My tolerance for sick/germy fellow airline passengers has never been high, but with the spread of swine flu it has gotten even lower.
Polls have shown that most Americans will still travel EVEN IF THEY KNOW THEY ARE SICK to avoid rebooking fees or inconveniencing themselves.
The good news is that some airlines are changing their rebooking policies to encourage people to be more responsible:
"United, Continental, Northwest and AirTran Airways all have opted to waive change fees for passengers who postpone their trips due to illness. In most cases, the customers must fax the airline a doctor’s note to dodge the change fee.“If a passenger has H1N1, we don’t want them to travel any more than they don’t want to travel,” said AirTran spokesman Christopher White. “It’s best for them and best for us that they don’t fly.”
For people who possess non-refundable American Airlines or US Airways tickets, however, change and cancellation fees will still be applied if those customers reschedule their trips due to swine flu, according to spokespersons at both airlines."
The bad news is that swine flu germs can live for up to 8 hours on a plane, bus, train seat etc.
"As of mid-November, all but four states were reporting “widespread influenza activity” and nearly 4,000 Americans had died from the H1N1 virus, according to the CDC. When a swine flu carrier touches and deposits the virus on an airline arm rest, seat back, seatbelt clasp or tray table, those germs can survive for as long as eight hours — remaining contagious for the next passengers who occupy that seat. Airlines — like buses, trains and escalator rails — are ideal swine flu transporters."
Swine flu puts airlines, travelers in tough spot - News- msnbc.com
Do you think the airlines need to be more proactive about disinfecting the planes (a layer of lysol between flights out to do it IMO), screening passengers, and allowing flight changes w/ a doctor's note for swine flu?
What do you think of people who are flying/traveling even though they know they are ill?
And what do you think the odds are that I will lose it and end up on the news if my seatmate starts coughing on me on my next flight?
Polls have shown that most Americans will still travel EVEN IF THEY KNOW THEY ARE SICK to avoid rebooking fees or inconveniencing themselves.
The good news is that some airlines are changing their rebooking policies to encourage people to be more responsible:
"United, Continental, Northwest and AirTran Airways all have opted to waive change fees for passengers who postpone their trips due to illness. In most cases, the customers must fax the airline a doctor’s note to dodge the change fee.“If a passenger has H1N1, we don’t want them to travel any more than they don’t want to travel,” said AirTran spokesman Christopher White. “It’s best for them and best for us that they don’t fly.”
For people who possess non-refundable American Airlines or US Airways tickets, however, change and cancellation fees will still be applied if those customers reschedule their trips due to swine flu, according to spokespersons at both airlines."
The bad news is that swine flu germs can live for up to 8 hours on a plane, bus, train seat etc.
"As of mid-November, all but four states were reporting “widespread influenza activity” and nearly 4,000 Americans had died from the H1N1 virus, according to the CDC. When a swine flu carrier touches and deposits the virus on an airline arm rest, seat back, seatbelt clasp or tray table, those germs can survive for as long as eight hours — remaining contagious for the next passengers who occupy that seat. Airlines — like buses, trains and escalator rails — are ideal swine flu transporters."
Swine flu puts airlines, travelers in tough spot - News- msnbc.com
Do you think the airlines need to be more proactive about disinfecting the planes (a layer of lysol between flights out to do it IMO), screening passengers, and allowing flight changes w/ a doctor's note for swine flu?
What do you think of people who are flying/traveling even though they know they are ill?
And what do you think the odds are that I will lose it and end up on the news if my seatmate starts coughing on me on my next flight?
