ROTHENBURGER – Airlines return to cattle-pen bookings as pandemic rages

If you’ve ever flown Economy — and who hasn’t — you’ll know what sardines feel like. Or, cattle being herded into a pen.

Airlines are notorious for making comfort a low priority unless you can afford a fancy-schmancy Business or First Class seat. Back in Economy, people are wedged elbow to elbow with no chance of avoiding contact with whoever’s next to us.

This isn’t anything like getting too close to one another in a lineup for a few minutes, taking the bus downtown or even attending an outdoor event. It’s being crammed into a space cheek by jowl for several hours.

The airlines offer assurances that their state-of-the-art air filtration systems are the answer along with Transport Canada mandated mask wearing, temperature scanning and so on.

An official WestJet statement assures passengers that “safety is above all, always.” A nice sentiment but not very reassuring.

Certainly, airlines are feeling the squeeze, but it’s hard to wrap one’s head around what the airlines are doing juxtaposed against the relentless messaging from health officials about physical distancing. Health officials, by the way, who now seem strangely reluctant to criticize the airlines.

Either the federal government needs to step in and insist middle seats remain vacant, or travelers need to take matters into their own hands and simply refuse middle seat bookings.

I’m Mel Rothenburger, the Armchair Mayor.

Mel Rothenburger is a former mayor of Kamloops and a retired newspaper editor. He is a regular contributor to CFJC Today, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a director on the Thompson-Nicola Regional District board. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.

Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group.

by Mel Rothenburger

ROTHENBURGER – Airlines return to cattle-pen bookings as pandemic rages

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