I actually would feel OK flying now -- but with not much available to see/do in most destinations, and with the food and service on flights so reduced and lounges either closed or barely open, there isn't much reason to book anything. Maybe a mileage run if I absolutely needed (I've been known to fly to ORD or DFW for lunch if I was a few miles short of making Platinum) . . . but since AA has extended status through the end of 2021 there is no need to plan anything until maybe next spring or summer. IF things have calmed down by this winter (BIG if, I know) I may book a trip for over the Christmas/New Year holidays.

I know once air travel opens up a bit . . . like when we're able to go somewhere without having to be quarantined, the restrictions on the plane will be a bit of a downer to me. 11 - 14 hours on a plane without a cocktail doesn't sound like a lot of fun to me. Spending lots of money on business class when you won't get the business class experience I've enjoyed the last 10 years I've actually had the money to fly biz class is super disappointing. Just when I was getting less anxiety ridden about flying in the first place.

That said, I'll deal. I'd say as soon as places open up where I can explore and experience a new place, with doors open, I'll be on the next plane!

Many airlines are serving alcohol in the premium cabins, especially on their long haul flights. And several are serving 'real food' up front, just on one tray at one time - not the usual course-by-course offerings like in the good old days. And Lounges are starting to open back up with limited capacity/food/drinks. Some airlines aren't serving any alcohol, and only prepackaged light meals and snacks -- BA for sure and I think Delta.

But right now AA and lots of other airlines are offering 'premium-lite' food/alcohol/service in the pointy end of the plane . . . By the time places I want to visit are more open for business my guess is the premium services will be closer to normal too.

Thanks Janisj for the positive energy post -- you know how we're missing England right now! My old flatmate just passed away after a long bout of cancer . . . in fact, we visited him twice since he first got the news 2 years ago. And we were planning another trek for our 35th this August until everything shut down and ANZ closed up our route. My other former flatmate just learned he'll be made redundant come September and we were all going to fly from London to Ireland and spend time there. Will now have to wait until next year when his finances get ironed out and travel restrictions (hopefully) get normalized.

Our First Class AA flight cross country, no alcoholic drinks, same “ food” bag with small water bottle and graham cracker snack for the whole plane. But we felt safer in First as AA did a horrible job with Economy, seats all full. Second flight were not even given water. When the time comes for our return flights to AZ we may have to extend to a much later date to return which is fine with me. We can have someone ship our winter clothes to us. After the fires and now the surging COVID, not a good place to be.We dread flying again and never thought anything about getting on a 14 hr flight like we did this past January.

That seems odd -- I've been monitoring FlyerTalk quite a bit and most report that American X-country flights and even just 2000-ish milers have had semi-full service in F/J. Real food, and some even a pre-take off alcoholic beverage (some passengers even getting the choice of having the flight attendant pour or pouring themselves) . There is one thread where someone reported unhelpful crew and no service and no beverage even on request and they got a full apology from AA customer service that said they would use their report as a training opportunity.

In general AA is not the most popular airline on FT but there have been many posts along the lines of "If AA ca do it why can't Delta or UA?"

Maybe (?) it depends on the crew or originating airport?? Or time of day? - Maybe flight not over a normal meal time?? But X-country one would think at least one meal would fall in the time frame.

I flew AA Thursday unfortunately. I can 100% say they are not enforcing mask policies (even when FA's are asked to do so) and packing their planes.

I normally fly Delta and will be back on Delta for the duration of covid after my return AA flight this coming Wed. Two days after I booked the AA flight they announced they were no longer social distancing on flights and were going to fill their seats. I did have an economy ticket, but got moved to 13f on my second leg by the FA (someone wanted my original seat 29A to sit with friends) which was a fairly empty section (Airbus 321) until some late boarders were also allowed to sit there and took off their masks the minute they boarded. They announced there would be no service (not even water bottles) so I assume 1st didn't get any either. There was also an announcement later that the FA's were going to remain seated.

Throughout covid, Delta has been handing out bags of water/cookies/Purell wipe/crackers to all passengers. Delta was also giving Purell as you boarded and had masks available. I normally have about 6 flights per month with Delta and they were social distancing starting in March which wasn't hard since the flights were empty anyway (sometimes there were only 3-6 of us on a flight and some of them would be repositioning crew). My last Delta flight was May 30 and I didn't fly any the month of June so I don't know if much has changed since. AFAIK, their policy is still social distancing.

I had to change flights in AA's Charlotte hub which was much more crowded than Atlanta has been since March (at times ATL was like a ghost town even though entire concourses were closed). Even though Charlotte has a mask mandate, there were plenty of people ignoring that. There is no way to avoid these anti-mask people in Charlotte or on AA's flights.

Are you implying that Happy Trvlr made up her experience?

If there's any poster on this forum who is NOT the type to do so, it's HT.

Excellent and valid travel advice here for years.

Oh for cryin' out loud(!). Where did I say anything like that??? I didn't 'disbelieve' anything. Maybe you spend too much time in the Lounge or just like to stir pots. I very clearly said that seemed odd and wondered which airport and what time of day the flight was. .

. . . and OF COURSE HappyTrvlr has always contributed great info/advice. Jeeze . . .

Read your post again.

And then read kybourbon's to get an update on what flying AA is currently like.

Despite your claim that people on other forums are saying...whatever.

kybourbon has been providing first hand information throughout this Covid 19 situation. It matches what friends of mine have to say who have flown in the last month.

Implying that HappyTrvlr's first hand information is "off" in any way based on what you are READING elsewhere is out of line.

Start with "That seems odd -- I've been monitoring FlyerTalk quite a bit and most report that American ...." and you go on in detail.

She deserves an apology.

Of course, we know that won't happen!

Today there is a pic of Ted Cruz flying AA refusing to wear a mask, so AA is still not enforcing their mask rule. Unfortunately, I have my return flight with AA Wed., but I will not fly with them again. I will be back on Delta as they are still social distancing and not filling their planes. They made that commitment and are staying with it until the end of Sept. AA is packing flights to 100% capacity.

Thanks, kybourbon. Your info throughout this has helped me clarify my thinking on air travel. I’m sorry your work requires so much air travel.

we were hoping we would still get to take our trip to Arches NP in September. But flying is simply off the table for us for the foreseeable future. When I think about the fact that you don’t have a choice about whether you fly I am grateful that the only negative of not flying for me is limited leisure travel.

I saw the Cruz pic today, too. How unbelievably selfish.

I agree on all points.

Your first hand information throughout helped me make an important decision. I appreciate your updates very much.

I guess so many people have been tweeting AA about Ted Cruz not wearing a mask yesterday, AA says they are investigating. I hope they ban those people on my flight last week (it was a group of 10, but two were children). They've banned a few other people, but I get the impression they are only banning for the duration of covid.

Back in March/April, my local airport and ATL already had hand sanitizer on the posts in the concourse walkways. ATL also had it on the walls in the bathrooms as you exit (they had that pre-covid). I didn't notice any in Charlotte, but I will pay more attention Wed. I will also make a point to notice 1st class service when I board to see if they have drinks. I'm really surprised AA didn't give Purell wipes to everyone as they board like Delta does. Delta realized people want to wipe things off when they sit down and they come around and collect that trash before departure.

FTR - I have status on Delta, but not on AA. I have no desire to have it on AA and I only fly them a couple of times a year. I don't like the service of AA whether it's at the gate or on board. I also don't like the lack of plugs to charge things and lack of a/v screens. I also fly Southwest maybe 6 flights a year. Not a fan of that setup either, but they aren't rude to passengers like AA.

I agree 100%

I fly Delta and SW depending on the flights. I've heard very good things about SW's protocols during Covid 19.

I don't like AA or United and avoid them unless I absolutely have to fly them, which is one of them about every two years.

Thanks again, kybourbon for the detailed information.

Update. MCO and AA flight to CLT (I'll start another post for CLT)

Yesterday, at MCO, I checked out side B check-in (Delta side). There was no wait at luggage drop for Delta. By some self-serve check-in screens for various airlines, there was one stand with hand sanitizer. On that side, you would have maybe one person in front of you for security check-in. No wait.

On my walk to A side (American flies out of A mostly), I walked past the food court. Only McDonalds, Chick Fil A, Panda Express were open, but the rest of the fast food was closed. Many shops are closed, but not all. Universal was open along with some news stand type stores.

Even though Orlando has a mask mandate, you will still see plenty of people in the airport not wearing them.

Security on A side was much busier with lines. Spirit and American flying out of A. AA is booking flights 100% capacity and I assume Spirit is also. You will see people in line without masks on at all or with their masks down around their chin or below their nose. Security was still nowhere near as busy as usual on a weekday in Orlando (I usually fly weekdays). There was a guy directing the security lines and telling you which TSA agent's line to get in. He was limiting each TSA line to a couple of people at a time. At screening, you still see people without masks. Since I'm familiar with the trams, I walked to the far end to get on as no one else bothered. I only had one other person in my tram car. In normal times, those trams are packed.

AA gate areas. Plenty of people no masks and I kept trying to move to get away from them. People would come up and sit near me and they think once they sit down they no longer need to have on a mask. I saw AA gate agents with masks below their noses too. You see a lot of people with their masks dangling from one ear, down around their chins or below their noses.

I boarded almost last and they did change my seat pre-boarding to allow slight social distancing (empty middle seat). Flight was fairly full, but there were a few empty seats. There was no service in 1st as I boarded. All in 1st were wearing masks, but for one woman with aisle seat that was texting on her phone. I assume she had one with her, but no sign of one as I passed by. During covid, Delta boards their planes back to front calling out by aisles. AA does the opposite and boards front to back. There was no service on this flight and AA didn't give out sanitizer. They made a mask announcement, but people take them off to eat or drink and even on board people still have them below their noses defeating the purpose. Heard a few random coughs.

I also appreciate the on the ground reporting. My recent pre-covid experiences also tip toward Delta and away from AA. AA has had by far the worst in-flight service for some time of any of the US legacy carriers. I have held on to enough miles for one flight and won't be sorry if I never use them.
I don't doubt any of Happy's experience.

Thanks for the continued first hand updates.

Do you know if CLEAR is operating?

I hope so - when/if I start flying again.