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Well, right now they are. United just had to deal with some nasty publicity after promising in their "We Care/We're all in this Together" messages that they'd try to keep middle seats open, but they were flying nearly-full planes anyway if they could sell all the seats. Now they say they'll notify you ahead of time if the flight is likely to be full or close to it, and give you the option to re-book. Not a great option if you have to be someplace at a certain time. I think it will be a deal-breaker for most travelers since there are few people just flying around for fun anymore.
I haven't voted, either, because "forever" is a long time, but I can see these changes lasting for the next year or two. I've done a LOT of travel by plane and right now I'd be very uneasy getting onto a full flight even if we were all masked.
Well, right now they are. United just had to deal with some nasty publicity after promising in their "We Care/We're all in this Together" messages that they'd try to keep middle seats open, but they were flying nearly-full planes anyway if they could sell all the seats. Now they say they'll notify you ahead of time if the flight is likely to be full or close to it, and give you the option to re-book. Not a great option if you have to be someplace at a certain time. I think it will be a deal-breaker for most travelers since there are few people just flying around for fun anymore.
I haven't voted, either, because "forever" is a long time, but I can see these changes lasting for the next year or two. I've done a LOT of travel by plane and right now I'd be very uneasy getting onto a full flight even if we were all masked.
After staying a month longer than she had planned, my 89 year old MIL flew from FL to her home in the Midwest two weeks ago. There was a storm system over FL cancelling one of the airline’s flights. They promptly combined that flight with her flight and had people on standby. We had sent her N95 masks, which she wore p, and she’s at the 14 day period now. To continuing doing what was normal prior to the pandemic was unacceptable behavior by the airline during this time.
My hope is that this upends the airlines trend of ever smaller seats and space while packing people in as tightly as they could get away with. Those days are over.
Are you an aviation consultant? If so we have other questions.
As more organizations get familiar with working remote, I suspect flights will be scrutinized with a closer eye.
As reports come out about how being trapped breathing the same air with someone who is contagious poses a high risk of infection, many are likely less inclined to be trapped for hours on a airplane, regardless of how tremendous the air filters are. Ditto hours spent in airports. Not as appealing.
The passenger I suspect will stop flying altogether are the ones that are lined up in wheelchairs waiting to board. A flight with a contagious person could be a death sentence.
At least until there is a vaccine, it is difficult to imagine anyone with any sense taking flying lightly.
At the moment, passenger volumes are so low and everyone is in such a disinfection mode that planes are probably more sterile than most hospitals.
It seems like air travel really is going to change forever. I cannot imagine what it will be like in a year from now, even when there is a vaccine. It makes me wonder if it will be like going through passport control each time you deplane, except you have to wait in line to get screened. I'm probably getting TSA Pre now, so I wouldn't have to come 6-8 hours early in the future. A 4 hour boarding process will be insane, probably the agents calling name by name in alphabetical order, boarding one by one. Then if you have a connection, I imagine likely you'd have to go through security again. What may happen in the US, Europe and many other countries have adopted. For example, in the UK, you have to go through security again when you deplane and have a connection. It's gonna come to the US now.
I also worry that mask wearing will become permanent, even when you are vaccinated. I guess the media was right all along. At least things are not that way yet as of now. Airlines have mask wearing temporary for now.
It seems like air travel really is going to change forever. I cannot imagine what it will be like in a year from now, even when there is a vaccine. It makes me wonder if it will be like going through passport control each time you deplane, except you have to wait in line to get screened. I'm probably getting TSA Pre now, so I wouldn't have to come 6-8 hours early in the future. A 4 hour boarding process will be insane, probably the agents calling name by name in alphabetical order, boarding one by one. Then if you have a connection, I imagine likely you'd have to go through security again. What may happen in the US, Europe and many other countries have adopted. For example, in the UK, you have to go through security again when you deplane and have a connection. It's gonna come to the US now.
I also worry that mask wearing will become permanent, even when you are vaccinated. I guess the media was right all along. At least things are not that way yet as of now. Airlines have mask wearing temporary for now.
In Israel they are talking about people coming to the airport 4 hours in advance of their flight as part of the discussion of reopening their main international airport. https://www.ynetnews.com/magazine/article/H1L7c9qqI
Friend flew to Alaska from PA last week. Virtually no one in the airports, passengers were called up by individual name, loading was done from back to front, passengers seated far apart from each other. So it's already changed. If we vanquish coronavirus, will probably go back to the way it was.
If we don't, air travel having changed will be the least of our worries.
I'm not sure about forever, but it will change in the foreseeable future. I don't think the media is that relevant in scaring passengers. By now I think most people have a good idea of how infectious and deadly the pandemic can be... I hope.
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