It must be made of a two-layer material that prevents the discharge and release of respiratory droplets from a person’s nose or mouth.įace coverings with exhaust valves, or masks made with materials such as mesh or lace fabrics or that do not cover the nose and mouth are not allowed.
American AirlinesĪmerican Airlines requires passengers 2 and older to wear a well-secured cloth covering or mask that fits snugly to the sides of the face and covers an individual’s nose and mouth and is secured under the chin.
In fact, on a recent spring break flight from Colorado, I witnessed many families surprised at check-in that their children’s neck gaiters would no longer suffice for an in-flight mask on that airline. In practice, this means a few things may have changed since your last flight when it comes to face masks. airline has had its own rules in place for masks since May 2020, this became federal law in early 2021, which triggered some adjustments in the airlines’ rules. So, what does this all mean for children when flying across the country or beyond? Airline face mask requirements for children (Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy) The CDC does not, however, recommend face coverings for children under the age of 2, so your babies and young toddlers are exempt from the recommendation from the CDC and also from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that children ages 2 and up wear face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain - and this includes airplanes. What about at Disney World or Universal Orlando? Also yes - even when it’s hot.Īnd where do you even buy a mask for a kid? Well, we’ve got you covered - and keep reading for more recommendations below. What if my 2-year-old doesn’t like masks? I know it’s really hard, but, yes, that’s still the rule. You may have questions about these rules, especially if you’re flying with your family for the first time since the onset of the pandemic:ĭo you have to wear a mask on every flight? Yes.įor the whole flight? Yes, except when actively eating or drinking.
#DO I NEED TO BE ON THE PLANE FOR THE UNITED AIRLINE APP TO WORK FREE#
Sign-up for the free daily TPG newsletter for more travel tips and deals. And a few of those stories garnered national attention, such as when a family flying United was asked to deplane when their 2-year-old would not wear a face mask. airlines for not complying with the mask mandates. According to Business Insider, by January 2021, more than 2,500 passengers had been banned from a few major U.S. In fact, airlines are banning passengers who do not comply with the rules. Generally speaking, only travelers under the age of 2 are exempt from the mask requirement, though it does vary a bit from one airline to the next. airlines are no longer blocking middle seats, but require face coverings over the mouth and nose - both in the airport and on the plane for all but a very small number of passengers. Heading into the spring and summer travel season, most U.S. For example, neck gaiters are no longer permitted on several U.S. Not only that - but the “masks” they may have worn on their last flight during the pandemic may not work anymore due to some rules that changed after the mask requirement on planes became a federal mandate in 2021. Now, the answer is likely yes: Your child has to wear a face mask when flying. airlines have required passengers to wear face coverings.īut while there are once again exceptions available for travelers who can document certain medical conditions, kids are not a wholly exempted class.