Allegiant Air Requiring Face Masks for All Passengers

Part of our "new normal" has been the (strong) encouragement to wear a face mask anytime we're in public to help slow the spread of COVID-19. In many, if not most, cases, businesses do not require you to have a mask on in order to be inside their establishment or utilize their service. However, airlines starting bucking that trend over the past few weeks, many of them now requiring all passengers to wear a mask while on board one of their planes. That includes Allegiant who announced their will being the policy starting Thursday (July 2nd, 2020).

Allegiant of course offers flights both to and from Evansville and Owensboro to Sanford and Fort Walton Beach, Florida.

My family and I just returned from a trip to Ormond Beach, Florida, about a 15 to 20 minute drive north of Daytona Beach, the week of June 15th and flew round-trip on Allegiant out of Owensboro. Since air travel has taken a huge hit due to the pandemic, airlines have dropped their ticket prices in the hope in will entice people to fly again. I can tell you the cost for my family of four to fly round-trip was considerably cheaper than what it would have cost to drive once you factor in gas, and the occasional stop for food. Plus, a trip that would have taken us roughly 12 hours if we drove, took just under two.

Obviously, at that time, the airline was not requiring passengers to wear masks, but where providing disposable ones to those who wanted them. Despite there being no requirement, my family and I did wear the masks we brought ourselves on both our flight there and the return flight home.

According to a statement on Allegiant's website, "all customers are required to wear a face covering over their nose and mouth at all times when traveling..." However, there are a few exceptions:

Children ages 2 and under are not required to wear a face covering.
Those with medical conditions that prevent the use of a face covering must provide physician documentation to the gate agent one hour prior to departure.
Face coverings may be briefly removed to eat or drink, but otherwise must be worn at all times including at the ticket counter and gate, during boarding and while onboard the aircraft.

In the event you don't like the idea of being told you must wear a mask, and decide you'll fly with another carrier instead to avoid it, you won't like what I have to say next. American, Delta, and United, all of which provide service to and from Evansville, as well as Cape Air who also provides service to and from Owensboro, are also requiring passengers where masks on board and throughout the duration of the flight. According to an article by Catherine Hamm on the Los Angeles Times website, most if not all major carriers will now require passengers to wear masks while on their planes.

[Source: Allegiant Air / Los Angeles Times]