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Home  >  cathay pacific  >  Class Warfare On Cathay Pacific?
cathay pacific

Class Warfare On Cathay Pacific?

Matthew Klint Posted onFebruary 9, 2021February 9, 2021 14 Comments

Cathay Pacific will no longer mandate that business and first class passengers wear masks while in the lie-flat position. I’m fine with this policy, though I still don’t understand the strong objection to masks. But will this exception create a sense of class warfare and thereby exacerbate overall mask enforcement onboard? It’s worth a discussion.

No More Masks In Cathay Pacific Premium Cabins While Sleeping – Class Warfare?

The logic is simple enough: spacious premium cabin seats provide social distancing. Particularly in first class, there is indeed more than six feet of space around every passenger.

Yes, the virus is spread via airborne particles and yes, coronavirus respects no class dividers or borders. Nevertheless, with filtration and other cleaning protocols in place, the probability of transmission on an aircraft is low (yes, I’m aware of the London to Hanoi flight on Vietnam Airlines that seems to suggest otherwise).

Thus, while this policy may be a bit premature, I do not have a logic-based problem with it.

My concern is the sort of biblical notion of placing self-control on liberty. Specifically, will this cause others to stumble? Masks should not be for show or to make a fashion statement. Not only is there broad scientific consensus they help, but it is just common sense.

But there is indeed a solidarity aspect to masks, an unspoken sign that we are in this battle together. By creating more exceptions and loopholes, do we not undermine that idea of unity that is necessary to get through this battle more quickly? Are we not only as strong as the weakest link?

Can you imagine enforcement issues this may create when economy or premium economy passengers see business and first class passengers not wearing a mask and think, why am I not afforded the same luxury when I am sleeping? Why should I have to be so uncomfortable?

That’s the other point, though. I’ve flown dozens of times during the pandemic and have slept with a mask on. Not only is it tolerable, but by this point I do not even notice it anymore. 

While I hope we do not have to wear masks indefinitely, they are not such a burden that I am clamoring for the conclusion of obligatory face coverings onboard. 

CONCLUSION

I’m fairly split on this issue, if you could not tell. Yes, I’m fine with the logic of the policy. But I do wonder whether it will create more problems than it solves and undermine efforts at slowing its spread.

What is your opinion on the new Cathay Pacific mask policy? Will it create class warfare onboard?

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About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

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14 Comments

  1. Derek Reply
    February 9, 2021 at 9:50 am

    Seems like a science based decision. It is also only when they are in the lie flat position, so basically it only allows sleeping without a mask

    • derek Reply
      February 9, 2021 at 12:23 pm

      I am a different person, derek, not Derek.

      The new Hong Kong security law should be used to arrest Cathay Pacific’s head and all maskless passengers when they arrive in Hong Kong. Why not, that new security law is being used to create a dictatorship by the People’s Republic of China.

  2. Debit Reply
    February 9, 2021 at 9:54 am

    The virus is a hoax

    https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-team-suppressed-covid-tests-weakened-cdc-reopening-guidance-to-protect-president-says-report

    Btw that orange terrorist is being tried today.

    • stogieguy7 Reply
      February 9, 2021 at 11:22 am

      @Debit: the useless senile old man wants to let thousands across the border despite the pandemic. Sounds like Covid is only a serious thing when it’s convenient for the commie left.

      PS: Trump will be acquitted of all BS charges.

      • Debit Reply
        February 9, 2021 at 11:36 am

        Indeed. Trump will be acquitted. White Republican males are a mafia. All other electorate should decide how they should act in light of this revelation.

      • UA-NYC Reply
        February 9, 2021 at 7:28 pm

        Thank you President Biden for actually having a Covid vaccination plan and making it happen!

        Amazing to have actual competent, caring leadership again.

        • Christian Reply
          February 9, 2021 at 7:57 pm

          I’m not so sure. 74 million people apparently prefer madness, mayhem, venality, sheer stupidity, cowardice and monumental ineptitude to calm, rational, empathetic capable leadership.

          • Ryan
            February 10, 2021 at 1:17 pm

            They represent the (thankfully) last gasp of the white working class as a political force. At least the majority of the 74M do.

  3. Allen Reply
    February 9, 2021 at 11:16 am

    Ah yes, some sage medical advice from Matthew Klint — the world’s premier expert in not getting coronavirus.

    This is an airborne virus and six feet is not a magic number. Every medical expert says that we need to layer our precautions, and that physical distancing is not a binary matter. In saying that, if we’re six feet apart, we don’t need to wear masks, you’re using the same logic as the airlines that didn’t block seats because it was only 4 ft of distance, not six.

    What horrible advice from someone with a horrible track record. Sorry to weaponize your diagnosis, but you have to admit that you’re not one to give advice about this if you can’t even trace the source of your own infection. It can’t have been your wife, because she tested negative despite working in the emergency room. However, deep down, I think you know that it was because you did something foolish, as your daughter alluded to in “her” (very cute) flight review.

    • Mitch Cumstein Reply
      February 9, 2021 at 11:46 am

      Crikey

  4. Airfarer Reply
    February 9, 2021 at 11:46 am

    Wow, an airline run by adults. Common sense prevails in small corners of the Earth.

  5. Cy Reply
    February 9, 2021 at 12:33 pm

    Umm how would economy class passengers see first/business class passengers without masks? They can only be off in lie flat position, so assuming economy passengers aren’t just wondering up and down the first class isle, they will never see it.

  6. Bill n DC Reply
    February 9, 2021 at 1:14 pm

    Still hoping for July JFK-HKG_LHR in 1st. I’ll be vaccinated, but will still wear my mask 🙂

    • Mak Reply
      February 9, 2021 at 3:00 pm

      Of course. How else would you show how virtuous you are if you weren’t unnecessarily wearing a mask? Thanks for proving that’s what its about primarily – a political statement rather than a health measure.

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