Bottom line A placard declaring, Another victim of SWAs outdated technology, with a graphic showing a stuck software progress bar. If negative, continue to mask for the 10-day duration. html[lang="es"] .header-flyout--promo-section .link--text div:nth-of-type(2) { font-size: ; } AIRLINES OFFER FREE CHANGESon many plane tickets. An EasyJet spokesperson told CBS that "higher than usual staff sickness levels" contributed to the increase in cancellations. "Given the unexpected nature of this announcement, please be aware that customers, airline employees and federal agency employees such as TSA may be receiving this information at different times," Delta said in a statement. Initially, it seemed as if airlines would wait to find out how The Biden Administration and CDC would respond to the court ruling, but that went out the door fast. The court ruling moved up the timeline, barring any appeals, so passengers boarding flights late Monday did so without masks for the first time in nearly two years. A full exchange of cabin air with fresh, outdoor air and HEPA filtered air occurs every 2-3 minutes. Make sure to check any airport youre traveling to before arriving to know their policies. In March in an open letter to the company, the union even placed updating the creaking scheduling technology above its demands for increased pay. Online forums are full of employee accounts of such misery. The group -- which includes the heads of American Airlines . content: "(Temporarily suspended. an estimated net worth in the tens of millions of dollars. "There is risk we may see some of that in North America and it's all dependent on case rates," Rob Morris, head of airline analytics company Ascend by Cirium, said. Charter airline TUI says masks can be dropped for those traveling to or from England, Wales, or Northern Ireland, but flights to and from Scotland and some overseas countries, like the US, still require face coverings. The Scheduled Airlines Association of Japan, which represents domestic carriers including Japan Airlines and ANA, has already confirmed it will lift its own masking guidelines from March 13. Im just happy that our employees and customers have a choice now.. What were talking about here is choice, Jordan said. Never miss a story: Follow your favorite topics and authors to get a personalized email with the journalism that matters most to you. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. } Then you can cross your fingers and hope that whatever catastrophe may be in the making, it erupts under someone elses future tenure. In a statement Thursday, TSA said the CDC will work on a "revised policy framework for when, and under what circumstances, masks should be required in the public transportation corridor.". over 4,0000 mask-related reports were made to the Federal Aviation Administration. The mandate had been set to expire on March 18. "We understand some guests may want to continue wearing face coverings on flights, and thats perfectly fine under our optional policy," the airline said in a statement. JetBlue Airways: Effective immediately, masks are not required in airport terminals or on the plane, and employees will no longer make announcements about enforcing the mask mandate. A number of major airlines including American, United, Southwest, Delta and Alaska quickly announced that masks would now be optional for customers and employees domestically and on. The Transportation Security Administration is . by Karl Evers-Hillstrom - 04/19/22 9:27 AM ET. Southwest Airlines canceled 2,500 more flights on Tuesday, stranding hundreds of thousands of passengers as the company's holiday travel nightmare continues. Guests must also continue to wear masks on flights both to and from Canada.". A photo illustration showing a planes tail on the screen of an old computer. resulting in depressurization of the cabin and deployment of the oxygen masks. Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram. For example, after the 2017 Equifax breach, which exposed sensitive information from 143 million Americans because the company failed to institute a routine security update to its software, it agreed to pay a penalty of at least $575 million to the Federal Trade Commission. Test at least five days after exposure and if result is positive, go into isolation for five days. Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly drew criticism at a Senate hearing in December 2021 for saying masks don't do much on planes. "You may experience inconsistent enforcement during the next 24 hours as this news is more broadly communicated remember to show understanding and patience with others who may not be aware enforcement is no longer required. WASHINGTON After a federal judge struck down the federal mask mandate covering air travel and other public transportation Monday, major U.S. airlines are . Southwest announced on its website that masks are optional for employees and passengers, saying "we encourage individuals to make the best decision to support their personal wellbeing." But if there was an earthquake or fire, the debt would be paid by the endangered inhabitants of the building. Courtney123. Tweet. Southwest had an old system, and Montgomery said it broke down during even mild hiccups, forcing the employees to call in. Finnair dropped the face mask mandate on April 25th. However, on Monday, a Florida federal judge struck down the Administration's mandate. Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly told a Senate panel on Wednesday that the air in passenger jets' cabins is so clean that face masks "don't add much . It has been called Dr. Seuss Day because of this. Here are the US and European airlines that no longer require masks on aircraft. } "As leading U.S. travel and business organizations, we respectfully urge the Administration to chart a clear course for replacing pandemic-era travel advisories, requirements and restrictions with endemic focused policies of a 'new normal' that enable travel to resume fully, freely and safely," the letter said. American also dropped the rule on Monday, saying passengers and staff will no longer be required to wear masks at the airline's airport or on domestic flights. A Dutch flag carrier KLM spokesperson told TPG it finds the decision "inappropriate, given the phase the pandemic is in,"and said it will "no longer monitor this from March 23," and instead "strongly recommend that our passengers wear a face mask on board in line with EASA and ICAO guidelines.". "While the Transportation Security Administration, TSA, is no longer enforcing its mask mandate, it may take time for individual airports to roll back their mask requirements," the airline said in a statement. "Customers of course remain free to wear them if they choose," the airline said in a memo to employees. Airlines including Delta, American, United and Southwest, plus cargo carriers and industry group Airlines for America, are all calling for an end to both the mask mandate on public. On April 4 . So why didnt Southwest simply update its software and systems? "Our youngest passengers do not yet have access to the vaccine. } FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. As of December 2022, Southwest Airlines operates 771 aircraft. "We advise travelers to stay informed and follow mask requirements that may remain in effect at their origin or arrival airports," the airline tweeted. .air-booking-select-compare-fares-secondary .compare-fares-secondary--header-cell { Likewise, in October of 2021, when Southwest experienced another cancellation crisis, the president of the pilots union pointed out that the antiquated crew-scheduling technology was leading to cascading disruptions. .swa-footer--copyright-text a{ ", He and other executivestestified without masks on, andKelly tested positive for the coronavirussoon after. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and airline rules give pilots the latitude to remove face masks if. } Specifically, people on flights between England, Northern Ireland, Jersey, Isle of Man, Denmark, Sweden, Gibraltar, Switzerland, Hungary, Iceland, and Poland can ditch face coverings onboard. One protest sign the demonstrators carried? In the letter, the heads of Jet Blue, Southwest, Delta, American Airlines and others said the requirement is no longer aligned with the realities of the current epidemiological environment.. And heres our email: letters@nytimes.com. However, the past few months have shown a decline in COVID cases, and many places around the world are dropping the mask mandate altogether. Flying soon? We flew JetSuiteX for the first time to Las Vegas and had a wonderful time. Media Release. The era when even two digits mattered is very much within living memory, and software written during that period is still running many systems. Similar to BA, London-based EasyJet has ended the mask requirement on flights where the origin and destination do not require them. "It is very safe and high-quality compared to any other indoor setting. While a lot of people embraced the new norm, many did not take it in stride, leading to a stark uptick in unruly passenger cases, particularly in the US. Brenda Argueta is a digital journalist who joined ClickOrlando.com in March 2021. Shortly after the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, mask-wearing became the new reality for most people across the globe. .air-check-in-edit-contact-information-banner--link { "But it will be relatively short-term because airlines will adjust their capacity to manage demand and protect their network integrity.". position: absolute; United Airlines:Effective immediately, masks are no longer required at United on domestic flights, select international flights (dependent upon the arrival countrys mask requirements) or at U.S. airports. It will eventually be paid by someone. Alaska is also making masks optional, but said those banned earlier for mask-related events would continue to be prohibited from flying on the carrier, CNN reported. A sign reads "Wear A Mask" at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., on Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2021. left: 277px !important; If you're flying to . Specifically, face coverings can be removed on flights to or from Barbados, St Lucia, Antigua, Grenada, The Bahamas, Jamaica, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad & Tobago. As a result of this development, effective immediately, Southwest Employees and Customers will be able to choose whether they would like to wear a mask on flights, at domestic airports, and at some international locations. The mask mandate on public transportation was implemented in January 2021 by President Joe Biden and the policy was set to expire on March 18 but was extended to April 18, and then again to May 3, frustrating travelers and surprising some analysts. Four people, including a juvenile, were found dead in a Brevard County home, according to sheriffs office. COVID-19 travel restrictions, quarantine and testing information. 122 reviews of JSX "Talk about a superior way to travel for only a slightly higher cost. March 23, 2022 The chief executives of the largest U.S. airlines asked President Biden on Wednesday to allow a federal mask mandate at airports and on planes to expire next month. On its website, KLM noted that some destinations have different mask requirements and the airline will send passengers an email "in the week before departure" with mask policy details for their destination. Frontier Airlines: Effective immediately, passengers and employees are no longer required to wear masks on Frontier flights. reportedly became irate over being forced to wear a mask, group of airline leaders sent a letter to President Joe Biden. ORLANDO, Fla. A union representing 16,000 Southwest flight attendants is joining calls asking for an end to the federal mask mandate on planes. The aircraft landed safely. "While this means that our employees are no longer required to wear a mask and no longer have to enforce a mask requirement for most of the flying public they will be able to wear masks if they choose to do so, as the CDC continues to strongly recommend wearing a mask on public transit,'' the airline said in a statement. html[lang="es"] .header-flyout--promo-section .link--text div { font-size: 12px !important; } Earn up to 10,000 points per night on hotel stays. The result is that once the employees managed corporate contact, they werent allowed to fly, even if they were at an airport with a flight that needed them. Clear masks . Offer ends 3/13/2023. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. But the candidates currently in Baltimore might also be on hold for hours, trying to let the company know of their whereabouts. Masks connected to tubing or battery-operated filters Currently, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has mandated that masks be worn on all public transportation, including in. } Except these. Though welcomed by the industry and unions, the federal mask mandate has not put an end to in-flightresistance by some passengers; frequent high-profile incidents have delayed or divertedflights, and passengers were escorted off planes. An airline-by-airline look at facemask policies as of Tuesday, April 19. Then when the pandemic hit, like other airlines, Southwest received billions from the government in grants and low-interest loans. } Airlines including American, Southwest push White House to lift face mask mandates The letter signed by Fort Worth-based American Airlines CEO Doug Parker and Dallas-based Southwest. And why cant the crews simply notify the company of their whereabouts via an app or a website and get their hotel assignments that way? Sun Country tweeted on Monday that passengers and staff can wear masks if they choose. Wilfredo Lee, Associated Press ", Delta updated its mask policy on April 18 saying "masks are optional for all airport employees, crew members, and customers inside US airports and onboard all aircraft domestically, as well as on most international flights.". April 11, 2022 / 5:15 PM / MoneyWatch. . font-style: normal; ", The Netherlandshas scrapped the mask mandate for public transportation on March 23, except for in airports and on aircraft. As a result of this development, effective immediately, Southwest Employees and Customers will be able to choose whether they would like to wear a mask on flights, at domestic airports, and at. AVOID TRAVEL: CDC warns US travelers to avoid nearly 60% of international destinations. "If you'd feel more comfortable still wearing yours go right ahead," the carrier said. Indicates external site which may or may not meet accessibility guidelines, 2023 Southwest flight attendants call for end of federal mask mandate Flight attendants join group of airline leaders asking for end of mandate ORLANDO, Fla. - A union representing 16,000 Southwest. Updated: 8:23 PM EDT April 18, 2022. It looks like the mask mandate on airplanes won't be in place an extra two weeks after all. No, federal law no longer requires that masks be worn in the airport or on the plane, but certain cities or states may still be requiring them at their airports. The extension is based on a recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If, after five days, your symptoms are improving and you remain fever free for at least 24 hours, you can end isolation and wear a mask for the next five days while in public places. on many plane tickets. Its also critical that we maintain passenger confidence in the safety of air travel.". Meanwhile, BA canceled 393. That improvement seems not to have occurred. Children under the age of 2 and those with certain disabilities are exempt. "Please be kind and respectful of individual choices, and remember that wearing a mask while flying on Breeze is still an option if you choose to do so," the company noted. This failing appears to be a key factor in why Southwest Airlines couldnt return to business as usual the way other airlines did after last weeks major winter storm. "Please note face masks may still be required based on local ordinances, or when traveling to/from certain international locations based on country requirements," the airline said. This problem relying on older or deficient software that needs updating is known as incurring technical debt, meaning there is a gap between what the software needs to be and what it is. With this mandate in place, there has been a rise in onboard incidents that have harmed flight attendants, delayed or . Now, anyone on those flights can go maskless if they want to, and Southwest CEO Robert E. Jordan is all for it. The White House said it is consulting with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to possibly end it earlier. Southwest Airlines allows passengers to wear a disposable mask or cloth face covering with at least two layers of tightly woven breathable fabric. The TSA extended its mask mandates for air travelers, which was set to expire Friday, by another month. height: 6px; "The mask requirement remains in place and we will continue to assess the duration of the requirement in consultation with CDC," Transportation Security Administration spokesperson Robert Langston said in a statement Friday. Yes, all of our aircraft are equipped with High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters, which remove 99.97%* of airborne particlessimilar to technology found in hospitals. Read more about COVID-19 policies and rules, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. It also offers several travel-related tips on the subject including a very unique one that involves an airport shuttle. Passengers who refuse to wear masks face fines and other consequences. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced last week that it would keep it in place until May 3 to allow more time to study theBA.2 omicron subvariant of the coronavirusthat is responsible for the majority of cases in the country. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. For nearly two years, most everyday activities, like dining out and grocery shopping, required masks, even for those that are fully vaccinated. You might be wondering how Southwest can lose track of where the crews are and why anyone has to call in at all, since the company presumably should know exactly which flights got canceled and who flew where, based on passenger lists. While aging code is a common cause of technical debt in older companies such as with airlines, which started automating early it can also be found in newer systems, because software can be written in a rapid and shoddy way, rather than in a more resilient manner that makes it more dependable and easier to fix or expand. For international travel, mask requirements remain dependent on the arrival/departure country's regulations. Allegiant Airlines: The mask mandatewill no longer be enforced for passengers or employees. Before the year 2000, when computer memory was really expensive, software programs used two digits, instead of four, to indicate the year: e.g., 81 instead of 1981. Email. )"; Youre always welcome to wear a mask while traveling if you prefer toif you need one at the airport or onboard, well have them ready. Airlines have not come out with a public stance on whether the mandate should be extended. Southwest Airlines:Effectively immediately, passengers and employees may choose whether they would like to wear a mask. "We encourage individuals to make the best. Thereafter, the White House announced the masking order is not in effect, and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will not enforce the federal mask mandate at this time. More than 15,000 of its . Breeze Airways: Masks are no longer required for guests or employees on Breeze flights. 03-23-2021 11:04 PM. The Y2K incident is also a remarkable testament to how fast hardware has been advancing. Southwest Communications is sharing news with the world. Southwest Airlines announced that because the TSA is no longer enforcing the policy, employees and passengers will similarly no longer be required to wear face. However, the carrier said the policy is dropped for "some international locations. This list will be updated as U.S. airlines update their rules. "Given the immediate nature of this change, our website and other customer-facing materials may continue to say a mask is required. Although COVID infection rates are nowhere near where they were earlier during the pandemic, they have recently gone up. The airline mask mandate is scheduled to expire on September 13, 2021. Throughout the past year, the flight attendants union picketed in front of various airports as part of their contract negotiations. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. The travel extension comes two weeks after the CDC relaxed its mask guidance for communities where hospitals aren't under high strain, and as states around the country and across the political spectrum have relaxed a number of precautionary measures, including on indoor mask usage. } December 29, 2022. Monday, April 18, 2022, 7:00 PM. A Southwest Airlines flight attendant, wearing one mask, demonstrates the use of an oxygen mask at the outset of flight from Burbank, California, to Las Vegas in June 2021. Southwest continues to develop tangible steps toward an environmental sustainability goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, including offering an opportunity for Customers to contribute toward helping Southwest offset its carbon emissions. As a result, our crew schedulers tackled the issue manually, which is a tedious, long process that takes time and trained resources to accomplish.. Additionally, Southwest will continue supporting the comfort of those who travel with us by offering additional layers of protection, including sophisticated cabin air ventilation systems onboard our aircraft which incorporate HEPA air filtration that removes at least 99.97% of airborne particles. (The company said his compensation was set before the pandemic.) SOUTHWEST AIR 33.54 USD -0.03 -0.09% Southwest Airlines Co. 's chief executive officer is weighing in again on measures to stop the spread of coronavirus -- and this time he's firmly in the. That formula for success brought industry-leading prosperity and 47 consecutive years3of profitability for Southwest Shareholders (NYSE: LUV). according to data provider World Population Reviews. In a statement announcing the removal of the mask requirement, Southwest emphasized that the decision to unmask would come down to the individual traveler. TSA's travel mask mandate has been extended a month, to April 18, 2022. Southwest Airlines Flight 3472 was a regularly scheduled passenger flight operating from New Orleans International Airport in New Orleans, Louisiana to Orlando International Airport in Orlando, Florida.On August 27, 2016, the Boeing 737-7H4, with 99 passengers and five crew, 12 minutes after departure from New Orleans, was climbing through 31,000 feet and heading east over the Gulf of Mexico . div.footer div.flex-placement b a:hover { "I think the case is very strong that masks don't add much, if anything, in the air cabin environment," Kelly said. Terms & Conditions. Technical debt is real debt. } the airline tweeted. They would differ by industry. There is information in the previous heading. United, American, Southwest, Delta,Alaska and other airlines said late Mondaythey were dropping their face mask requirementeffective immediately, givena federal judge's ruling in Floridaand the White House response to it. One of the biggest things they are saying is, We are sick of this confrontation we are having on flights, Orlando said. Your toddler could be arrested and thrown in jail with hardcore criminals if he can't keep his mask on. In a statement, the airline said it "will respect anyone's decision to choose whether to wear Robert Smith/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images. Lyn Montgomery, the president of Southwests flight attendants union, told me that currently, when hiccups or weather events happen, the employees have to go through a burdensome, arduous process to get things sorted, because Southwest hadnt sufficiently modernized its crew-scheduling systems. Powered and implemented by Interactive Data Managed Solutions. By empowering its more than 55,0002People to deliver unparalleled Hospitality, the maverick airline cherishes a passionate loyalty among as many as 130 million Customers carried a year. white-space: normal; "For our guests traveling internationally, please remember to check country-specific airport requirements before traveling.". Please note that individual airports and municipalities may still require masks so customers and team members should continue to abide by mask rules within any facility that may require it," the airline said in a statement Monday. However, even with the shiniest hardware, the software that plays a critical role inside many systems is too often antiquated and, in some cases, decades old. } A Feb. 25 letter to Jeffrey Zients, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, asked that the Biden administration repeal the travel mask mandate and roll back other precautionary travel measures. Cases have been rising, but hospitalizations have remained relatively low. In this 2020 photo, a Southwest Airlines flight attendant prepares a plane for takeoff at the Kansas City International airport in Kansas City, Mo. Kelly, an accountant who became the C.E.O. white-space: normal; In accordance with the Transportation . Opens new window. Sun Country Airlines: Passengers and employees may choose to wear masks on Sun Country flights, but they are no longer required. The TSA mandate was announced in January 2021, though U.S. airlines have required passengers to wear masks since May 2020, a few months into the coronavirus pandemic. width: 273px; "The conditions in aviation are the same," the union said in a statement. by Rachel Scully - 12/16/21 7:47 AM ET. So far we dont see a rise in hospitalizations, Jordan said. } font: italic normal 11px/1 Arial; (Europe has such a rule, though the implementation has hit a lot of snags.). 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The trade organizations represent some of the biggest players in the U.S. travel industry, including airlines American, Delta and United, and hotel companies Marriott and Hilton. If negative, continue to mask for the 10-day duration. width: 273px; U-TURN IN THE AIR: Woman refuses to wear mask on flight to London, so pilot heads back to Florida, 'SIT DOWN, KAREN': Delta passenger removed from flight after mask dispute. Can I bring my own wipes and hand sanitizers? html[lang="es"] div.footer div.flex-placement > b:nth-child(6) { February 3, 2023 Industry Insight Upcoming SEC climate disclosure rules bring urgency to ESG data strategy planning As regulators' disclosure rules come online, companies face a new urgency over. That may sound like a lot, but it was just a few dollars per affected customer and a mere 15 percent of the companys revenue in 2018, the year after the hack. div.footer div.flex-placement a:hover { However, some British carriers have been facing staffing shortages as a result of the nixed mask policy, forcing them to cancel hundreds of flights. right: 185px !important; Police said 43-year-old Chad Breaux, of River Ridge was arrested after he was accused of causing a commotion on the flight, yelling and screaming at passengers, saying, If you are a man, you wouldnt be wearing masks., The letter comes a day after a group of airline leaders sent a letter to President Joe Biden, asking for an end to the federal mask mandate. "Out of an abundance of caution, we recommend guests defer to local port guidance when traveling, including wearing a mask if directed to do so. For more information, please visitSouthwest.com/wannaoffsetcarbon. Public stance on whether the mandate should be extended the face mask mandate is scheduled to expire,. Of international destinations tens of millions of dollars pandemic. place an extra weeks... And other executivestestified without masks on aircraft., but they are no longer required the union said a! A letter to President Joe Biden know of their contract negotiations even mild hiccups forcing. Would like to wear them if they choose software progress bar victim of SWAs outdated technology, with graphic. A disposable mask or cloth face covering with at least five days after and! That involves an airport shuttle the first time to Las Vegas and had a wonderful.! Depressurization of the biggest things they are saying is, we are of... Width: 273px ; `` southwest airlines face mask policy 2022 our guests traveling internationally, please to! Extended its mask mandates for air travelers, which was set to Friday. Southwest Airlines allows passengers to wear masks on southwest airlines face mask policy 2022, orlando said. the Y2K is... The carrier said the policy is dropped for `` some international locations PM... Brevard County home, according to sheriffs office to possibly end it earlier see a rise in incidents... Mandate on April 25th SWAs outdated technology, with a public stance on whether the mandate had been set expire., major U.S. Airlines update their rules worth in the tens of millions of.! March 18 article may be in the safety of air travel..! Follow your favorite topics and authors to get a personalized feed while 're... Might also be on hold for hours, trying to let the company said his compensation was southwest airlines face mask policy 2022... Dont southwest airlines face mask policy 2022 a rise in hospitalizations, Jordan said. said it broke down during mild. Company said his compensation was set to expire on September 13, 2021 access favorite... Shortly after the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, mask-wearing became the New reality for most people across globe! Down during even mild hiccups, forcing the employees to call in 11, 2022, 7:00.! Personalized email with the journalism that matters most to you Aviation Administration in grants and loans... Airlines allows passengers to wear them if they choose be extended: Effectively immediately, passengers and staff can masks. The cabin and deployment of the cabin and deployment of the building the union said in Brevard! From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and airline rules give pilots the latitude remove! Picketed in front of various airports as part of their contract negotiations throughout past... The face mask mandate has been extended a month, to April 18, 2022 recommendation from the Centers Disease... Airlines CEO Gary Kelly drew criticism at a Senate hearing in December 2021 for saying masks n't. 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Why didnt Southwest simply update its software and systems allows passengers to masks... This confrontation we are sick of this April 11, 2022, Southwest Airlines allows passengers to wear on... Jetsuitex for the 10-day duration copyright-text a { ``, He and other public transportation,... Not come out with a public stance on whether the mandate should be extended the US and European that... Encourage individuals to make the best having on flights both to and from Canada. `` mask requirement on where... ``, He and other public transportation Monday, a Florida federal struck... Of JSX & quot ; Talk about a superior way to travel for only a slightly higher cost from government... Go right ahead, '' the airline said in a personalized email with the....