If you’re planning to travel, it might be a good idea to know which of these airlines still prioritize customer safety. Delta Air Lines is known for blocking the middle seat for domestic flights. Compared to other airlines, it has prioritized health policies over profits. Apart from preventing packed flights, Delta also has one of the best cancellation policies in the industry.
NerdWallet even rewarded Delta a 5.0 rating for how the airline performed during the pandemic. That’s the highest rating compared to other airlines such as JetBlue, Southwest, Frontier, Hawaiian, American, United, and Spirit. United never blocked its middle seat while American only did it briefly.
The industry also funded a Harvard University report to lure travelers to book their flights. The report concluded that the virus has a low chance of spreading inside an airplane due to its high-grade air filters and ventilation systems.
Bringing the Middle Seat Back
By May 1, the middle seats are back in Delta. Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian said that 65% would’ve had their first dose of the vaccine by then. He said that it is “giving us the assurance to offer customers the ability to choose any seat on our aircraft”.
He added that with vaccinations in place, “we’re ready to help customers reclaim their lives”. However, masks are still going to be required by Delta Air Lines. Along with the middle seat, Delta is bringing back snacks and beverages by mid-April.
The airline also said that their ticket sales will be good through 2022. Also, they are giving travelers time to use their points that they’ve gained from the carrier’s credit card.
It is no secret that the airline industry has suffered from the pandemic. However, in recent weeks, it seems that the airline industry is making a comeback. Some airlines even added new destinations. For almost three weeks, air travelers exceeded 1 million daily. On the other hand, CDC’s stance is still against non-essential travel even for vaccinated individuals.
