United CEO Scott Kirby pleads with passengers to “do the right thing” in a new video warning on safety masks.
United Has Banned Five Passengers For Not Wearing Masks
Recently, United Airlines began aggressively enforcing its onboard mask policy. Travelers who fail to wear a mask during flight, unless they have a medical excuse, will be banned from flying United for the remainder of the pandemic period.
Those new rules have come in the form of press releases, customer email, and onboard cards. Earlier today, United revealed that since June 18, 2020 five passengers have had their “flight privileges suspended” for failing to wear a mask onboard.
While compliance is increasing and masks have become less political over the last week, there is still many who refuse to wear a mask until prompted by a gate agent or flight attendant.
Now, the United CEO has stepped forward to very pointedly encourage compliance…and warn about non-compliance
> Read More: United Airlines Will Ban Travelers Who Refuse To Wear Masks
Scott Kirby: “You Just Gotta Do The Right Thing”
Kirby argues that it is “increasingly evident” that masks are helpful to protect yourself and protect others. Kirby challenges viewers with a plea:
“If we’re serious about this, you just gotta do the right thing.”
He also warns that those who do not comply will not be welcomed on United.
United Calls Onboard Social Distancing A “PR Strategy”
Meanwhile, United takes a far less approving approach to social distancing onboard. On a teleconference this morning with news media including Live and Let’s Fly, United’s Chief Communications Officer Josh Earnest said:
“When it comes to blocking middle seats, that’s a PR strategy, that’s not a safety strategy. When you’re on board the aircraft, if you’re sitting in the aisle, and the middle seat is empty, the person across the aisle is within six feet from you, the person at the window is within six feet of you, the people in the row in front of you are within six feet of you, the person in the row behind you are within six feet of you.”
Earnest stressed that United’s focus on a contactless airport experience, mandatory masks, and a rigorous aircraft cleaning regimen are what truly keep passengers safe.
CONCLUSION
I think United is taking the right approach with stressing masks and cleanliness over social distancing. While more spacing is inherently better than less, what will better protect from us a potentially infected seatmate is if everyone is wearing masks…
Some claim asthma for not wearing a mask. If you have asthma, you should not only be wearing a mask but full biohazard gear for getting Covid-19 with your asthma could be a one way trip to the cemetery.
Not exactly. The survival rate is 99.8%. Stop fear mongering
Is it? So far in the US 1,164,794 recovered while 130,798 died. That’s 10%, Of course the CFR is much lower than that as there are lots of mild and asymptomatic cases which are not counted, but still 0.2% seems just a wild guess. So far I have seen estimates between 2% and 0.1% with 0.5% being most likely in a country with advanced medicine a good healthcare.
Having asthma would greatly increase the risk of death though (if it’s real and not just pretended to get around the mask requirement)
Agree with you on this point Derek. I’m asthmatic and I wore masks without any problems in breathing for the entirety of a 16 hour trip recently. Asthma is not an excuse to not wear a mask.
Scott McCartney also had a full interview with Kirby in the WSJ today.
Can’t say I got the most positive impression of him…
At least we got coffee back…
I flew United today. Newark to LA. The flight was packed with people. Most everyone had masks but the middle seats were NOT blocked. This is just false. I have pictures to prove it.
Feel free to send pictures to me via Twitter @liveandletsfly.
In Denmark and Norway, we’ve never worn masks. We hang out together, we go to bars, to restaurants, and to soccer matches with people in the stands.
Still, the virus is all but eradicated here. Maybe masks aren’t the be-all, end-all you Americans seem to believe. Maybe – just maybe – you’re simply in love with the idea of having something you can harass other people with.
Submit, or else …
Btw, Scott Kirby is an idiot. I don’t know why anyone would listen to medical advice from a guy that’s so poorly educated in his own field of work.
@William Y.
Classic! 🙂
Hello, former Flight attendant retired from United after 19 yrs 8 months, A buyout was offered, I accepted…loved each and every moment of the flying, gteat adventures, fantastic crews, awesome, management.. FN 160906…SFO base…Sandra, (Sandy Cunningham)…Flight Attendant’s prepare for takeoff ✈
Sandra, congrats on your retirement. Enjoy your time and thank you for your service over the years.