Travelers could be looking at new COVID restrictions as we embark on the holiday season. It’s one of several COVID-related updates for the airline industry.
With the Thanksgiving holiday just around the corner and one of the busiest times to fly, California Senator Diane Feinstein tweeted “We can’t allow upcoming holiday air travel to contribute to another surge in COVID cases. Today, I introduced legislation requiring passengers on domestic flights to be vaccinated, test negative or be fully recovered from a previous COVID illness.”
Willis Orlando is a Flight Expert at Scott’s Cheap Flights.
“If it were to become law it really would just be kind of adding restrictions in the U.S. that already exist elsewhere in the world and that have been working pretty well to contain COVID,” said Orlando.
“I really don’t see any way where it would be a big problem although passengers may be a little bit upset based on what we’ve seen in the past in the U.S.,” he continued.
It’s not just travelers who are impacted. United Airlines announced it is letting go close to 600 employees who chose not to comply with the company’s vaccine requirement. The airline says it represents less than 1% of their US based employees. It referred to the decision as incredibly difficult but necessary for safety.
“Airlines are doing not only what they can to protect themselves and their passengers but also their reputation too,” said Orlando.
Albert Hsieh is the Founder and CEO of Foxtrot Dash, a travel company that encourages smart points spending.
“I actually feel the most safe flying internationally,” said Hsieh.
Hsieh, an avid traveler, recently returned to the San Francisco Bay Area.
“I empathize with the flight attendants on board. She had to enforce masks at least a dozen times you know kind of walking up and down the aisle,” said Hsieh.
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