United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby believes it is “very unlikely” that the mask mandate will return, but also held out an olive branch, in the form of a refund, to immunocompromised passengers who may be uncomfortable flying.
United Airlines CEO Promises Refunds For Immunocompromised Who Don’t Feel Comfortable Traveling
Speaking on NBC’s Today Show, Kirby was asked whether this was the best time, with COVID-19 cases on the rise again, to eliminate the mask mandate. Without addressing the controversial judicial decision that vacated the federal mask mandate, Kirby argued it was time to move on:
“Broadly in society…because of availability of vaccines, the efficacy of treatments, and way the numbers of come down, we are getting back to living life as normal.
“COVID is with us. It’s going to be endemic. It’s going to be here a long time. But we are learning to live with it.”
The host pushed back. What about children under five years old who are not eligible for a vaccine? What about immunocompromised passengers? Kirby answered quite personally:
“As a father of seven, I have two children under five and I feel real confident in having them out at airports or restaurants. We took them to a sporting event. Took them to a playoff game.”
Kirby’s main point, however, is that anyone who feels vulnerable is welcome to continue to mask. In fact, Kirby even offered a refund to those “immunocompromised or that have concerns or issues” and do not wish to fly again.
“Important point is all of our customers should feel free to wear a mask. And many of them are. Employees and customers. For customers like that, that are immunocompromised or that have concerns or issues…we are working with those customers if they really don’t want to fly to find other options, give them credit, or if they really just don’t want to fly again, willing to give them a refund.”
Live and Let’s Fly will update this story should United publish a detailed process for refunding tickets for the immunocompromised or those who claim to be. In the meantime, if you are in this situation you can contact United Reservations by telephone or Twitter to discuss your options.
CONCLUSION
The United Airlines CEO has indicated that immunocompromised passenger may be eligible for a refund if they no longer wish to travel due to concerns over onboard safety. If this is indeed policy, I expect it will be a temporary measure, much like the waiver that allowed passengers to book away from any 737 MAX flight in the initial weeks that aircraft was restored to service.
image: NBC / fair use exception
I think the NYT summed it uo the best today. The writer traveled on sunday so before the mandate was over. He observed flight crew, half the passengers not even trying to pretend to wear a mask once on board and another 25% had them around their chin. So please tell me how no mandate is any different. Libs just want to have the govt control their lives.
What does this have to do with United offering refunds in certain cases?
Point is since mask usage on the plane was not consistently enforced the longer it went on then there is no difference today. So why are you giving out refunds? I guess for people’s feeling. Oh I feel safer when there was a mandate but in all reality it didn’t make lick of difference. Yeah if you forced everyone to wear N95 and never never remove them the entire flight, the isn’t going to happen so the actual risk of flying today is exactly the same as it was last Sunday. So placating to people based on their feelings is stupid, all so some women mob won’t cancel United.
Ah, I see. It had nothing to do with it. Daddy just needed to spew his stuff.
Father of seven? God bless him.
Kirby is prime example of someone who should be castrated on prime television.
Bastard is still employed and making bank because his airline got bailed out. Any loser with more than two children and ever taken government dole needs to be castrated.
Hate self centered, selfish a-holes.
As someone who has been immunocompromised for over 40 years, it is MY responsibility to protect MYSELF when I fly/travel. With the cessation of the mask mandate, I will decide if a mask is warranted , and can think of no circumstances where I would surrender my health decisions to an Airline, it’s staff or crew members or hold them responsible, should I get sick. I am over-the-moon happy for all who are healthy enough to travel without masks and this moment should be celebrated! For now, on long-haul flights especially, my mask will most probably remain. I applaud United and Mr. Kirby for the way they have handled/enforced guidlines throughout this pandemic.
Exactly, you are responsible to protect yourself. If you have been traveling as an immunocompromised person for over 40 years you can attest that just you wearing a mask was enough. That is what this article here shows:
https://time.com/6168672/how-wearing-mask-protects-you/
And as expected, far left liberals are throwing everything they can at the loss of control. Like everything else, it’s now “racism” . Seriously how does anyone calling themselves regular Democrats not embarrassed by these far left lunatics?
https://www.foxnews.com/media/msnbc-writer-white-people-cheered-travel-mask-ruling-dont-care-about-black-deaths
wow. they really are pulling out all the stops for this one. perhaps the far left could focus on the fact that the CDC, Bill Gates and everyone else wanted black people vaccinated first – to test on them, like they’ve done many other times in history.
WOW. Such off topic hate.