Fines for refusing to wear a mask on a plane will double, Biden says
David Slotnick is a senior aviation business reporter at TPG. He covers anything and everything to do with the business of running an airline.
Sept. 09, 2021
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2 min read
Fines for refusing to wear a mask on a plane will double, Biden says
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The federal government will double the fines charged against passengers who refuse to wear face masks on board aircraft, President Joseph Biden said on Thursday.
Financial penalties, which will be issued by the Transportation Security Administration — the agency that sets the mask mandate — will range from $500 for first-time offenses to $3,000 for repeat offenders, the TSA said, effective Friday, September 10.
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The federal mask mandate, which the TSA sets, is in effect until at least Jan. 18.
The TSA-issued fines for refusing to wear a mask are separate from the fines that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has charged against unruly passengers in recent months, which have ranged as high as $52,500 per incident. Nearly 4,200 incidents have been reported to the FAA so far in 2021, more than twice the amount of any other year.
The new fines were announced by Biden as part of a broader plan to try and stem the spread of COVID-19 in the U.S.
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More: FAA doles out $124,500 more in fines as it continues unruly flyer crackdown
Biden also called for the Department of Labor to issue a rule mandating that companies with over 100 employees require workers to either be vaccinated, or to undergo weekly testing for the virus.
Other steps announced as part of Biden's plan included providing rapid home testing to Americans at reduced prices, and mandating that all federal employees and contractors get vaccinated.
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Featured image by Photo by David Slotnick/The Points Guy
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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Apply for Chase Sapphire Reserve®
at Chase's secure site
TPG Editor‘s Rating
Go to reviewCard Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
Rewards Rate
| 10x | Earn 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. |
| 5x | Earn 5x total points on flights through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. |
| 3x | Earn 3x points on other travel and dining. |
| 1x | Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases |
Intro Offer
Earn 80,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,200 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®80,000 bonus pointsAnnual Fee
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Credit ranges are a variation of FICO© Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.740-850Excellent
Why We Chose It
If you are looking to take your premium rewards to the highest level, this card is really a no brainer in our eyes. Chase's Ultimate Rewards make points easy to redeem, with a wide range of 10 airline and three hotel transfer partners and a friendly user interface. Despite the high annual fee, Chase is consistently adding new benefits to keep the card competitive in a fierce premium rewards field.Pros
- $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year
- Access to Chase Ultimate Rewards hotel and airline travel partners
- Unlimited 3x points on the broad category of travel and dining
- 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- Broad definitions for travel and dining bonus categories
Cons
- Steep $550 annual fee
- May not make sense for people that don't travel frequently
- You must spend the $300 travel credit before earning 3x points for travel and dining
- No automatic hotel elite status
- Earn 80,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,200 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 80,000 points are worth $1,200 toward travel
- 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more