New U.S. Airline Protocols and Restrictions

The pandemic has put a lot of things on hold, but airlines have made new adjustments to accommodate people traveling to ensure people stay safe and healthy on their flights. Many people are eager to start traveling again, but it is not going to be the same jam-packed flights that we’re used to. Now that airlines are opened back up across the world, they are maintaining strict rules and regulations when allowing people to get aboard each flight. 

According to the CDC, each airline has different restrictions as a company. Some airlines, American Airlines for example, require a negative COVID Test in order to board their plane while others do not. The test has to be taken within 72 hours of your flight. Along with COVID tests, some airlines require a health screening and documentation. Many flights also aren’t filling up all of their seats. JetBlue has said they are selling “ less than 70% of seats”. The majority of airlines are keeping spaces between flyers that aren’t traveling together. All other middle seats are staying open to promote social distancing. This is a disagreement between some airlines, so this is a restriction on some flights but a recommendation on others. American Airlines as well as United Airlines states that they do not believe blocking the middle seats will help prevent COVID-19.  An anonymous source on Reddit gave some insight on her experience on two flights. She mentioned on her first flight, “middle seats were left open, and when we landed we had to exit row by row from front to back”. On her second flight, she said the exit was the opposite, “the landing was a mess, no distancing and everyone getting up at the same time”. 

Some airports such as Boston Logan International Airport and airports in New York have a rule that everybody traveling to their airport must fill out a “Traveler Form”. Travelers must fill this form out, take a COVID-19 test, and quarantine for 14 days upon arrival if they are coming from a high risk state. Governor Cuomo of New York announced, “people coming from states with a high infection rate must quarantine for 14 days”. The Department of Public Health has determined Hawaii, New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont to be the lower risk states. As of November 11th, it is not mandatory to fill out the Traveler Form when coming from these states.

While all airlines have different restrictions, TSA has recommendations to travelers in the airports and on airplanes to stay safe by following the rules and regulations. Some of the things that are being encouraged are maintaining six feet social distance, wearing a mask at all times in the airports and on the planes, and washing your hands frequently. They are also now allowing a 12 oz bottle of hand sanitizer per passenger. There is an increase of cleaning on the planes and in airports, but it is encouraged to be prepared yourself. 

While everyone is eager to travel again, airlines and health departments are trying to keep everyone safe by these new restrictions. To ensure everyone’s safety, look at each airport or airline you are flying with to see their company specific rules.  There is no telling when the regular travel experience will return, but if people follow the rules it may return sooner rather than later.