Posted in late ‘22: Remember the bad old mask days? The mask nightmare lasted, roughly, for two awful years — March ’20 to March/April ’22. As recently as seven or eight months ago you could get into trouble for not observing mask protocols aboard commercial flights. It seems so long ago, but it wasn’t.
Mask mandates began to lift in February ’22, but the emotional trauma will linger for years. Particularly the aggressive behavior of mask Nazis.
On 12.12.21 I flew from New York to Los Angeles aboard United #517. I was happy to sit in the first row of coach, left front, next to the main exit door…acres of leg room. But this also meant I was constantly in view of flight attendants, and so I was reprimanded three times for allowing my mask to slip beneath the tip of my nose. If I hadn’t been sitting in row #1 nobody would’ve said boo, trust me.
Passengers were allowed to take masks off during meals, of course, and I was eating some kind of snack during one of these infractions. I didn’t argue with anyone, of course, and I apologized each time I was reprimanded. It’s not like I refused to wear my mask — I just wore it in a respectful but casual, no-big-deal way.
United Airlines Passenger Incident Review Committee (PIRC) to HE, sent on 12.12.21: “Based on the nature of the reported incident that occurred on flight 517 on December 12, 2021, this shall serve as a notice that you are not permitted to fly on United Airlines or any regional carrier operating as United Express until a review of this incident by United’s Passenger Incident Review Committee (PIRC) has occurred.
“The PIRC would like to consider your version of what occurred in this incident in making its determination. In order to ensure this information is considered a written report must be submitted within 96 hours of receiving this notice.”
HE to United PIRC, 12.13.21: “I duly apologize for letting my mask slip below the tip of my nose three times. It won’t happen again. After 21 months of wearing masks I’ve never once been scolded or reprimanded, much less been met at the gate by a United security rep. Not once. Plus I’ve been vaccinated three times. I always follow protocol when it comes to masks. Please accept my apology.”
United PIRC to HE, 12.20.21: “Based on your refusal to comply with our policy, we believe that your presence onboard future United flights creates a threat to the health and safety of our employees and passengers. Consequently, we are banning you from travel on United and United Express flights while our face covering policy is in effect. During this period, we hope that you will not attempt to fly with United. If you attempt to fly with us while our policy is in place, you will be refused transport. We do not take this regrettable action lightly.”
HE to United PITRC, 12.22: “Dear United PIRC — No offense but your decision strikes me as needlessly harsh. As I explained twice, I never refused to wear my mask, and I pledged twice in written replies to never again incur the wrath of United attendants. I also apologized twice for allowing the mask to slip beneath the tip of my nose. This was a complete non–incident. You were obviously committed to a punitive response from the get-go, regardless of the basic facts or my explanation. You, not I, have a serious attitude problem.”
