United Airlines CEO says most customers eligible for a refund if they are uncomfortable flying without masks



United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby has announced that most airline customers who aren't comfortable flying without masks are eligible to receive refunds.

Earlier this week, the Transportation Security Administration stopped enforcing the mandate after a federal judge struck down the rule.

The U.S. Department of Justice appealed the decision on Wednesday.

What are the details?

Kirby told "Today" on Thursday that the company has instituted a flexible policy allowing for refunds or flight credits to customers who do not want to fly after a federal judge struck down the mask mandate for airliners and other public transit on Monday.

"All of our customers should feel free to wear a mask and many of them are," Kirby said during the Thursday broadcast. "For customers like that, that are immunocompromised or that have other concerns or issues, we are working with those customers if they really don't want to fly."

Kirby added that he does not anticipate that mask mandates will return to flights "any time in the foreseeable future," and that people will continue learning to live with COVID-19 on a daily basis.

"COVID is going to be with us, it's going to be endemic, and it's going to be here a long time, but we're learning to live with that, including in airports, in restaurants or at sporting events," Kirby said during the interview.

Exclusions and limitations apply — of course

A spokesperson for the airline told Insider that customers can call customer service at (800) 864-8331 for more information on how to receive a refund.

The spokesperson "did not specifically confirm a refund will be an option in all cases," but emphasized the importance of the company's "flexible change policy," adding that "most ticket types allow customers to apply their fare to travel through the end of 2023."

The outlet added that basic economy tickets do not allow changes, but can be "canceled for a fee with the remaining balance kept as flight credit."

A basic economy ticket can also be upgraded to standard economy for a fee and then be changed.

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Video: Florida man banned from airline for wearing women's underwear as COVID face mask



A Florida man was not only booted off a United Airlines flight for wearing women's underwear as a COVID-19 face mask, but he was also reportedly banned from the airline for failing to comply with the federal mask mandate.

Adam Jenne was a passenger aboard a plane flying between Ft. Lauderdale and Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. However, the flight crew notified Jenne that his "face mask," which was actually red panties, was not compliant with the federal mask mandate that is in currently place until March.

Jenne argued that his underwear face mask was in compliance with the mask mandate since it covered his nose and mouth.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

All passengers on public conveyances (e.g., airplanes, ships*, ferries, trains, subways, buses, taxis, ride-shares) traveling into, within, or out of the United States (including U.S. territories) as well as conveyance operators (e.g., crew, drivers, conductors, and other workers involved in the operation of conveyances), regardless of their vaccination status, are required to wear a mask over their nose and mouth. Unless otherwise required by the operator, or federal, State, tribal, territorial, or local government, people are not required to wear a mask when located in outdoor areas of a conveyance (if such outdoor areas exist on the conveyance).

"People must wear masks that completely cover the mouth and nose," the CDC states. "Masks should fit snugly against the sides of the face."

Jenne was removed from the flight and greeted by the Broward County Sheriff’s Office. He said he was at the gate in the Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport for "about 45 minutes."

Jenne says that other passengers followed suit by peacefully protesting the mask mandate and taking off their face coverings. Video appears to show other passengers taking off their masks and heading to the exit of the plane.

"I think it’s a testament to passengers having had enough, citizens having had enough," Jenne told WBBH-TV. "This is just nonsense."

United Airlines released a statement on the incident that said, "The customer clearly wasn’t in compliance with the federal mask mandate and we appreciate that our team addressed the issue on the ground prior to takeoff, avoiding any potential disruptions [in] the air."

Jenne told WFTX-TV that he received an email from United informing him that he is banned from using the airline until his case has been reviewed by the Passenger Incident Review Committee.

Jenne said he had worn the thong face mask on previous fights during the pandemic.

"Every single flight has been met with different reactions from the flight crew," Jenne said. "Some with a wild appreciation, others confrontational."

Jenne railed against the mask mandates, "It’s nonsense, it’s all nonsense. COVID doesn’t know that we’re cruising at altitude. It’s stupid, the whole thing is theater."

Jenne was refunded for his flight and was going to try a different airline on Thursday.

"Hopefully, Spirit Airlines has a better sense of humor tomorrow," he said.

Coincidentally, in the same week that Jenne was kicked off a flight for a protest against the mask mandates, CEOs of two major airlines also questioned the necessity of masks on flights.

American Airlines CEO Doug Parker and Southwest CEO Gary Kelly both said that they don't believe masks significantly prevent the transmission of COVID-19 on flights because most planes have HEPA filters

Cape Coral man banned from United Airlines flight for wearing thong as mask www.youtube.com

CEOs of 2 major airlines question need for mask mandates, say 'case is very strong that masks don't add much'



CEOs of two major airlines spoke out and questioned the necessity of masks on flights, CNN reported.

American Airlines CEO Doug Parker and Southwest CEO Gary Kelly both made related remarks during a Wednesday Senate hearing on the financial support the airline industry has received amid the ongoing pandemic.

Masks are required on all American airliners per order of the federal government.

What are the details?

Both Parker and Kelly said that they don't believe masks make much difference when it comes to tamping down the transmission of COVID-19 and that advanced air filtration systems on airliners make them one of the safest places to be with regard to coronavirus infections.

The remarks were spurred by a question posed by Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) during the hearing.

Wicker, ranking Republican on the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, asked whether the company CEOs believed that masks ought to be mandated on airliners.

Kelly answered, "I think the case is very strong that masks don't add much, if anything, in the air cabin environment. It is very safe and very high quality compared to any other indoor setting."

Parker added, "I concur. An aircraft is the safest place you can be. It's true of all of our aircraft — they all have the same HEPA filters and air flow."

Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants, begged to differ and insisted that not all planes are equipped with the same air filtration systems.

"It is important to recognize that the safe, controlled environment on planes ... includes the HEPA filters that are not on all aircraft,” she said.

Both Parker and Kelly previously announced that they are retiring from their respective positions at the companies in 2022.

Anything else to know?

A study released in October from Harvard University's school of public health concluded that there is a low risk of COVID-19 transmission on flights.

A portion of the report states, "With its focus on considerations aboard the aircraft, the phase one gate-to-gate report found that, through a layered approach to risk mitigation, the scientific evidence shows a low risk of SARS-COV-2 transmission on aircraft. The report provides evidence that it is possible to leverage technology and modify behavior to allow some near-normal activity while reducing the risks of disease transmission during the COVID-19 crisis."

The report continues, "Analysis from the report shows that ventilation of air on aircraft reduces the possibility of exposure to COVID-19, lower than other common settings, such as a grocery store or indoor restaurant. This effectively counters the proximity travelers are subject to during flights. Because of the frequent exchange of air and HEPA filters on planes, over 99% of the particles containing the virus are removed from cabin air."