dfrostnh

i agree. One of our group of 16 reported she got covid. Since no one else in the group has reported it I'm going to assume she got it at the airport or on her flight. Masks were not required on my Air France flight but recommended. I was glad my row partner wore a mask and the middle sest was empty. But i was unmasked to eat and took it off when I got to Logan. Wore it again on the bus home. I'm still wearing a mask in stores.

schmerl

Yes, but they are the same concerns while flying within the US as well since no one had to be tested when flying state to state within the US.

janisj

That seems to be missed in the concern about dropping the testing mandate. Tests haven't been required to fly from LA to NYC (or anywhere else in the US except for Hawaii for a time) so what sense does it make to require testing to fly from London to NYC?

mlgb

At least when I'm in the supermarket I am not stuck sitting next to an unmasked, unvaccinated and untested person for 10+ hours as I would be if I flew to Europe or Asia. I have the option to go in when the store isn't busy, use self-checkout, and get in and out in 10 minutes. I also can chose not to dine indoors when case rates are high. My dentist wears a mask and requires patients to have masks on except during the procedure. They upgraded their office air supply when they started back up.

That said, I'm more concerned about being stuck in long immigration, TSA or checkin queues, cheek to jowl for an hour or more. When I fly in the US, I don't have to deal with customs and immigration and can chose a smaller local airport and (most of the time) avoid the ones with long TSA lines, plus I have preCheck so that may help a little. A LOT of people are testing positive after getting home from overseas and from cruising in Alaska.

I did wear a proper tight-fitting N-95 when I flew to Austin on the exact day in April that the judge ruled about masking. But that's only an hour and a half, not 10+ hours.

The rates were rather low when I went, not like now. Yesterday we had 2 of 5 out sick in a monthly survey group I participate in. All had managed to escape prior infection.

yestravel

And you have the choice to fly or not.

I agree with those who compare it to the US domestic flying. I just flew coast to coast -- maybe ⅓ masked, LAX despite requiring masks per their announcements, very few were masking. We all calculate our risk differently based on our understanding, research and individual health situations.

mlgb

Yes, and my choices are always affected by case rates, masking, testing, and flight length. Now that 3 of those 4 are unfavorable for infection. I'm much less likely to take a long flight or anything that could involve a long line.

Masking has been poorly enforced on some airlines and at some airports for a long, long time. I had the joy of sitting between two unmasked Texans on the way to Texas. At least on the flight home to California, both passengers wore masks.

I chose to go to Alaska and to Hawaii which were longer flights, precisely because of their stricter requirements at the time.

yestravel

Yes, its variable re the airports and flights. I went to Hawaii this winter and masking while required not really enforced on any of the several flights to and fro and within the islands. Flew Lufthansa to and from Greece last month and the opposite was true. Its all a crapshoot.

mlgb

When I went to Hawaii you did have to show proof of vacination via the QR code, it was after their surge had abated (the week before Thanksgiving). I flew in on Hawaiian Air and masking was enforced.

Songdoc

I am not concerned about breathing the air on the plane after takeoff. I am concerned about being shoulder-to-shoulder in line to board the plane, and being in the aisle while people shove their carry-on bags into the overhead bins, as well as the concerns stated above -- all before the filtration systems are activated.

I have gotten COVID twice--both times after returning to Hawaii from a combo visit to see family in TN and FL, where [/color]almost no one wore masks except for me. I wore an N95 and felt like it was ridiculous because it came off to eat. I'll never know whether I got it at a Walmart -- or in the airport. But I was very sick both times, despite being double vaxxed and boosted.

Still, I am planning to take my twice-postponed Safari in Kenya, leaving August 30th. I'm getting older and seeing people get sick or die before they cross off lifelong dreams from their bucket list. My biggest concern is the stopover and overnight at an LAX hotel. (Maybe two nights to be absolutely sure I don't miss my flight to Kenya if my flight to LAX gets canceled.) I will get re-boosted before I go. Nothing comes without risks. But I'd still feel safer knowing that those around me have tested negative.

FYI, in the past month two of my friends returned from Europe with COVID. They both tested negative before boarding the plane.

isabel

"You could still get Covid when traveling. Just because you could then fly home sick, infecting others along the way, doesn't really solve the problem for the greater good!"

Well it's pretty darn clear that most people (including plenty on this forum) don't give a rat's a$$ about the greater good, just that their vacation isn't messed up.

"I am concerned about being shoulder-to-shoulder in line to board the plane, and being in the aisle while people shove their carry-on bags into the overhead bins, as well as the concerns stated above -- all before the filtration systems are activated." This is why flying - or any other form of mass transit - is more dangerous and should have more safety precautions in place than going to the grocery store, etc. Shopping, going to a public park, etc. - all those types of things you are only in contact with strangers for a minute or two, or you can move away from someone who is unmasked and makes you uncomfortable. Not so on planes (and getting to them).

The only reason this is not a stupid move is that is was pretty useless given that it wasn't needed for domestic travel, and there were so many work arounds it anyway that it probably wasn't doing much good. Keeping the masking mandates made much more sense. But heaven forbid my freedom to stay alive is more important than your freedom to be completely comfortable for a few hours.

mlgb

Songdoc, it it isn't too late have you thought about flying inbound to Long Beach on Hawaiian Airlines instead of LAX for the first leg? Much less waiting inside crowded around others. Rental car pickup is across the driveway from the terminal, no shuttle buses. Or use Lyft/Uber without needing to access the remote LAX-It lot.

Just a thought. Still have the issue of flying out of LAX unfortunately.

I'm not as nervous about hotel stays. I try to pick a hotel with the window A/C and avoid elevators with others.

yestravel

"You could still get Covid when traveling. Just because you could then fly home sick, infecting others along the way, doesn't really solve the problem for the greater good!"
I know this board is predominantly US people but there are many from other countries. I think the world is in a sad state of affairs given the lack of concern people in many countries showed towards their fellow citizens. It was all about them - their freedom to not wear a mask -- I was sadden and shocked a this attitude globally

stokebailey

Since I'm willing to sit through a 3-hr opera, I should be all right with this. In lap of gods anyway.