Effective April 24, 2020, all United flight attendants will be required to wear masks while on duty.
In a note to flight attendants shared with Live and Let’s Fly, United announced the new policy today in coordination with the Association of Flight Attendants, the union which represents United flight attendants. The new mandate only applies while flight attendants are on duty. United told flight attendants:
“We are the first major U.S. airline to implement such a requirement, which further demonstrates our commitment to the safety of our flight attendants and customers – a commitment that is the foundation of our business and aligned with our core4.
“This proactive and aggressive safety measure is in line with the most recent CDC recommendation that says wearing a cloth face covering is advisable when in public and when social distancing is difficult to maintain. Given the nature of flight attendants’ duties, both on and off the aircraft, social distancing may be a challenge, which is why this new initiative is so important.
“This is another safety measure we are putting into place as we continue to implement policies and procedures to help mitigate against the spread of COVID-9 and ensure your workplace is clean and sanitary.”
CONCLUSION
United provides N95 masks to flight attendants on duty, with each aircraft provisioned (often like with food and drink, doubled catered) with a surplus of masks. This new requirement does not apply to pilots or ground staff.
Quite an evolution from American Airlines banning their own flight attendants from wearing them just weeks ago…
> Read More: American Airlines Backs Downs On Mask Ban
image: United Airlines
Nice, I guess, but one would hope that flight attendants are regularly tested for COVID-19 and, as a result, those who are sick are never flying anyway.
Personally, I don’t really care if they really them. I honestly think masks are overblown.
all of these rules are because we aren’t testing enough people, if we test and know who has the virus then we can act appropriately, until then we are just coming up with ideas to make people feel less scared.
No country has enough tests. Countries that test 1-2% are the world leaders. No country tests 2% yet.
Great. Force them to wear masks. However, surgical masks are better and let doctors and nurses have the N95 masks.
Flew Delta 6 days ago and all employees were wearing masks and gloves except pilots. I did not pay attention to ground crew. Plane was exceptionally clean. They passed out sanitizing wipes as soon as you were seated. They gave a snack pack and water in a zip lock bag with a sanitizing wipe. Not sure why other United or any other airline felt the need to wait until now.