We’re barely into back-to-school season and already the worrisome stories are circulating. A USA Today story recently estimated as many as half the U.S. may end up infected with H1N1 aka “swine” flu.
Now, many if not most of those cases could be mild, but the fact remains that no one is quite sure how serious this pandemic could be. A vaccine is being formulated and expected to be available within a few months. But it seems relatively likely that we are going to face a fall with a lot of contagious people.
Perhaps this might be the time for the airlines to step up proactively, and do their part to help keeping the flu from spreading. Which means waiving the $150 change fee for documented cases of H1N1.
As most long-time travelers remember, a doctor’s note used to get you out of any airline change fee. Of course, the fees were a lot smaller, then, in the $50 range, and it was before the airlines decided change fees could be a serious revenue source. Also, to be fair, most people I knew would cheerfully get notes from their family doctors and friends, even when they weren’t really sick.
But these days, nothing short of a death certificate will result in a fee waiver for domestic tickets. And the $150 standard fee is PLUS any fare difference. That means a family of four postponing their trip would pay $600 at least; and with a last minute change, probably much more.
Travel insurance of course is always a good idea. The responsible thing to do for travelers without insurance is to pay whatever it takes to change if there is any chance of being contagious.
In the real world, however, leisure travelers on a budget are likely to be tempted to fly anyway if they are “almost over” the flu, or if they aren’t sure what they have. Which could turn airlines into flying petri dishes. And if a few planeloads of people get sick, it could be one more hard blow to an already reeling industry.
Admittedly flu results aren’t available immediately, and no doubt some people may fly when they are asymptomatic, but it seems like any sick travelers kept off a plane would be a step in the right direction.
By requiring documented H1N1 flu for any fee waiver, airlines could avoid all the vague “My patient isn’t feeling well” notes, and it would be an added incentive for clients to get tested instead of hoping they just have a cold.
In addition, if the flu does become widespread, any serious effort by the airlines to show they are trying to keep their planes healthy could also make people feel safer, and thus more likely to fly.
Other options could include masks and hand sanitizers. No doubt if the flu becomes widespread gate agents and or TSA agents will be also warned to be on alert for potentially ill passengers.
Whatever measures the airlines do or don’t decide to take, however, one thing is for sure. It will be a lot better if they come up with a plan in advance, before the first stories make the nightly news.
photo by Kyle Simourd/Flickr/Creative Commons
Janice Hough is a California-based travel agent a travel blogger and a part-time comedy writer. A frequent flier herself, she’s been doing battle with airlines, hotels, and other travel companies for over three decades. Besides writing for Travelers United, Janice has a humor blog at Leftcoastsportsbabe.com (Warning, the political and sports humor therein does not represent the views of anyone but herself.)
