https://www.washingtonpost.com/resizer/nxfjYY5X1OmODzMvrNNCDc2w8qo=/480x0/www.washingtonpost.com/wp-stat/newsletter/btw-promo.jpg, A man’s scheme to get free Spirit flights landed him a jail sentence. According to the airline’s dedicated COVID-19 webpage, Spirit’s “expanded aircraft cleaning protocols include hospital-grade disinfectants and antibacterial processes that keep all surfaces throughout the cabin free of viruses and bacteria.”. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Note that face masks that include an exhaust valve are not permitted. As part of the road to its recovery, the airline is opting against blocking middle seats and is instead offering free flight changes for passengers when more than 70% of seats are booked. Masks with exhaust valves are not allowed. “As always, Southwest customers may choose their own seats,” Southwest says on its website about the boarding process. The airline is so far the only U.S. airline to commit to blocking middle seats through the first quarter of 2021. Aboard Amtrak’s Crescent, surprising comfort and welcome seclusion on a slow train to Mississippi, Paddling through a painterly landscape in New York’s Adirondack Park. The airline is also applying an antimicrobial solution every seven days. Masks are available upon request at ticket counters, gates and onboard flights. All Allegiant customers, flight attendants and airport employees are required to wear face coverings. Alaska Airlines also intends to extend the seat block policy until after the Christmas period. All JetBlue crew members and passengers over the age of two are required to wear face coverings or masks. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. During boarding, the airline will provide passengers with health and safety kits, which include face masks, gloves and hand wipes. She's lived in the south of Spain, eaten her way around Sri Lanka, hiked Jordan's Petra Basin, and spelunked in the remote Caribbean. This equates to blocked middle seats, although they are maintaining their open seating policy. Detours with locals.Travel tips you can trust. Frontier has added a special “health acknowledgment” at check-in, asking passengers to confirm that they nor anyone in their household has exhibited COVID-19 symptoms within 14 days, that they’ve checked their temperature and do not have a fever and that they will sanitize their hands before the flight. U.S. airlines have been continuously updating their social distancing policies and rolling out requirements aimed at avoiding the spread of germs in-flight. In addition to regular cleaning, Allegiant is applying an antimicrobial protectant that, according to the airline, “kills viruses, germs and bacteria on contact for 14 days.” Disinfectant wipes are available upon request on all aircraft. Ultimately, traveling right now does carry some risk, even though it may be impossible to quantify. American Airlines and United Airlines have resumed selling potentially packed flights, now that they’ve reversed their temporary coronavirus-inspired policy of blocking middle seats. “This practice of effectively keeping middle seats open bridged us from the early days of the pandemic, when we had little knowledge about the behavior of the virus, to now,” Southwest chief executive Gary Kelly said in an October statement announcing the change. Up until now, in a move adopted by most U.S. airlines, American had blocked about half of its economy-class middle seats, meaning that sales for each flight had been limited to … That's $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. However, without firm requirements from the federal government, policies differ significantly from one carrier to the next, creating a lot of confusion among travelers. Frontier is boarding passengers boarding from the rear of the aircraft to the front, to avoid unnecessary contact. Sanitizing wipes are also available onboard. Sun Country is selling all flights to capacity. and applying a disinfectant fogging before every flight. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. Disclaimer: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. All Alaska employees are required to wear face masks, and all passengers two years and older are required to wear masks as well. TPG had an opportunity to witness an aircraft cleaning — see this post for a closer look at the airline’s current procedures. United was the first big U.S. carrier to give up on blocking middle seats. Until Oct. 15, JetBlue was blocking all middle seats for purchase on its larger aircraft, and most aisle seats were “blocked for purchase" on smaller aircraft. All Southwest employees are required to wear face masks and passengers are required to wear masks or face coverings during their entire journey as well. The only U.S. airline of the Big Three that is still committed to distancing seat assignments on flights, Delta will continue to block seats through March 30. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered. The airline is conducting “deep cleans” of aircraft, including electrostatic spraying, overnight, and tray tables and lavatories are disinfected before every flight. The airline is boarding passengers from the rear of the aircraft to the front, to minimize interactions onboard. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). If a flight exceeds 65% capacity, passengers can be notified about possible reaccomodation options. Southwest has shifted from boarding groups of 30 passengers at a time to groups of 10, and gate agents are asking customers to scan their own boarding passes, minimizing interactions with staff. Airport employees and flight attendants are required to wear masks, and all passengers are required to wear masks during boarding, during the entire flight and during deplaning as well. Delta is requiring that all employees and contractors wear masks, and passengers are required to wear face coverings as well, at all Delta areas in the airport and onboard all flights. American does not permit masks with valves or vents, and customers who refuse to wear a mask or face covering may be banned from flying the airline. What to know about getting tested for the coronavirus to travel, New Zealand covid-19 flight outbreak linked to passenger who tested negative. Southwest Airlines has updated its COVID-19 policy limiting sales to ensure the middle seat stays open through at least Sept. 30, 2020. Policies are evolving constantly, so we recommend checking with your airline for the latest requirements. Additionally, testing and/or a 14-day quarantine may be required for all passengers traveling to Hawaii, as outlined in this detailed guide. Shannon McMahon is a reporter covering travel for By The Way, The Washington Post's travel destination. But United’s Earnest told CNN (via Inc.) that “keeping the seat next to you open is not going to make a material difference.” Some of the procedures we’re seeing include: While it’s important to check with your airline as things can change by the day, here’s what you can expect when traveling on each U.S. carrier: Let’s break the policies down in more detail below, giving you an idea of what to expect throughout your journey. The company said it will limit capacity on flights, though. Almost all U.S. carriers now require passengers to cover their faces onboard, and Alaska, Delta and Southwest each are capping ticket sales, effectively blocking middle seats, as detailed in my guide outlining distancing-related airline policies. And, as always, individuals who don’t feel comfortable traveling right now should take advantage of their airline’s flexible change or cancellation policy to cancel or postpone their trip. Delta will continue to block all middle seats through at least Mar. United utilizes electrostatic spraying before most flights, in addition to regular preflight aircraft cleaning procedures. Masks with exhaust valves are not allowed, and those who refuse to wear an approved mask or face covering may be banned from flying the airline. United is selling all flights to capacity. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Or purchase a subscription for unlimited access to real news you can count on. The Points Guy will not sell your email. A RED VENTURES COMPANY. AA says it will instead alert passengers when their flights are getting full during the check-in process, giving them the chance to switch, free of charge, if their flight is eligible. With a flight attendant’s permission, passengers may move to avoid sitting near other travelers, if seats are available elsewhere on the aircraft. JetBlue says it is sanitizing surfaces throughout airport terminals more frequently and implementing other measures to limit contact, such as encouraging customers to scan their own boarding passes. Now, one of those airlines is rolling back the policy. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel. Outside of increased cleaning protocols, waived flight change fees and other basic protocols that all airlines are utilizing, it looks like you’re in for a full flight. Sun Country is requiring that all passengers and crew members wear face coverings. Sign up for TPG’s free new biweekly Aviation newsletter for more airline news! Other measures. Spirit is offering self bag-drop stations at select airports, minimizing interactions with employees. United will make masks available to passengers upon request. View our latest valuations here. The airline has reduced inflight service to limit onboard interaction, so customers are encouraged to bring their own food and drinks onboard. Here are the major airlines that have been blocking off seats to maintain social distancing, and how long they say they will continue to do so. [New Zealand covid-19 flight outbreak linked to passenger who tested negative], Through Jan. 6, 2021, Alaska Airlines says it is “limiting the number of guests on our flights and blocking seats.” Gate agents may reassign groups or families to be seated together, although the airline notes that “there can be occasions where extra space cannot be guaranteed due to unforeseen changes such as re-accommodating guests from a previously canceled flight.”, After Dec. 15, Hawaiian Airlines says it will no longer limit capacity to prevent booking middle seats. Middle seats will remain open until Sept. 30th. … All seats are available to purchase on Allegiant flights. A more thorough disinfectant cleaning will take place when time allows between flights. Detours with locals. Spirit is not currently limiting the sale of seats on flights. The airline is also requiring customers to complete a health acknowledgement prior to boarding. MileagePlus members. All inter-island aircraft are also cleaned after every flight into Honolulu (HNL) and are disinfected each night. Southwest is maintaining its open seating policy, but is not limiting the number of seats sold. Southwest spends at least six hours cleaning all aircraft overnight, and the carrier says it is using a disinfectant to clean tray tables and lavatories before every flight. If you’re considering flying (or need to) any time soon, the airline you choose will almost certainly have a big impact on the social distancing involved in your flight. A number of readers have reached out to note that United, too, is blocking middle seats, referencing an April 29 email from Chief Customer Officer Toby … Sun Country is not offering any service onboard, including complimentary beverages and buy-on-board products, to minimize interactions between passengers and crew. The following airlines are no longer blocking middle seats, but may alert travelers during check-in if their flight is near capacity or full: Allegiant, American, Frontier, Spirit, Sun Country and United. ), along with cockpits, galleys and other crew areas. Customers who refuse to wear a mask or face covering may be banned from flying the airline. Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater. American and United adopted policies of keeping the middle seats vacant last spring but rescinded that policy over the last couple of months as demand for air travel has gradually increased. American and United adopted policies of keeping the middle seats vacant last spring but rescinded that policy over the last couple of months as demand for air travel has gradually increased. JetBlue makes it easy to purchase an additional seat for extra personal space, however, with detailed instructions provided on the airline’s website. Middle seats: United will not promise to keep middle seats empty. They’re blocking middle seats on larger aircraft and certain aisle seats on smaller ones, at least through Sept. 8th. Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. “Today, aligned with science-based findings from trusted medical and aviation organizations, we will resume selling all available seats for travel beginning December 1, 2020.”. The airline has also added a disinfectant, which is applied between day flights when an aircraft is on the ground for more than two hours, and during all overnight cleanings at the airline’s Minneapolis-Saint Paul (MSP) hub. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. JetBlue These policies will all kick in as of late April, and as of now will be valid through May 31, 2020, though presumably have the potential to be extended based on how the situation unfolds. "For regularly scheduled flights that are expected to be fairly full, we’ll let you change your flight with no change fee or receive a travel credit for your trip. Alaska Airlines will have masks available for passengers who forget theirs at home. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Delta said this month that the extension was made because its customers still want extra space for in-flight safety. This is e ven though the airline is burning through four million a day – it could really use the revenue a middle seat would provide. Starting Dec. 1, JetBlue is no longer blocking seats for sale. How do travel bubbles work? Get 25% more value when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. PHOTO: United Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner at LAX. The airline has also installed clear shields at counters, added “distance dots” to promote distancing and shifted to an “on-demand” snack service. Alaska Airlines is cleaning common touchpoints (armrests, seat belts, overhead controls, etc.) Southwest customers may still choose their own seats… You can still pick your seat and sit together, however. United Airlines Won’t Block Middle Seats, Here’s How To Protect Yourself From COVID-19 by Gary Leff on May 12, 2020 Delta and American Airlines are limiting the number of seats they’ll sell on each flight, to give customers confidence they can travel without having another passenger squeezed up next to them in a middle seat. More recently, however, many U.S. states have eased restrictions, and an increasing number of travelers are taking to the skies once again. The airline is boarding economy passengers from back to front. American has also increased the frequency of cleaning areas it controls throughout the airport, including ticket counters, team member rooms and gates. (photo via Jetlinerimages/iStock Unreleased) Less than a week after announcing it would end its policy on blocking middle seats and return to flying at capacity, United Airlines defended its decision today. Spirit passengers and customer-facing employees are required to wear masks or face coverings. If a passenger cannot accept the health acknowledgment, they’ll be issued a credit for a future Frontier flight. Service has been limited, but water and snacks may be served on flights over 250 miles. CARD HIGHLIGHTS: 2X points on all travel and dining, points transferrable to over a dozen travel partners. See, firm requirements from the federal government, see this post for a closer look at the airline’s current procedures, Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, Blocking seats to encourage social distancing (dates vary by airline; see below for your carrier), Compulsory face coverings for passengers and/or crew, Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. United is requiring that all employees and passengers cover their faces in the airport and while onboard an aircraft. Additionally, as demand begins to pick up, carriers may continue to feel financial pressure to adjust seat-blocking policies — with slim margins, it’s hard for a flight to turn a profit if you aren’t allowing travelers to purchase a third of the seats. United Airlines. All employees are required to wear face masks and all passengers age two and above are required to wear face coverings as well, at all Frontier areas within the airport and onboard all flights. While passengers may see almost entirely unreserved seat maps at booking — expecting to find those conditions onboard — airlines are canceling and consolidating flights. Driving may seem like a safer alternative, but with food and fuel stops, bathroom visits and overnight stays on longer car journeys, avoiding air travel entirely isn’t always the logical pick. Hawaiian is blocking the sale of middle seats on certain aircraft through Dec. 15, 2020. © 2021 THE POINTS GUY, LLC. United is selling flights to capacity. 30, 2021. The airline was previously limiting flight capacity to 70 percent of normal levels “to provide additional space between individuals who are not traveling together.”. As with many other carriers, vented masks are not permitted. People like empty middle seats in the best of times, but only four airlines currently offer flights without occupied middle seats. JetBlue is limiting onboard capacity through Jan. 7, 2021, but the airline is no longer guaranteeing that passengers won’t be seated next to a stranger. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, some airlines blocked selling middle seats to allow passengers to social distance while flying. Gate agents are making frequent announcements to encourage social distancing, and the airline has added signage to encourage the practice in lines, in the gate area and onboard aircraft. Travel tips you can trust. The airline is so far the only U.S. airline to commit to blocking middle seats through the first quarter of 2021. Customers who refuse to wear a mask or face covering may be banned from flying the airline. Airlines and medical experts spar over whether or not the middle seat should be blocked. Customers traveling together are welcome to sit together, including in … Through Jan. 6, 2021, Alaska is blocking middle seats. After a United Airlines spokesperson criticized the safety policy of blocking middle seats on flights, Delta reiterated its stance. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page. Finally, the airline is requiring passengers to undergo a temperature check at boarding — customers with temperatures at or above 100.4 degrees will be denied boarding. Traditionally, fall is a good time to look for … 4 questions, answered. Additionally, testing and/or a 14-day quarantine may be required for all passengers traveling to Hawaii, as outlined in this detailed guide. Frontier is cleaning aircraft before every flight, focusing on passenger seating, cabin walls, overhead bins, galleys and lavatories. Sun Country has increased the frequency at which it cleans high-touch areas, including arm rests, tray tables and lavatories. Some airlines will not fill the middle seat during this pandemic, though others are now booking all seats. United Airlines is joining the list of airlines introducing policies to encourage social distancing, including blocking seats. Featured photo by Zach Honig/The Points Guy. The airline cited recent studies on the risk of in-flight coronavirus transmission, stating on its website that “respected researchers such as the Harvard T.H. Delta is boarding flights from the rear of the aircraft to the front, to minimize opportunities for customers to come into contact onboard. Southwest began limiting the number of seats sold on its flights in May and continued the practice through the Thanksgiving travel rush. Delivered every Thursday. United Airlines is one airline company that plans to sell middle seats on its fight amid the coronavirus pandemic and calls for social distancing. If you refuse to follow United's face covering policy while in the airport or on board a United flight, you will be refused transport and could also lose your travel privileges on United for at least the time that United’s mandatory face covering policy is in effect. In cases where more than 70% of passengers have checked in, the airline will allow customers to move to another flight free of charge. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). Delta is also limiting first-class cabins to half-capacity, and it is “blocking one aisle of seats on aircraft without middle seats.” For bookings of three or more people, middle seats will appear as available in an effort to allow families to select seats together on the seat map. Instead, it will simply alert travelers if their upcoming flight is 70% full or more. For travel after that date, however, the airline quietly updated its seating policy to remove that middle-seat guarantee, and in November the airline reversed its seat-blocking policy. 1 weather alerts 1 closings/delays 1 weather alerts 1 closings/delays using a high-grade EPA disinfectant before every flight. Gate agents will also board fewer passengers at a time, in an effort to avoid crowding in the jet bridge, and will encourage passengers to scan their own boarding passes. Hawaiian says it is thoroughly disinfecting all planes after each transpacific flight with hospital-grade disinfectants, focusing on common touch areas. Many of the credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. The airline said on an earnings call that it will notify passengers two days before travel if their flight is near full, and will give passengers the option to be rebooked onto another flight free if one is available. Editor’s note: This post has been updated with additional information. Here are 6 things to know about Southwest Airlines middle seat policy change 1. Note that the airline does not guarantee a blocked seat, however, as the carrier may choose to use those seats to accommodate passengers on previously canceled flights. The airline says currently 85% of its flights are less than half full. Low fares may not be enough to lure many travelers. The airline is boarding economy passengers from back to front. JetBlue is not blocking middle seats, but is trying to give passengers some space. Spirit Airlines. For months, as most Americans limited trips outside their homes, airline passenger loads plummeted to levels most of us could have never imagined. AA encourages customers to bring their own face coverings, though a limited supply of masks may be available at the gate. I would like to subscribe to The Points Guy newsletters and special email promotions. The airline said the practice “adds confidence and reassurance” for travel during the pandemic. 2X points on dining at restaurants including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out and travel & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases. *Bonus value is an estimated value calculated by TPG and not the card issuer. Many travelers, myself included, might start making booking decisions based on airline polices around seat restrictions and face masks for crew and passengers. “In Southwest’s open seating environment, families, or those traveling together, may still sit together and occupy a middle seat for their convenience.” Previously, middle seats were being accounted for in booking limits only through October, so the practice could again be extended. When the pandemic came to the United States at the beginning of 2020, airlines … United Airlines pledged to block the middle seat on flights through May 30. Southwest Airlines. Middle seats American Airlines no longer blocks off the middle seat and allows planes to fly completely full. While a few airlines are still blocking seats from being booked to allow for extra space, they might not be doing so for long. Will psychedelic mushroom vacations come to the U. S.? In some cases, that results in an aircraft that is more full than expected, making social distancing difficult. Chan School of Public Health and the Department of Defense have validated that the risk of viral transmission on board a commercial aircraft is extremely low.”. -limit the number of customers on board all aircraft – with or without middle seats.-limit the First Class cabin to half capacity to further ensure more space between customers.-block one aisle of seats on aircraft without middle seats. In those cases, the airline will offer a free change to a flight with fewer seats occupied. Delta is thoroughly cleaning common touchpoints (armrests, seat belts, overhead controls, etc.) American requires masks for all employees and passengers are required to wear masks as well, from the time they enter their departure airport to the time they leave the airport upon arrival. [What to know about getting tested for the coronavirus to travel]. Yes, you can get a refund if you bought Southwest tickets before Oct. 23 for flights in December and beyond. Starting Dec. 1, budget carrier Southwest will join competitors United and American Airlines in returning to filling flights as normal. JetBlue will no longer allow passengers to wear masks with exhaust valves, and if you forget your face covering at home, the airline will provide one at the gate. Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. The new policy, which means middle seats will once again be filled on flights with strong demand, takes effect Dec. 1, after Thanksgiving but ahead of … Flights with rapid testing are being dubbed ‘covid-free.’ Here’s why that is a myth. Face masks and sanitizing wipes are available upon request. Passengers will board from the rear of the aircraft to the front. Airlines launch trial of an app that would verify travelers’ coronavirus test results. Hawaiian is blocking the sale of middle seats on certain aircraft through Dec. 15, 2020. Passengers who refuse to wear a mask may be banned from flying the airline. The airline is still leaving seats open as first-come, first-served based on boarding group. United Airlines recently announced that it was making some middle seats unavailable for passengers to select. American says it is thoroughly cleaning aircraft between flights, including using an EPA-approved disinfectant to clean common customer touchpoints (armrests, seat belts, tray tables, etc. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Travel better with news, tips and guides that make you feel like a local wherever you go. MileagePlus members seated in United Economy may be able to purchase a seat in Economy Plus, take advantage of premium cabin seating offers *, or request a MileagePlus Travel Award or MileagePlus Upgrade Award.The availability of these options varies based on whether you're booking travel, have already booked travel, or are eligible for check-in. And some airlines recently ended the practice. Keep supporting great journalism by turning off your ad blocker. Bought Southwest tickets before Oct. 23 for flights in December and beyond and drinks onboard united is that! 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