American Airlines Travel Restrictions Within The United States
Over the past year, the world has been grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic. In response, American Airlines has introduced several travel restrictions to ensure the safety of passengers and employees. As a passenger, it is important to be aware of these restrictions to avoid any inconvenience during your travel. Here is a comprehensive guide to American Airlines travel restrictions within the United States.
Mask Requirements
As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, all passengers above the age of two must wear a mask throughout their journey, including check-in, boarding, in-flight, and deplaning. The mask must cover the nose and mouth and should fit snugly against the sides of the face without any gaps. Neck gaiters, bandanas, and masks with valves or vents are not allowed. Failure to comply with the mask requirement may result in the passenger being denied boarding, removal from the flight or banning from future travel.
Health Declaration Form
Before boarding American Airlines flights, passengers are required to fill out a health declaration form certifying that they have not been in contact with anyone with COVID-19 symptoms in the past 14 days, have not tested positive for the virus, and do not have any symptoms themselves. All passengers, including U.S. citizens, must complete the form. Failure to provide accurate information or complete the form may result in the passenger being denied boarding and/or travel restrictions.
Temperature Screening
Before boarding an American Airlines flight, passengers will be subject to temperature checks. Passengers with a temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or above will not be allowed to board the flight. If a passenger is denied boarding due to a high temperature, they will be re-booked on a later flight once they have fully recovered.
Boarding Process
For added safety measures, American Airlines has implemented a new boarding process. Passengers will now board from the back of the aircraft to the front, reducing contact with other passengers. Priority boarding remains the same, and elite status members will still receive priority boarding. Passengers are encouraged to limit their movements around the cabin during the flight, and avoid the aisle during boarding or deplaning where possible.
Seat Restrictions
To ensure physical distancing onboard, American Airlines is blocking off its middle seats on all flights. This restriction applies to all seats other than bulkhead and exit row seats which offer increased legroom. Passengers traveling together may request to sit together by speaking to a gate agent or flight attendant.
Food and Beverage Service
American Airlines food and beverage service has been updated to reduce contact between passengers and flight attendants. Passengers will receive a snack bag with a bottle of water and a packaged snack on all flights, regardless of the flight duration. On flights longer than 2,200 miles or over 4.5 hours in duration, airlines will provide a pre-packaged meal with a soft drink, juice, or bottled water. Special meals, including Kosher, vegetarian, and gluten-free meals, are available on request.
Cleaning Procedures
American Airlines has increased its cleaning procedures to ensure the safety of all passengers and employees. High-touch areas such as armrests, tray tables, seat belts, and lavatories are cleaned thoroughly before each flight. Additionally, American Airlines has implemented an electrostatic spraying process on every aircraft which kills 99.99% of viruses and bacteria that may be present within the aircraft.
Conclusion
These are some of the main travel restrictions that American Airlines has introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is important for passengers to thoroughly review these guidelines before they travel to ensure a smooth and safe journey. By following these guidelines, we can all play our part in minimizing the spread of COVID-19 while traveling.
