Airline Policies Regarding Face Masks

Airline Policies Regarding Face Masks

When COVID-19 took hold over the United States, the entire country came to a halt. Shops closed, restaurants shut their doors and stay-at-home orders were put in place. With those protective measures in place, air travel came to an abrupt stop. Fast forward a few months, and the wheels of the country are slowly starting to turn again.

As we begin the long road back to normalcy, what is air travel going to look like? Airports across the country are going to have their own guidelines, but the airlines are also going to have new policies.

Let’s take a look a the guidelines from the four air carriers that service Yeager Airport.

Delta – Passengers and employees are being required to wear a mask or an appropriate face-covering starting at the check-in lobby and across Delta touchpoints. That includes Delta Sky Clubs, boarding gate areas, jet bridges, and onboard the aircraft for the duration of the flight.

Certain seats on the aircraft are also going to be blocked off. First Class seating is going to be capped at 60 percent, and the rest of the cabin is going to be capped at 50 percent.

American – Passengers are being required to wear a face-covering while flying, except very young children or people with a condition that prevents them from wearing one. Your face covering is going to have to be on before boarding the plane.

United – Passengers and employees are being required to wear face coverings while on the aircraft. Small children, people with certain medical conditions are not going to be required to wear a mask. Temporarily shut down self-service kiosks in most locations. Passengers are also being asked to self-scan boarding passes at the gate. Boarding fewer people at a time.

Spirit – Passengers and employees are being required to wear face coverings on the aircraft. Small children are exempt.

TSA has also updated some of its policies and procedures. If you are not able to renew your expired license, you may still use it as an acceptable form of identification at the checkpoint. TSA will accept expired driver’s licenses a year after the expiration date, plus 60 days after the duration of the COVID-19 national emergency. You’re also allowed to bring hand sanitizer in your carry-on bags until further notice. The bottle has to be 12oz or less, and the bottle may need to be screened separately, which may add time to the checkpoint screening.

Yeager Airport is also asking passengers to maintain proper social distancing guidelines. We have put markings down at the TSA checkpoint to keep people six feet apart. Our support services staff has also been cleaning the entire airport four times a day, since the beginning of March. They pay special attention to high touchpoint areas like doors, check-in areas, seating at gates, and bathrooms. We ask that while you are waiting at the gate to allow a seat between you and other passengers.

We are looking forward to seeing our passengers again. We have been working hard to prepare to welcome you back. If you have any questions about what Yeager Airport is doing or has done to keep you safe, don’t hesitate to call. If you have specific questions about your airline, please visit their website, the links are below. Stay safe and remember, #FlyCRW!

For more information regarding airline COVID-19 policies please see links available here: Airline Information

CRW TO PARTICIPATE IN JETSTREAM MUSIC FESTIVAL

CRW TO PARTICIPATE IN JETSTREAM MUSIC FESTIVAL

For one night only, more than a dozen airports across North America will come together for the JetStream Music Festival, an online celebration of local music. Hosted by Austin-Bergstrom International Airport from the “Live Music Capital of the World” in Austin, Texas, the free, multi-hour livestream will take place at 6 p.m. EST on May 6 on participating airports’ Facebook Live. Each airport will feature a musician local to their city in support of the creative community during the COVID-19 crisis.

Participating airports include:

  • Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) – host
  • Albuquerque International Airport (ABQ)
  • Asheville Regional Airport (AVL)
  • Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)
  • Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL)
  • Evansville Regional Airport (EVV)
  • Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
  • Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT)
  • Jacksonville International Airport (JAX)
  • John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH)
  • John Wayne Airport (SNA)
  • Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE)
  • Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)
  • Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE)
  • Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP)
  • Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
  • Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT)
  • Portland International Airport (PDX)
  • San Diego International Airport (SAN)
  • Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV)
  • Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
  • Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
  • Yeager Airport (CRW)

“For so many airports across North America, live music entertainment in the terminal has become a fun way to delight and engage passengers,” said ACI-NA President and CEO Kevin M. Burke. “Despite the sudden and significant drop in passenger traffic at North America’s airports because of the coronavirus health pandemic, this effort by Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and many other North American airports provides a unique opportunity to connect with their passengers. We look forward to hearing these musicians again in airport terminals soon.”

The lineup features a diverse range of acts, representing each city’s unique music culture. The full lineup for the Festival will be released later this week. Austin’s Latin pop songstress, Gina Chavez, will perform and host the event.

Festival viewers will be able to tip musicians throughout the performance and learn about organizations assisting the communities in each city. Viewers can also join in the celebration using the hashtag #JetStreamFest.

“Live music brings Charleston together. Whether it’s down on the levee, or at one of the many venues downtown. It’s something people here are passionate about,” said Yeager Airport Director, Nick Keller. “We can’t get together right now, but that doesn’t mean the music has to stop.”

Beyond the music, viewers will hear from leadership at many of the airports. Airports across North America remain open for essential travel and vital cargo. Employees in these facilities are working around the clock on enhanced cleaning operations, continued airport maintenance and operations, security, and more. Airports are a critical component to the supply chain—including for medical supplies—and continue to provide services for those who must travel.

For more information—including how to tune in—click here.

The livestream will be brought to you by Streak Systems, a tech concierge focused on creating and maintaining technology systems in your home, work and live events.

Airline Loyalty Status and Rewards During COVID-19

Airline Loyalty Status and Rewards During COVID-19

Working from home, homeschooling kids, businesses closed.

Everything we typically think of as normal is different right now. So during all of this, what can you do to bring some sense of normalcy back to your life?

The answer to that question is going to be different for everyone, but at CRW we know our loyal travelers might be eager to book their next trip. Maybe you have built-up rewards miles with your favorite airline and you’re ready to use them, but you aren’t sure how or when to book rewards flights.

First things first, if you’re worried about losing your status with your favorite airline, many of them are offering extensions through 2021. The status you have now may be locked in for another year, regardless of how many miles you rack up. So check with your airline about their extension policies for rewards members.

If you’re ready to start booking flights for later in the year, now could be a great time to use your rewards points or miles. If that is you, The Points Guy is a great resource to track all of the deals. Some popular domestic destinations are going for as little as 4,000 miles each way. There are international flights during the 2020 holiday season that are going for 120,000 miles round trip.

If you plan on booking using your rewards or miles right now, it’s important to know your airlines’ cancellation and rebooking policy. Airlines have been adjusting their policies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Make sure you contact your airline before booking, so you know their current policy.

As we continue to move through this ever-changing situation, it is hard to tell what the future holds. But now might be the right time to, at the very least, see what deals are out there to use your hard-earned rewards. What could be a better escape than dreaming about your next trip?

Remember to #FlyCRW