Face covering enforcement practices on Delta Air Lines and JetBlue Airways were discussed on Wednesday afternoon during a cable television roundtable show. While Delta earned high praise from one of the program’s panelists, another claimed one of the airline’s flight attendants behaved like “a complete prison guard.”
“… Airlines Aren’t Taking Masks That Seriously Anymore”
During Wednesday’s installment of Fox News’ The Five, the show’s panelists took up the issue of wearing face coverings on airplanes.
The topic arose during a discussion about mask mandates in general.
“Even the airlines aren’t taking masks that seriously anymore,” said co-host Jesse Watters. He then recounted a trip he and his wife took to Ft. Myers this past weekend. (Mr. Watters says he doesn’t put a face mask on until someone tells him.) In this instance, he eventually put on his mask when he boarded his flight and was asked to. (Coincidentally, this discussion occurred right around the time Delta announced that its CEO, Ed Bastian, and several of his counterparts sent a letter to the Biden administration asking the Feds to remove mandates such as mask-wearing.)
He detailed his practice that seems to be the old Nibble-on-Food-and-Enjoy-Your-Beverage-for-a-Long-Time-So-You-Don’t-Have-to-Put-Your-Mask-Back-Up trick. You know it, you’ve seen it, you’ve maybe even practiced it. (I might be guilty.)
For his return trip, Mr. Watters said he wore his mask while entering the Delta Sky Club (in Ft. Myers?) because he wanted “to make a good impression.” But then he seemed to ditch it before boarding his JetBlue flight. (Quick aside: this leads me to believe he’s a legacy Delta Sky Club Lifetime Member and can use the lounges, regardless of what airline he flies that day. But there’s no Sky Club in RSW, right? Maybe he briefly flashed back to visiting the Sky Club club at JFK? Or he misremembered. Or did he employ the Never-Let-the-Truth-Stand-in-the-Way-of-a-Good-Story practice?)
The conversation turned to who’s better about mask enforcement: Delta or JetBlue?
But in this case, “better” means “who doesn’t enforce mask policy”?
Former New York state judge and The Five co-host Jeanine Pirro agreed with Mr. Watters and said JetBlue is more “persnickety” about telling passengers to wear face coverings. But she said Delta is “wonderful” — meaning they don’t seem to enforce the rules very much.
“I disagree,” co-host Greg Gutfeld interjected. “Delta — I had a flight attendant who was a complete prison guard.” (“A prison guard?” Ms. Pirro repeated to him. I heard some condescension in her voice.)
Now, I’ve been on Delta flights where flight attendants were strict about telling people to wear their face coverings over their noses. For the most part, the flight attendants were firm but fairly pleasant. Only once were flight attendants seemingly on some sort of a power trip.
I’ll take a wild guess and say Mr. Gutfeld was exaggerating. He’s a professional entertainer. But he sure seemed bitter — presumably about having to wear his mask. Much as we may not like (I sure don’t), those are the rules for now. Flight attendants do have access to things like handcuffs and/or other restraints. So, if Mr. Gutfeld insists (one way or another), he probably could get tied up and receive the prison guard treatment from a flight attendant. (Though it’s probably more discreet to, ahem, hire a professional for such activities.)
If you want to watch the exchanges, visit this page or watch the embedded video below. The specific conversation takes place from about the 0:28 mark to around 2:30.
In the meantime, congratulations to Delta and its (dubious) honors from the folks at The Five?
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In my experience since Delta imposed its face mask rule in 2020 and then since the federal rule in 2021, about 30% of my flights in FIRST had flight attendants who were mask nazis even if you had some food or a drink in your hand but not at your mouth. Since maybe January, this has dramatically decreased to the point where Delta no longer even stops passengers with vent masks from boarding. I’ve been on 3 flights in two days in which the FAs working first-class never said anything about masks as we ate our hot meals and drank our drinks.
Flew Asiana in business recently and they left everyone alone. Will try to fly Asiana to and from US from now on. Avoiding Delta and American into DFW – had a mask Nazi watching me from the galley non-stop when I was in seat 1A on a transpacific. On a recent SFO-ICN with Asiana they didn’t seem to care. I kept a wine glass sitting there for hours, no mask, and kept the mask around my neck but not hindering my breathing when I slept. I was in seat 2A on my last Asiana flight in early March.
Is it just me or is it weird that they are litterally bragging about breaking federal law. People may not say anything to them but air crew literally takes names and reports of passengers who don’t comply and send it to the FAA.
Wow! A bunch of boasters and braggers…about flying 1st class or business class. Please! stick to the point, which is wearing a mask in very tight and crowded areas such as airports and planes to protect yourself and others from dangerous germs such as the corona-19.
Masks don’t do SQUAT….Better to have a healthy immune system….
In February I flew Hawaiian,United, JetBlue and Delta.All flights were business class except Delta as I flew Econ. Delta’s FA were “persnickety “ about making sure you were wearing your masks. Hmmm maybe because it as economy? Wearing was not a bother or problem for me. I’m always seated next to someone who is coughing and sick . Glad I had my mask.
Baaaagh … the sheep follow their masters: “those are the rules for now.”
I’m glad you weren’t around when we were declaring our independence from England. You would’ve followed the English rules for sure and I’d be drinking warm beer.
You’re just like Gutfeld. Follow the rules is correct. You follow rules everyday.
I follow rules that make sense. I try to avoid or not follow rules that make no sense. Mask rules don’t make sense. Show me a truly independent scientific study that shows that masks work. Not some government lifetime bureaucrat who lectures me.
I just finished going to a basketball game where the stadium is full and nobody wearing a mask. The rule is no mask required. I walk out around an airport concourse with 1/10 density and I’m supposed to wear a mask?
I assume that if you believe masks work that you’ll be wearing them the rest of your life. Correct?
I suggest you read Thoreau‘a civil disobedience.
I am of the theory that if I can smell something through a mask it os therefore obvious that particles are getting through it. I am as tired of the anti-mask crowd making a scene, as I am the virtue signalers (look at how I am so virtuous wearing a mask). You want to wear a mask? Great! If you don’t want to wear a mask, great, too! But avoid businesses which require one instead of making a stink and shop elsewhere.
Exactly right, Joe. What’s wrong with these people? How hard is it to wear a mask??
You and Joe are Sheep….and I guess Putin is to blame for our inflation and soaring gas prices
I observed at BWI that many people in the airport were not wearing masks and nobody seemed to say anything. In the Sky Clubs I went to, most people were not wearing masks even when not eating or drinking. On the plane, the flight attendant asked my neighbor what he wanted to drink and he was not wearing his mask as he was taking a long time to drink but not replacing the mask between sips. He apologized and she said “It’s OK, you’re good”. Clearly most people are ready to move on, the fact this rule is still in place is very problematic, because (a) it’s pointless (b) even the people who would think would want them most (the crew) don’t want them and (c) it just makes criminals out of otherwise law-abiding citizens. I predict this “requirement” will be gone by the end of the week.
Flew business in Delta and had one flight attendant who just would not leave me in peace during a meal! She was hovering, making sure I replaced my mask between sips, etc. It sucked and I told myself I’d sit back with the proles next time in cattle class if only to be left alone. Some of them really are mask Nazis.
I had same experience in Delta One and AA First with Fascist flight attendants. I just flew Lufthansa First to volunteer here in Ukraine- they were lovely and left us alone in the First Class terminal.
Let me get this straight. You are in a country where citizens are being bombed by a fascist dictator, and you’re whining about masks? Sounds about Republican.
Being bombed because of “Sleepy Joe’s” energy policy…..wake up
I want you all to remember that flight attendants are responsible for your safety. That being said, if you don’t care for mine I don’t care for you. Think about it. Keep playing….
At this stage, wearing a mask has nothing to do with keeping others safe. Everyone can now get masks that keep the wearer safe if they need to be protected.
What is so wrong with wearing a mask? What childish, selfish & rude. Most everyone has worn masks & I am pretty sure it was just a MINOR INCONVENIECE! Respect others. Or is that no a Right wing concept???
There is lots wrong with wearing a mask, for many reasons. Just because you find it OK doesn’t mean that everyone does. It is certainly not a minor inconvenience. Just ask my kids who had to wear masks at school (since thankfully they go to schools that returned to the classroom in September 2020) every day for over year.
Yoir MINOR INCONVENIENCE meant 28 hours of constant mask wearing for me for an overseas flight. If it is minor, YOU wear it…every day for the rest of your life for all I care, but do not dare to try to guilt or compel the rest of us to do so.
Exactly respect others cody.. don’t force them to do anything against their will. Remember democrats are the king of “my body my choice” kinda ironic how y’all completely forgot that.
If only you idiots could consider that flight crew are
Exhausted from babysitting alleged adults acting as insolent brats over a face covering. It’s always the morons going to/from Florida and Texas who think they’re above the law. It’s not the crew’s rules; they just are required to enforce them…ya know…do their job, which incidentally is not serving you coke and cookies. Grow tf up.
How is it that the mask cryers are always the ones who call names and berate a specific group or class? The people that have bought into the us vs them retoric … I just feel bad for them at this point. Hopefully us mask haters can forgive and forget when only the paranoid and truly sick are still wearing the awful things.
Because mask haters can live with or without masks and therefore are not feeling threatened by relaxation of rules. When masks are gone, we will live without fear. Those that depend on masks won’t. I don’t like this but it’s totally understandable to me.
Seems like a lot of press for not much important news. You can do better.
Thanks for the advice.
You are too kind. Thanks for covering it. It’s very important to flight attendants, pilots, airline CEOs, travelers. Anyone who thinks otherwise clearly isn’t aware of what’s going on.
It’s all bull chit just flew from Ny to fl on Delta every 1 in the gate area and on the plane had their mask on. Those 2 Moron had to make a seen for their rating on their tv shows. That Watters is 1 big A@@@@@@ he is going to ✋ the war with his .
Of course they did! Have you seen the recent passenger behavior lately?
All of them no matter how important they think they are should not have to be asked to put on their mask because until it is no longer mandated anytime you purchase a ticket you agree to wear a mask before you can even purchase a ticket !
Follow the laws like the rest of us that agreed to the rules an bought a ticket and want to get from point A to point B without game playing by people who think flying at 30,000 feet is a game and distract ever member of the flight crew with their attention seeking BS!
The announcement and policy is posted in the airport before entering planes. The masks requirement are in place for everyone. If you know you won’t be able to comply you should fly an airline that does not require masks. But for celebrities and those who feel they are privileged characters, it would be simple to just fly by private plane where you make your own rules. If you cannot fly private, then comply. Most flight attendants are women try to do their job as required. It’s an insensitive callous person who would put at person who works for a travel to have to wrestle with men or women to subdue them with handcuffs – how about your mother, daughter, niece, sister or aunt do that for a living? Be reasonable, follow rules so everyone can get to destination without rebellious playground antics.
Last November on a United flight back fro California I witnessed a flight attendant wake a guy up to tell him to put his mask over his nose. Needless to say he was not pleased.
I have had enough of people whoever they may be thinking it’s okay to speak about people who work in the public this way. They are just doing their job. I highly doubt that their last name is Delta or JetBlue there before they do not own the company. They are paid to do a job and guess what if they don’t do that job they’ll get fired.
What gives anyone the right to yell at a person working that they don’t want to wear a mask. How do they not comprehend that it is the person’s job to make sure that mask is on. I work in the public in a hospital every single day and I am so sick of people asking why do I make them put this mask on. I don’t make them put the mask on I am just doing my job if you don’t want to wear the mask don’t fly the plane don’t go to the restaurant, don’t go to the hospital, don’t do anything that would require you to wear a mask. If you are going somewhere that requires you to wear a mask for however long of time, suck it up and act like an adult. Put your mask on do whatever you have to do and then when you leave take the mask off. It’s as simple as that if you don’t want to wear the mask don’t go. No one is forcing you to go. But stop criticizing, harassing, and publicly humiliating people who have to do their job. Grow up.
Nothing that right wing Greg Guttfield would do would surprise me. First, I hate wearing a mask, Second, maskscare required in the airport, not just in the plane. Third walking into any airline club without a mask on is against the rules and law. Fourth, he needs to get over it, but testing the rule this rightvwing PIG doesn’t like doesn’t surprise me.
It’s pretty simple to you anti-maskers: quit acting like a spoiled rotten child throwing a temper tantrum by refusing to follow rules. If you don’t like the rules, then don’t be part of society who is actively trying to get us out of the pandemic. Quit being so selfish and ignorant and think that it’s COOL to act like a jerk. Grow up and put on a mask, it really is that simple. I am ashamed of how so many in our population are so self centered and ignorant they can’t put a simple piece of cloth over their mouth AND nose correctly, for the sake of potentially saving the lives of others. And to stupidly entertain your unfounded argument that “masks do nothing” or are just “theater”, let’s say that’s true, which it isn’t. Bit let’s say that MAY be right. What does it hurt you to wear one, other than your selfish need to be RIGHT? It doesn’t. So shut up, put the damn mask on, quit acting like a fool or simply don’t get on a plane. It is so far past the time of being over idiots like you!
Boy, You have an anger management problem. Only a tiny tiny tiny portion of the population throws a temper tantrum Add help me to wear a mask. Of course, that’s what makes the news. It’s not hard to wear a mask, but it’s a pain in the [rear] and Its uncomfortable and of course there’s no hard independent scientific evidence that they’re effective at all. Even Fauci said at the beginning that masks weren’t useful. So I’ll continue to frequent bars, restaurants, sporting events and not wear a mask. In the airport on the guy who’s walking around with a mask around his chin. And on the plane I usually get scolded once or twice on every flight to pull that mask up.
But, of course, you’re free to wear a mask at any time in any place. In fact if you believe they’re really effective you should be wearing a mask the rest of your life. They’ll always be some form of virus or flu out there. as Lord Fauci has said, Covid is here to stay. And if you believe mask protect you from that, you should be wearing that mask the rest of your life.
All of your anger, and you seem to have plenty of it, should be directed at the Chinese government and their negligence and releasing this virus to begin with and their follow up efforts to cover any evidence of their negligence. even lord Fauci has admitted that the Chinese government has not been open to investigations of how the virus was originated.
I disagree that “masks don’t work.” I haven’t gotten Covid and I haven’t been sick AT ALL since I started wearing the mask. I almost always used to get sick after a flight. Plus, I work intermittently at a daycare center. Anything the kids had, I’d get. But I’ve made it through a season of runny noses and coughing and sneezing and haven’t caught a thing. It’s been great being healthy this winter. I intend to wear a mask on a plane and at work long after mask mandates have been lifted.
Glad you haven’t been sick. I’m not saying masks don’t work but your keeping well could also be attributed to your having been vaccinated. G-d designed the human body to be able to deal with viruses and I’ll take a couple of colds a year over a Federal mask mandate, even though I don’t believe that lifting the mandate will cause that, given the high quality of air in the plane and also, hopefully, a new willingness of infected people to stay at home until they recover.
The first problem with this reporting is giving ANYTHING said by ANYONE remotely associated with Fox and credence at all. The old axiom can be applied to them: “If their lips are moving, they’re lying”.
What’s the second problem?
If you pay attention to the first problem (and think for yourself), there is no second problem. Consider the source, ignore it, get on with life.
He’s ranting. He has issues. People like that can’t track past content that won’t fit on a bumper sticker.
This article – an intransigent conflation of health, politics and travel – was a bad, simpering idea.
Even though your assessment of Fox is not accurate, almost everyone is saying the same. The Senate recently passed a bill to end the mandate and they are not controlled by the Right.