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Due to the title, I should start by pointing out I am very pro-mask, and I would never do this. I intend to continue wearing a mask in public until such time that the pandemic winds down and medical advisories say that it is no longer necessary.
I am asking this from a curiosity stand point, as I occasionally hear news stories of unruly airline passengers refusing to mask up.
Airlines right now are requiring passengers to wear a mask, or else you cannot fly with them, no mask, no service.
But it seems like the exact timing of your refusal would be key here.
For example, if you are refusing to put on a mask while you are still in the terminal, then they can deny you boarding.
If you board the flight while wearing a mask, but remove it as soon as you are seated and refuse to put it back on, then they can kick you off the flight before takeoff.
But what if you wait until the plane is in the air, and well on it's way to the destination, and only then do you remove your mask and refuse to put it back on?
Then what?
Are they going to turn around a plane full of passengers and go back to the departure airport, or make an emergency landing, over one person taking off their mask?
I'm not sure if it's applicable, but, I see a lot of stores and restaurants requiring masks, yet many shoppers and certainly 'eaters,' not wearing them. For the most part, it doesn't seem like these places are insisting that patrons either mask-up or leave.
Since the Airline industry has suffered so greatly due to the perception of being viewed as "enclosed, flying petrie dishes," I suspect they will take a stronger position on this. Here's one article about a plane returning to the gate in response to passengers refusing to mask-up: https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/u...-19/index.html --
As you point-out, this type enforcement gets a little more difficult once the plan is in the air. Still, it would seem that such people -- knowing and agreeing to the rules in advance, and then intentionally violating them, should/may be subject to some type of liability. (??)
Are they going to turn around a plane full of passengers and go back to the departure airport, or make an emergency landing, over one person taking off their mask?
They could, but not likely. But what they would do, if the passenger was asked but refused, would be to ban the passenger from taking future flights.
'Refusal to comply with flight crew request' covers a wide variety of situations with varying levels of penalty including the possibility of criminal charges if the passenger is belligerent enough.
But the airlines and flight attendants don't want to escalate a situation in a flying metal tube- the result can be both dangerous to passengers and crews and costly to the airline (diversion to an unplanned airport to offload a belligerent passenger has a real and big financial cost from extra fuel alone)
The most likely in-air situation is that the purser has the cockpit radio ahead information about an actively non-compliant passenger and upon arrival at the gate they're escorted off the plane by airport security and a representative of the airline who explains that they are banned from further flights on the airline until the covid situation is over, all unused flight segments will be refunded, and here's information to file a complaint with the DOT if they have a problem with that. (Have heard on FT that's common current process)
Delta now has more than 460 people on their 'no fly' list for mask issues. Other major airlines likely have similar numbers for that kind of thing.
Been wearing a stealth like mesh mask on flights without a problem. The way it’s designed no one can tell it’s a mesh mask. 100% useless like every other one.
You’ll be pulled aside at landing and banned from future flights.
I believe this is true for passengers that remove their masks in flight (while they aren't eating or drinking) and don't put them back on.
I simply don't understand these people that decide to fly if they are against wearing masks as per airline policy. If you don't want to wear mask, then don't fly commercially until the pandemic is completely over.
I believe this is true for passengers that remove their masks in flight (while they aren't eating or drinking) and don't put them back on.
I simply don't understand these people that decide to fly if they are against wearing masks as per airline policy. If you don't want to wear mask, then don't fly commercially until the pandemic is completely over.
It is true. Delta has already banned 400 people. I don’t agree with the wearing of masks, but if the business I’m doing with requires one, I’ll wear it. It’s not rocket science.
I’ve flown numerous times since March and I’m fine. You’re more likely to get sick in your local grocery store than an airplane.
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