote quote=1009334]It isn’t difficult, however if as has been reported elsewhere people are taking masks off as soon as crew’s backs are turned, what is the next course of action?[/quote]

I feel confident if crew exerted an air of authority and had the full support of their managers, this would NOT be a problem. How many passengers don’t put their seat backs up, put their safety belts on etc etc when asked or told to by crew.

People use mobiles during the safety briefing, because they are not told to stop. Passengers bring on masses of hand baggage, because the rules were not enforced.

It’s the same with taking face masks off – crew appear to have no authority on this matter (at the moment)

It really is not rocket science….

[canucklad]

Here’s a bit of a poser for you….

Currently, I feel reasonably comfortable and safe in my localised community . The only time I wear a mask is when I jump on the bus / taxi to take the short journey home or to socialise. Or pop into the local shop / post office. Primarily because bluntly put, there is no (perceived) stranger danger.

If airlines and governments are insisting on masks , then clearly they’re admitting that there is an absolute risk of community transmission.
Add in the quirky approach to quarantining over testing then one can conclude all flights should cease until the virus is no longer a risk.
Basically , as it stands , the message… that masks will protect you whilst you play the mile high Covid roulette game —

Or at the very minimum, there should be a total embargo on any type of service, including lounge access .

Some might think that masks are the panacea to the crisis, but remember that secondary contamination is a much higher risk to us than an accidental close encounter cough , sneeze or loud sing song .

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ParselTongue

[traveldoc1]

As one of the medical professionals I rather dispute the notion that there is considerable evidence. Masks offer NO protection to the wearer, though offer some protection to those around them. However masks quickly lose their effectiveness so if not changed regularly are only giving a very false sense of security. And as a cartoon I saw recently comments – having seen how some people (mis)wear their masks I now understand why contraception often fails

1 user thanked author for this post.

fatbear

[SimonS1]

[postquote quote=1009350][/postquote]

It isn’t rocket science, but then again is this such a major issue?

When I came out to Dubai the briefing was please keep masks on unless eating and drinking. Most people seemed to be sticking with it- although quality of wearing was occasionally iffy I have seen worse in the supermarket on a Saturday.

I must confess if it really troubled me that much then I would probably just have stayed at home.

[ASK1945]

[postquote quote=1009362][/postquote]

Yes, Traveldoc1 – I made these very points on this forum many weeks ago. Until I retired I wore masks daily, of the right quality and properly fitting, changed at least every hour (usually more often).

SimonS1 in the post following yours noted the wearing of masks in the UK is very iffy. I am astonished how many of the Great British Public apparently believe that Covid-19 enters their body through their chin. Walking through Brent Cross yesterday with my wife, we estimated that up to half of shoppers (and staff) have this belief.

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fatbear

[IanFromHKG]

[quote quote=1009082]wearing a mask does little to protect you, unless you are very close to an affected person for a lengthy period ie where social distancing is not possible[/quote]

You mean somewhere like, oh I don’t know, an aeroplane, perhaps?!

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DerekVH, TupeloKid, cwoodward

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