Many of the everyday habits of people around the world have been adversely affected as a result of the current 2019 Novel Coronavirus pandemic, which was officially declared by the World Health Organization exactly one year ago this coming Thursday…
…So How Long Can You Keep Your Mask Off Aboard an Airplane While Eating or Drinking?
…and wearing masks — or cloth covering over the nose and mouth — has become de rigueur virtually everywhere in the world; and to the chagrin of many people who refuse to wear masks for a plethora of reasons which range from political to religious to health to freedom to cultural to fashion to environmental to comfort to being told one year ago yesterday by representatives of virtually every governmental and health organization in the world NOT to wear masks.
One of the places where masks are strictly required to be worn is aboard an airplane — from before boarding for the first time prior to a flight through leaving the airplane for the last time — except for while eating or drinking aboard an airplane.
Members of FlyerTalk discuss a controversial decision by a passenger aboard an airplane — who seemed to prioritize seeking media attention over simply sending a message on something which he believes — to keep his mask off while slowly nibbling on nuts and sipping on a beverage during the entirety of a recent domestic flight from Oulu to Helsinki aboard an airplane operated by Finnair. The passenger in question brought the nuts aboard the airplane himself — whereas the beverage was served to him by a flight attendant.
That antic reportedly cost him the privilege of flying as a passenger on airplanes operated by Finnair for six months — he was supposedly warned by a member of the flight crew to wear a mask — and although he was not official arrested, he was met by law enforcement officials at the airport in Helsinki after the airplane landed safely.
“Well, everyone is willing to execute this guy without knowing what really happened.on board”, advised FlyerTalk member OH-LGG. “Relax.”
FlyerTalk member mpkz responded that “Even his own videos explaining the situation make him look like a tool who decided that since Finnair had no specific rule about when you can take your mask off to eat, eating nuts the entire flight is fine. The guy took this version of events public thinking that he would come out looking good. In his videos, you can hear him talking to police who ask him things like ‘many other passengers think you were acting unreasonably, why would they say that if you weren’t?’”
Yes — the passenger actually recorded his explanation pertaining to his experience.
Summary
When I traveled by airplane between Atlanta and Denver recently, I wore a mask throughout the entire flight — except when I consumed snacks and beverages which were provided by members of the flight crew aboard the airplane. At no time was I aware of any time limit of which I was permitted to eat or drink while not wearing a mask or cloth covering over the nose and mouth.
I do not like wearing a mask and try not to wear one whenever possible — but I would not even think of prolonging my eating and drinking aboard an airplane simply to avoid wearing one as long as possible. To me, that is like the employee who works harder to avoid work rather than simply doing the job he or she gets paid. If a private entity requires that I wear I mask, I either usually comply with that restriction or choose to avoid that private entity altogether.
I chose not to directly link the video or the story in this article for the aforementioned reasons. Rather, I am simply curious as to what is the longest acceptable duration of time a mask may be kept off of the face while eating or drinking aboard an airplane.
What do you think?
Other articles at The Gate which deal with the topic of masks include:
- Tightly Fitted Masks Reduced Exposure By Approximately 95 Percent, According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Masks Must Be Worn While Traveling: Mandatory Order by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Disgusting How Masks Seem to Be Everywhere
- 14 Reasons Why Anyone Would Want to Wear a Mask
- 14 Reasons Why Anyone Would Refuse to Wear a Mask
- The Debate Over Wearing Masks
- Face Covering? No Face Mask? Why Seemingly Conflicting Information From Two Reliable Sources
- Should Passengers Be Required to Wear Masks Aboard Airplanes?
- Earth Day 2020: More Littering of Contaminated Gloves and Masks From the 2019 Novel Coronavirus
- Stop the Spread of Littering Contaminated Gloves and Masks, Please
- Update August 4 2020: Face Masks Required at These Rental Car Facilities in the United States
- Face Masks Required at These Rental Car Facilities in the United States Effective as of July 27, 2020
- Face Mask Policies Further Restricted by Marriott and Delta Air Lines
- Face Mask Requirements to Become Standard at Lodging Properties in the United States
- Stricter Requirements for Wearing Masks By Delta Air Lines
- Georgia Governor Sues Atlanta Mayor to Block Mask Requirement
- Is Wearing Masks Required or Not in Atlanta and Its Airport?
- Update: Passengers Must Wear Face Coverings or Masks With These Airlines Based in the United States
- Passengers Must Wear Face Coverings or Masks With These Airlines Based in the United States
- Are Masks Effective Against 2019 Novel Coronavirus That People are Stealing Them?
All photographs ©2018 and ©2020 by Brian Cohen.
