US airline heads urge White House to lift testing, mask mandate for air travel
In a letter sent to President Joe Biden on Wednesday, the leaders of major U.S. airlines urged the White House to lift the mask mandate during air travel, along with the requirement that people entering the country by air take a COVID-19 test within 24 hours of their departure.
The letter, which was sent by Airlines for America, the airline industry's trade and lobbying organization, was viewed by TPG Wednesday afternoon. It was signed by major airline heads including American Airlines CEO Doug Parker, Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby, Southwest Airlines executive chairman Gary Kelly, Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci, Hawaiian Airlines CEO Peter Ingram, JetBlue Airways CEO Robin Hayes, Atlas Air CEO John Dietrich, FedEx Aviation CEO Scot Struminger and UPS Airlines president Brendan Canavan.
"At the outset, we voluntarily implemented policies and procedures -- mandating face coverings; requiring passenger health acknowledgements and contact tracing information; and enhancing cleaning protocols – to form a multi-layered approach to mitigate risk and prioritize the wellbeing of passengers and employees," the airlines wrote.
"However, much has changed since these measures were imposed and they no longer make sense in the current public health context."
The airline executives argued that the predeparture test requirement had "outlived its utility," citing the United Kingdom, European Union and Canada, all of which have lifted their versions of the testing requirement.
"The U.S. inconsistency with these practices creates a competitive disadvantage for U.S. travel and tourism by placing an additional cost and burden on travel to the U.S. Further, many outbound travelers are not willing to risk being stranded overseas."
In terms of the mask mandate, the signatories cited studies showing low rates of transmission aboard aircraft due to air circulation and filtering, while citing that the improved availability of high-quality masks like N95s means that passengers who want to continue to wear protective face coverings have the option to do so.
"We are requesting this action not only for the benefit of the traveling public, but also for the thousands of airline employees charged with enforcing a patchwork of now-outdated regulations implemented in response to COVID-19," the letter added.
You can read the full letter below.
The U.S. Senate last week passed a resolution that would end the federal mask mandate on public transportation. The resolution passed 57-40, with eight Democrats voting in favor, and one Republican voting in opposition. The resolution was expected to stall in the House.
The Biden administration earlier this month extended the mask mandate through April 18 — it was previously slated to expire on March 18.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that as part of the extension, it would create new guidelines to dictate when masks would be recommended on public transportation, suggesting that the mandate could be lifted or revised by the deadline next month.
Read more: It’s official: Flights are about to get more expensive to offset spiking jet fuel prices
in late February, the CDC issued new guidance setting benchmarks to allow communities to loosen mask mandates. Every state has since lifted — or has announced plans to lift — most requirements for face coverings.
However, cases of COVID-19 are climbing in Europe and Asia, driven by the omicron BA.2 subvariant, and experts have said there may be similar trends in the U.S. Countries where cases are climbing are among those that have lifted various requirements for travelers.
In January, the federal government issued a 90-day extension of the public health emergency declaration surrounding the pandemic. The designation is currently slated to lift on April 16, two days before the extended mask mandate’s expiration.
It’s not clear whether it will be extended. If the emergency declaration is lifted, it would have sprawling impacts, including the potential expiration of emergency use authorizations for numerous vaccines and treatments, along with an end to some insurance payments for telehealth services.
Airlines for America letter to President Biden March 23 2022 by David Slotnick on Scribd
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.