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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsPacked United flight leaves passengers 'scared,' 'shocked' amid fears of the coronavirus
A photo of a crowded flight posted on Twitter by a cardiologist returning from the New York City area may hint at the difficulties of social distancing as air travel picks up again.
Dr. Ethan Weiss tweeted a photo Saturday showing what appears to be a full United Airlines flight from Newark, New Jersey, to San Francisco. Though passengers are wearing masks, he said the crowded cabin runs counter to United's assurances that it would leave middle seats empty in order to promote social distancing to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
"I guess @united is relaxing their social distancing policy these days? Every seat full on this 737," tweeted Weiss along with the photo. He is both a physician and a scientist at the University of California San Francisco who had been in New York working to aid with the coronavirus crisis.
Link to tweet
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In a separate tweet, Weiss included a statement from United's chief customer officer, sent to all passengers, saying, "We're automatically blocking middle seats to give you enough space on board."
Link to tweet
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https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/packed-united-flight-leaves-passengers-scared-shocked-amid-fears-of-the-coronavirus/ar-BB13STs0?li=BBnb7Kz
EllieBC
(3,014 posts)Toronto to Vancouver on Air Canada. My flight was cancelled as was the one 4 hours later and both were bumped to a time in the middle.
The plane was 100% full.
I understand flying nearly empty planes is costly but that was ridiculous.
Hugin
(33,135 posts)Go capitalism!
Raven
(13,890 posts)JustABozoOnThisBus
(23,339 posts)But then you're stuck in NY when you need to be in SF, with maybe no available seats until Wednesday when they pack another plane to the rafters.
It takes a brave (and rich) person to make that decision.
Raven
(13,890 posts)Submariner
(12,504 posts)In this photo and other 'breaking quarantine' crowd photos, I seldom feel I see anyone over 70. At that age flying like that would be lethal. Zero flying until there is a vaccine.
stillcool
(32,626 posts)to make up for the loss of the middle seat....or maybe they're planning on going bankrupt, and need to fill up their money bags before they jump ship.
Worried2020
(444 posts)hunh? -
We got all sorts of ways to socialize internationally - from snail mail to instant messaging and video chats
Well yeah - we'd hafta stop a few wars,
but that ain't such a bad idea either
W
Runningdawg
(4,516 posts)If my husband were dying in another city and I couldn't drive there in a few hours, I would get on a plane. Short of that HELL NO.
Baclava
(12,047 posts)Renew Deal
(81,856 posts)Hortensis
(58,785 posts)Seemed safer to just try to shelter in place, knowing air is circulated and filtered more frequently than the indoor spaces they'd have to traverse? Believed safer conditions ahead than are being left?
These mask-wearers are not happy people.
Renew Deal
(81,856 posts)They should have left if they thought it was that dangerous. You know in the waiting area if a flight is full and it is confirmed once you start boarding. Then the person got on the plane and stayed. So I'm not buying the "shock and fear" of it all.
Hassin Bin Sober
(26,326 posts)crickets
(25,969 posts)than there are for flying? If it isn't safe to sit in restaurant for an hour, there's no way it's safe to sit in a full plane. No one is trying to shut down airlines for operating, much less operating in an unsafe manner. Why is that? /s
beachbumbob
(9,263 posts)And perhaps never RV again. The risk not worth the outcome.
Merlot
(9,696 posts)Are you talking about renting an RV? I'm needing to travel and usually rent a car/suv for trips. Am wondering if this is safe now? I know they clean the interiors of the car (and I could clean it as well), but what about the A/C system, would that be a risk factor?
Tipperary
(6,930 posts)Do you rent them? Sanitize first or leave in the hot sun for a day, and you should be fine. I am a long time tent camper, I feel safe with that always. And my big dogs enforce social distancing. Thinking about a tear drop camper, but still not sure...
LizBeth
(9,952 posts)isolating. But if I was there, floaty virus can get in eyes.