- United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said customers who don’t want to fly without a mask requirement could get a refund.
- According to Kirby, United has a flexible change policy and most ticket types allow the fare to be applied to future travel.
- A United spokesman said travelers should call customer service for more information.
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Travelers who have concerns about flying without wearing a mask may be able to get their money back if they decide to cancel a United trip.
United CEO Scott Kirby told the Today Show on Thursday that the airline is ready to issue refunds or flight credits to customers who no longer wish to fly after a federal judge lifted the mask mandate on airplanes and public transportation on Monday. United is one of several airlines that have opted to make masks optional for passengers since the ruling.
“All of our customers should feel free to wear a mask, and many of them do,” Kirby said. “For those customers who are immunocompromised or have other concerns or issues, we work with those customers if they really don’t want to fly.”
United spokesman Josh Freed told Insider that travelers who want a credit or refund don’t need a reason to make a change or cancel their flight, such as a reason. B. have a weakened immune system or a child under 5 years old for their situation,” he said.
Freed didn’t specifically confirm that a refund will be an option in all cases, but emphasized United’s flexible change policy, adding, “For most ticket types, customers can apply their fare through the end of 2023.”
However, basic economy tickets do not allow changes. However, they can be canceled for a fee, with the remaining credit kept as flight credit, or the ticket can be upgraded to Standard Economy for a fee and then changed, The Points Guy reported.
United’s decision comes as many travelers express concerns about the safety of maskless flights, although Kirby said he doubts the mandate will return “anytime in the foreseeable future”.
In response to the directive, several consumers took to social media this week to air their grievances.
“Masks required or not, wearing an N95 on airplanes and other enclosed public spaces helps protect yourself and others from Covid-19,” wrote psychiatrist Benjamin Veness Twitter. “I don’t want to get sick, but there are also two elderly people across from me; if I’m an asymptomatic carrier, I don’t want to risk infecting them.”
dr Emily Ricotta, a Baltimore-based epidemiologist, expressed similar views on twitterwriting that she was double masked on her flight on Thursday.
Despite the concern, Kirby told Today that planes and airports are two of the safest places to be in relation to COVID-19 because of the highly effective air filters. Still, he assured customers who don’t want to fly will be given options.