Airlines for America (A4A) said member carriers supporting the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in conducting public and employee temperature screenings would offer ticket refunds to those impacted by the action.
A4A said carriers have agreed to voluntarily pledge to refund tickets for any passenger who is found to have an elevated temperature, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, during a screening process conducted by federal authorities before travel.
A4A and its member carriers expressed support for the TSA’s temperature screening initiative last month. The effort serves as one of several public health measures recommended by the CDC amid the COVID-19 pandemic – adding an extra layer of protection for passengers as well as airline and airport employees.
Additionally, officials maintain temperature checks provide additional public confidence while indicating all screening processes are the government’s responsibility – ensuring procedures are standardized, providing consistency across airports so travelers can plan appropriately.
In April, A4A’s carrier members announced they would require customer-facing employees and passengers to wear facial coverings over their nose and mouth throughout the journey — during check-in, boarding, in-flight, and deplaning. A4A’s member carriers all meet or exceed CDC guidance and have implemented intensive cleaning protocols, in some cases, to include electrostatic cleaning and fogging procedures. Airlines have also implemented a range of policies — such as back-to-front boarding and adjusting food and beverage services to reduce interaction.