-Travel is changing daily and this week the big news is that JetBlue is the first U.S. airline to require face masks for passengers and crew (small children don’t have to wear one).
–American Airlines this week became the first U.S. carrier to give passengers face masks to wear inflight but it’s not mandatory (yet) except for their cabin crew starting tomorrow (May 1).
-If you’re traveling you will want to at least bring a mask or a face covering because some airports like San Francisco and Oakland International airports are requiring it. I think it’s just a matter of time all airports and airlines will.
-You will probably be asked to lower your mask/covering at the TSA Checkpoint so they know you’re really you.
-Speaking of the TSA. A great person to follow on Twitter (besides me ;-) is their media representative as each day she sends out the previous day’s stats. For example, Lisa, Tweeted this morning “On Wed, Apr. 29th, 119,629 travelers came through @TSA checkpoints nationwide. Exactly 1 year earlier, 2,256,442 individuals were screened at security checkpoints across the country.” Travel does seem to be picking up because last Wednesday (April 22) 98,968 travelers went through the TSA checkpoints nationwide. Keep in mind these numbers include airport workers and airline crew.
-According to a CNN story and Jon Ostrower tweet “the average number of passengers on a U.S. domestic flight last week has grown by 70%. Each was operating with an average of 10 passengers. This week it’s 17.” I’m not sure if that’s because the flights have all been cut so there’s less planes in the sky or what but don’t think if you fly now your plane will be empty. There’s been reports of full flights even though many airlines are blocking the middle seats.
-According to NBC News 500 TSA employees have tested positive for Covid-19 and their fifth worker died this week. That’s scary and sad and another reason why I’m staying home.
-Here’s an interesting story written by an American Airlines pilot titled “Piloting through the pandemic”
-Whoa! Argentina introduces four-month flight ban. Airlines told not to sell tickets until September
-Say What? Delta’s Lawyers Tell The Government Air Travel Is Unsafe and Should Be Limited.
-Outrageous: Cruise companies refuse CDC terms to repatriate crew, call transport ‘too expensive’
-Wondering what a Vegas casino might look like when it reopens? Think everyone wearing masks and giant plexiglass barriers.
-The funniest Instagram travel post of the week.
