[DeanFL]

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Oh Oh. I'm flying SWA to West coast then Midwest and back home next month.
Mental note - Only drop mask to take a sip, take a bite - then IMMEDIATELY back.
Follow Directives to a T, or....


Man says he was kicked off Southwest flight for failing to put his mask on — between bites of food.

One minute Avi Mandel was minding his own business on a Southwest Airlines plane before takeoff this weekend and eating a box of Twizzlers — and the next minute, he was kicked off the Florida-bound flight.

Mandel told WBZ-TV that he had been a frequent Southwest customer — that is until his Sunday flight from Thurgood Marshall Baltimore Washington International Airport to Fort Lauderdale.

While waiting for the flight to take off, Mandel told the station he got hungry and opened a pack of Twizzlers — and naturally when one eats, a mask makes that kind of awkward. So he removed his mask.

Then a flight attendant told Mandel he had to put his mask on, WBZ said, and he recalled that she "kind of, like, ran away. And I'm like, 'Oh, I guess she didn't know I was eating.' Then I hear on the loudspeaker, 'Everyone who's eating has to wear mask in between bites.'"
Suddenly, the plane returned to the gate, and a security team entered the plane to escort Mandel off, he told the station.
There was no drama. Mandel told WBZ he remained calm and respectful despite feeling embarrassed — but other passengers stuck up for him.

He showed the station video of passenger Stephanie Misiaszek telling the security team, "That is so wrong. He did nothing wrong. Wow."

The team was also told, "He was eating. Oh my God."

After departing the plane, Mandel appeared on a video clip saying, "I, Avi Mandel, just got kicked off a plane because I wasn't wearing my mask in between my bites while I was eating."
Mandel told WBZ he was rebooked on the next flight to Florida Monday morning but won't fly Southwest again any time soon.

"It was absurd," he told the station. "The way I was treated was absolutely absurd. It was crazy, and it wasn't fair."

Mandel added to WBZ that "there was no warning of it, there was no explanation, there was nothing. It was just a matter of, like, 'I don't like you; get off the plane.'"

After he emailed Southwest, the station said he learned that a new federal mask mandate went into effect in February requiring passengers to wear face masks at all times — including "in between bites."

"If I knew this rule ahead of time, I would have happily listened, but I had no clue," Mandel told WBZ.
The Transportation Security Administration told the station that airline passengers can remove masks while eating, drinking, or taking medications — but they must put them on between bites and sips and cannot leave them off for "prolonged periods."

Mandel maintained to WBZ that the rule that got him kicked off the flight wasn't addressed beforehand.

"I think it could be handled a lot better, and I think the rule could have been placed better," he told the station. "I always do follow the rules. I'm on their plane, I get it. But this was not a rule I knew of, and it wasn't explained to me. I didn't see it anywhere at that point, so to me, it wasn't a rule that I was breaking. Had I known, I obviously would have done it differently, but you got to tell someone the rule in order for them to follow it."

A Southwest spokesperson told WBZ in a statement that while the airline regrets "any inconvenience caused, the face covering policy is communicated throughout the booking and check-in process, and it's the responsibility of their crew to enforce federal regulations."

Baltimore County Man Says He Was Kicked Off Southwest Flight For Not Wearing Mask While Eating Twizzlers
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[GrumpyOldMan]

There are always 3 sides to stories, his, theirs, and the facts.

I just flew, last month, to Ecuador and back over a 3 week period. I found the airlines and airports to be taking excellent precautions and very willing to discuss rules and help passengers.

I expect there was some confrontation occurring that is not covered on the account.

But, I don't know, maybe the airline just wanted to p**s off a paying customer.

BTW, it was made VERY clear before and during the flight that any violations of masking and separation would result in eviction from the flight and banning any future flights. This was driven home to me over and over again during booking, security, and boarding.

[Gulfcoast]

Originally Posted by Velvet

Jesus went 40 days without eating, fasting is common in most religions and this guy can’t go without eating for a few hours? Oh pleeease.... Entitled brat!

In all fairness, we have no idea when this man last ate.

[manaboutown]

Nuts!

[Velvet]

Originally Posted by Tmarkwald

Really? I can't believe I even wasted these keystrokes to comment.
What a ridiculous comment. Entitled? What - to EAT? are you serious.
I think a medication modification is required....

Medication is a different thing, he said he was hungry. Not a good enough excuse in my book for not following the rules ... he was allowed to eat IF he put his mask on between bites... but no, .... therefore, once more, entitled brat!

[Happinow]

It’s almost laughable. They can seat you elbow to elbow, but you can’t eat or drink like a human. Feel like you are ruled by Hitler.....

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by manaboutown

Nuts!

No, I think it was Twizzlers.

[mixsonci]

Does anyone know if you can wear a shield or does it have to be a mask?

[GrumpyOldMan]

Originally Posted by mixsonci

Does anyone know if you can wear a shield or does it have to be a mask?

On my recent trip, I saw many people wearing shields and masks, I saw no one wearing just a shield. The "'rules" are that you have to wear a mask, the shield I believe was optional.

[GrumpyOldMan]

Originally Posted by Happinow

It’s almost laughable. They can seat you elbow to elbow, but you can’t eat or drink like a human. Feel like you are ruled by Hitler.....

You have made up your mind that people want to deprive you of some god-given rights. I am sorry you feel that way.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by JMintzer

You might want to hone up on your reading comprehension...

He was never given the opportunity to comply with the new rules (which were not relayed to him before the decision was made to kick him off the plane)...

Assuming the passengers is telling us the truth why would they not ask him to please put mask on between bites before kicking him off the plane ?

[GrumpyOldMan]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

Assuming the passengers is telling us the truth why would they not ask him to please put mask on between bites before kicking him off the plane ?

Just because they are part of the worldwide conspiracy to take away all our rights. They have no interest in making customers happy, and could care less about bad press.

[Velvet]

Originally Posted by JMintzer

You might want to hone up on your reading comprehension...

He was never given the opportunity to comply with the new rules (which were not relayed to him before the decision was made to kick him off the plane)...

Oh, and if I remember my New Testament, Jesus preached "compassion", something you're severely deficient in...

Off topic, but I love Tom Petty too.

Airlines can be pretty strict. About 10 years ago I was flying to Florida. I had a cold and I wore a SARS type mask on the plane with my hoodie on my head as I felt chilled. The plane would not leave the run way. After a delay of about an hour, finally a flight attendant came up to me and said my passport didn’t match my name on the ticket. There was a middle initial on my passport which was not on my ticket. They checked me out very thoroughly. I am sure it was because I was wearing a mask and a black hoodie. And I was wearing my mask to keep others from catching my cold! .... They let me stay on after all and the plane took off.

[Gulfcoast]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

Assuming the passengers is telling us the truth why would they not ask him to please put mask on between bites before kicking him off the plane ?

SW is saying that they apprise their passengers of the mask wearing policy before they board the plane. Maybe that means that the passengers receive something in writing at check in, maybe there are signs posted about masking between bites.

This mask between bites thing started in February and it's possible that SW has instructed their attendants to call security rather than try to enforce the rule themselves.

SW is probably worried about getting shut down if they don't enforce the policy, yet, they are concerned about placing their attendants into potentially contentious situations with passengers. It's sort of a no win situation all around.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by Velvet

Jesus went 40 days without eating, fasting is common in most religions and this guy can’t go without eating for a few hours? Oh pleeease.... Entitled brat!

Maybe he just fasted for 40 days? No humans can fast for 40 days. If they do their eating something unless they got Iv feeding tube.