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Home » Southwest Airlines » Republican Congressman Flouts Mask Rule On Southwest Flight
Southwest Airlines

Republican Congressman Flouts Mask Rule On Southwest Flight

Matthew Klint Posted onJuly 1, 2021November 14, 2023 22 Comments

a man and woman holding hands

A Texas Congressman and outspoken critic of the federal mask mandate was filmed without a mask for several minutes chatting with other passengers onboard a Southwest Airlines flight to Austin.

Texas GOP Congressman Flouts Mask Rule On Southwest Flight To Austin

Chip Roy (R-TX) was on Southwest Airlines flight 2799 from Washington (DCA) to Austin (AUS) on Tuesday evening when he was filmed and photographed by another passenger openly flouting the federal mask mandate, which requires all passengers two years of age and over to wear a mask over their nose and mouth while onboard a flight, unless eating or drinking.

Roy has been a blunt critic of the federal mask mandate, calling it pointless theatre:

“With cotton masks on an airplane, where everybody is pretending like they’re doing something noble to try to save people from a virus on a cylinder with 50 people on it flying through the air. My question to you all is how are people wearing a cotton mask on an airplane saving you from circulating virus on an airplane?”

Roy also repeatedly violated House of Representatives rules that required members of Congress to wear masks while on the House Floor, though that rule has since been lifted.

Last week, Roy co-sponored a bill to that seeks to immediately end the federal mask mandate by removing Executive Branch power to to require masks on airplanes, trains, and busses.

While Roy’s staff did not respond, Southwest Airlines told the Associated Press there were no “irregularity reports” on the flight. The length of time he had his mask off and the fact he was standing in the aisle suggests the flight attendants either ignored or went along with his decision to flout the mask mandate.

While not law, the federal mask mandate does call for fines of $250 for the first offense up to $1,500 for repeat offenses. Furthermore, airlines have added mask requirements to their terms and conditions, which you are required to accept when checking in for your flight.

CONCLUSION

I’m ready for the mask mandate on airplanes to end as well, but I never understood why “law and order” politicians so brazenly refuse to abide by contracts they voluntarily entered into. In choosing to fly Southwest, Roy attested that he would abide by Southwest’s rules onboard, which require wearing a mask. While opposition to the mask mandate is one thing, refusing to abide by it is quite another.

image: Chip Roy / Instagram

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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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22 Comments

  1. derek Reply
    July 1, 2021 at 8:33 am

    The photo is a little inappropriate because the woman is more recognizable yet she has nothing to do with the article. Is she anti mask, too?

  2. K Reply
    July 1, 2021 at 9:06 am

    Keeping the mask mandate on flights is silly. It’s as silly as these “alcohol bans.” I’m glad people are being more vocal against the policy but better to follow the rules on planes and deal with it until its finally repealed

  3. Santastico Reply
    July 1, 2021 at 9:30 am

    Yes, because masks bought at Etsy made from cloth will protect you against a virus. And also when you are allowed to remove it to eat or drink the White House has a signed agreement with the virus that it won’t transmit at that time. The Neanderthal president thinks that.

    • Joe Chivas Reply
      July 1, 2021 at 10:15 am

      Orange man bad. Dementia hair-sniffer good.

      • Santastico Reply
        July 1, 2021 at 10:34 am

        Don’t be childish. Orange hair is no longer in charge. We have now a demented guy that pays people to take a vaccine he assures is safe but imposes stupid masks mandates at the same time. Talk about credibility.

        • Pete Reply
          July 1, 2021 at 11:03 am

          Talk about childish…
          Are you for science or not?
          Are you part of the reason we won’t hit our July 4th 70% threshold…if so then we have you to partly thank for the persistent mask mandates.

          • Santastico
            July 1, 2021 at 11:15 am

            Talk about brainwashed. Are you still living in your basement? FYI, I had Covid (the mildest cold symptoms I ever had) and got fully vaccinated on day 1 that it opened for under 50. Talk about science. Have you seen any surgeon wearing a cloth mask with his team logo while performing a surgery? That is your answer. Demented president, Neanderthal rules.

    • Michael Reply
      July 1, 2021 at 3:41 pm

      Neanderthal President? Orange hair? And you are so quick to call other’s ‘childish’ and ‘demented’? Your ignorance and lack of any form of intelligence is both sad and pathetic, and more importantly transparent. Based on your bitter, conspiracy driven, and erroneous comments, it’s quite clear to the rest of the world who is childish, demented, and a neanderthal.

      • Santastico Reply
        July 1, 2021 at 4:34 pm

        @Michael: have you forgotten to take your pill of moronic oil this morning? Got get a life.

  4. stogieguy7 Reply
    July 1, 2021 at 10:29 am

    The mask mandate is ridiculous for those who are vaccinated. Drop it and snuff out the Covid Karens at the same time – win win! But no, because that would make too much sense for the wooden puppet in the WH.

    • Pete Reply
      July 1, 2021 at 11:06 am

      Actually the people freaking out over the small piece of fabric “taking away their liberties” seem to be the real Karens.

  5. credit Reply
    July 1, 2021 at 12:08 pm

    Let me guess, this subhuman POS uses the “mosquitoes through a chain link fence” analogy?

    • Jerry Reply
      July 1, 2021 at 7:13 pm

      Welcome back?

  6. BR Reply
    July 1, 2021 at 12:57 pm

    So the message to his constituents is: If you don’t like a government rule, don’t follow it!
    Brilliant. And we wonder why this country is totally messed up.

    • Airfarer Reply
      July 1, 2021 at 1:45 pm

      There are many government rules that are not adhered to with the dedication the Covid devotee’s reserve for masks, Speeding would be just one that comes to mind.

  7. Jerry Reply
    July 1, 2021 at 1:52 pm

    I reside in Chip’s humorously gerrymandered district. Chip Roy likes law and order, and rules and regulations. That’s why he voted AGAINST condemning the Coup in Myanmar. That’s why, despite a chronic labor shortage in his district, he wants to deport all undocumented immigrants. That’s why, in support of AAPI Americans, he advocated bringing back lynchings (somehow). That’s why he proudly boasted that he was going to “intentionally violate” CDC regulations on Thanksgiving.

    Chip Roy is a moron, and unfortunately since he’s a member of the government, rules like wearing masks on planes don’t apply to him. He has no business representing Austin, but because the GOP gets to draw boundaries that in no way logically represent where people live, he gets to keep his seat virtually uncontested and embarrass us all.

  8. GREG WADDEN Reply
    July 1, 2021 at 2:18 pm

    Again, this is an example of the fact that there are different rules for congress and for the rest of us. Congress does not participate in Social Security or Obamacare. I guess congressmen and women (hello, Nancy) feel they are like royalty.

    • Michael Reply
      July 1, 2021 at 3:59 pm

      Huh? What you wrote makes no sense…..the fascist congressman openly violated a Federal mandate in the middle of a pandemic. It’s no secret that the current Republican Party cares about no one except themselves. Their behavior during this pandemic is not only reckless & ignorant but shameful. And will result with this pandemic lasting much longer, and more deadly than it needs to be.

      And how exactly does this article get back to Nancy Pelosi? You people are so misinformed and confused and ignorant no wonder you support a failed reality TV star who destroys anything within arm’s length, and will be soon going to jail to join the rest of his family.

      No wonder the rest of the world laughs at Americans…..

  9. dee Reply
    July 1, 2021 at 5:48 pm

    Remember when John Kerry-DNC –(special Prez Envoy for CLIMATE)sat reading a book on an airline without a mask.,, No action taken..also when he parked his yacht in Rhode Island to prevent having to pay taxes in Ma. no action taken !!!he is exempt…

  10. Jackson Waterson Reply
    July 2, 2021 at 2:52 am

    And? Good for him. Blindly following rules we don’t consent to, don’t make, and don’t support is illogical. Once Republicans and conservatives wake up to the illogicality of supporting law enforcement who enforce leftist laws and leftist orders, we have enough numbers to prevent it; only once our culture changes and our leaders actually lead instead of writing strongly worded letters. Slavery and prohibition of alcohol were the government law and order once upon a time. I hope no one suggests those ignoring those laws shouldn’t. Same principle applies to speech in Europe, drugs (your body your choice), and wearing a piece of fabric on an airplane. It’s one thing to require masks to board and generally require them throughout the flight but the current enforcement for people eating is absurd and ridiculous.

    Civil disobedience is our duty.

    • Troy Kimmel Reply
      July 3, 2021 at 12:18 am

      Agree with you completely, Jackson!! It’s time to stand up to this. Go get ’em,, Chip..

  11. Pingback: Austin-Area Congressman Stands Up On Southwest Flight, Flouts Mask Mandate - View from the Wing

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