PITTSBURTGH. AND HE SAYS HE HAS PICTURES TO PROVE IT. >> SOUTHWEST AIRLINES ANNOUNCES ON ITS WEBSITE THAT PASSENGERS CAN REBOOK WITHOUT BEING CHARGED CHANGE FEES TO THE COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS. BUT BILL BAUER SAYS HE WAS SURPRISED TO SEE PASSENGERS PACKED ON A FLIGHT TO PITTSBUR FROM FORT MYERS WITHOUT SAFE DISTANCING. HERE ARE PICTURES HE SHARED WITH PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS 4. PASSENGERS APPEAR TO BE SEATED CLOSELY. >> WE GOT TO THE GATE AND IT LOOKED PRETTY FULL AND WE ASKED THE LADY IF IT WAS FILLED AND IT WAS. >> BAUER ALSO SAYS SOUTHWEST CANCELLED TWO OTHER FLIGHTS FROM FORT MYERS TO PITTSBURGH TO HIM, IT APPEARS PASSENGERS FROM THOSE FLIGHTS WERE PLACED ON THE LAST REMAINING FLIGHT FOR THE DAY. WERE YOU ALARMED OR TROUBLED BY HOW CLOSE EVERYONE WAS OH — WHERE YOU ALARMED OR TROUBLED BY HOW CLOSE EVERYONE WAS? >> ABSOLUTELY. >> THIS IS THE STATEMENT FROM SOUTHWEST, IN LIGHT OF THE AVAILABILITY OF EMPTY SEATS ON MOST FLIGHTS DURING THIS TIME, CUSTOMERS ARE INVITED TO SPACE OUT TO SUPPORT SOCIAL DISTANCING. WE WILL CONTINUE EVALUATING AND EVOLVING OUR POLICIES AND IMPLEMENT ANY PROCEDURES NEEDED TO SUPPORT SOCIAL DISTANCING BAUERS SAYS HE AND HIS WIFE HAD BEEN IN QUARANTINE SINCE MARCH 3, IN FLORIDA, UNTIL THEY TOOK THEIR FLIGHT ON SOUTHWEST AIRLINES. HE SAYS IF EITHER OF THEM BECOME INFECTED, THEY WILL REPORT THE INCIDENT TO HEALTH OFFICIALS A ASK THAT SOUTHWEST AIRLINE
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A man was alarmed by a packed flight, claims no social distancing was enforced
Updated: 9:34 PM EDT Apr 28, 2020
Bill Bauer says he and his wife noticed that Southwest Airlines canceled two flights from Fort Myers to Pittsburgh Sunday.Only one flight remained, Flight 3897, and Bauer says it appears that flight also carried passengers from the other canceled flights. The end result was something that made him uncomfortable: no social distancing.”We got to the gate, and it looked pretty full, and we asked the lady if it was filled and it was,” he said.Bauer shared pictures with Pittsburgh’s Action News 4, showing how closely passengers were seated to one another, creating health concerns. Southwest issued a statement regarding their safety protocols amid the spread of the coronavirus: The safety of our customers and employees remains our uncompromising priority. In light of the availability of empty seats on most flights during this time, customers are invited to space out to support social distancing. Southwest offers an open seating policy (no assigned seating) which supports easier physical distancing onboard our aircraft. Additionally, customers traveling with Southwest are encouraged to wear personal proactive equipment, such as masks and gloves. Since we are operating in unprecedented times, we will continue evaluating and evolving our policies and implement any procedures needed to support social distancing and the well-being of our valued customers and employees.
Bill Bauer says he and his wife noticed that Southwest Airlines canceled two flights from Fort Myers to Pittsburgh Sunday.
Only one flight remained, Flight 3897, and Bauer says it appears that flight also carried passengers from the other canceled flights. The end result was something that made him uncomfortable: no social distancing.
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“We got to the gate, and it looked pretty full, and we asked the lady if it was filled and it was,” he said.
Bauer shared pictures with Pittsburgh’s Action News 4, showing how closely passengers were seated to one another, creating health concerns.
Southwest issued a statement regarding their safety protocols amid the spread of the coronavirus:
The safety of our customers and employees remains our uncompromising priority. In light of the availability of empty seats on most flights during this time, customers are invited to space out to support social distancing. Southwest offers an open seating policy (no assigned seating) which supports easier physical distancing onboard our aircraft. Additionally, customers traveling with Southwest are encouraged to wear personal proactive equipment, such as masks and gloves. Since we are operating in unprecedented times, we will continue evaluating and evolving our policies and implement any procedures needed to support social distancing and the well-being of our valued customers and employees.
