The first trip was a return from Washington Reagan National to Charlotte, North Carolina, an American Airlines hub. Each flight was on an American Airbus A319.In the airport, most people were wearing masks, but several were not.
American Airlines A319 at Washington Reagan
Credit: Karen Walker
The American gate crews were reminding people to wear masks and passengers were reminded again by the flight attendants during a virus safety briefing that was given after the usual seatbelt/exit/oxygen mask brief.
Charlotte Douglas International Airport
Credit: Karen Walker
In Charlotte, the difficulties of mask enforcement were obvious. As a hub, lots of people were coming in and out of different states—with different mask policies—and many were intent on finding their gate, not on distancing or mask wearing. The cup and phone loophole was also on display.
Charlotte Douglas International Airport terminal
Credit: Karen Walker
Still, even at Charlotte, there were large areas of empty seating.
American Airlines Admirals Club lounge
Credit: Karen Walker
The lounge was very clean, services reduced but available, and mask compliance was strong, although some people removed their mask once seated regardless of food and beverage.
American Airlines Admirals Club lounge snack box.
Credit: Karen Walker
Baltimore/Washington International Airport
Credit: Karen Walker
BWI had much more space in its terminal than Reagan, making distancing easier, but there was still evidence of non-mask wearing, including two pilots walking through the terminal, chatting with no masks in sight but a coffee cup in each hand.
Baltimore/Washington International Airport security lanes
Credit: Karen Walker
Line were non-existent at TSA security at both DCA and BWI, including at the BWI TSA PreCheck screening.
Spirit Airlines flight attendants
Credit: Karen Walker
The Spirit Airlines flight attendants gave clear and precise instructions on mask-wearing rules before the aircraft left the gate.
Spirit Airlines A320 at BWI
Credit: Karen Walker
While still at the gate with the aircraft door open, the flight attendant made clear the rules and emphasized what mask compliance meant.
Spirit Airlines in flight to Boston
Credit: Karen Walker
Spirit still offered snack and beverage service during the short flight, but all had to be paid for (as is Spirit’s policy) and the attendants made clear that masks could be lowered for actual drinking and eating, but not just because you had a cup to hand. Rules and compliance were consistent on the return flight.
Spirit Airlines gate at Boston Logan International Airport
Credit: Karen Walker
Boston Logan International Airport
Credit: Karen Walker
Seats at the gate were clearly marked for social distancing.
Boston Logan International Airport
Credit: Karen Walker
BOS encourages travelers to social distance.
Earlier in September, ATW Editor-in-Chief and Aviation Week Network Group Air Transport Editor-in-Chief Karen Walker took a couple of day trip flights with two different US airlines, curious about the experience. What she unexpectedly learned from those flights was that the single biggest solution to safe flying in a pandemic is also the simplest and the most difficult to enforce: Masks. While their use and effectiveness as confidence boosters are much less helpful when it comes to international travel, where quarantines are a highly effective deterrent to flying, they are key to domestic flights.
