Last week, U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle struck down the requirement for passengers to use masks when traveling between states, ruling that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention overstepped its authority by imposing the mandate.
And Americans gave pollsters conflicting views on the decision.
Most traction in the national media was gained by a poll conducted by the Associated Press and NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. That was predictable, since the media largely support the mandate.
The AP-NORC survey found that 56 percent of Americans favored requiring passengers on airplanes, trains and buses continue to wear masks. Just 24 percent opposed the requirement.
That was on Wednesday.
On Friday, lesser coverage was generated by a Rasmussen Reports poll, which found that 51 percent believed striking down the mandate was correct. Just 34 percent disagreed.
Whichever side one was on, though, the end result was that passengers who wanted to wear masks were free to make that choice.
But at least one airlines is willing to help those who don’t want to partake of this newfound freedom from the Biden administration’s grasp.
As Breitbart News reported on Sunday, “United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby has now confirmed his airline will be flexible with people who have a weak immune system or are simply scared about mask-optional flying for any other reason.”
“We are working with those customers … to find another option, give them a credit, or if they just don’t ever want to fly again, (we are) actually willing to give them a refund,” Kirby told NBC, according to Breitbart.
Similarly, American Airlines was open to the idea.
According to Breitbart, American customers “except those on the lowest-priced ‘basic economy’ fares can delay their travel plans for any reason with no extra fee.”
Company CEO Robert Isom noted, “Like we do in all these events, we are taking a look at our policies and … asking them to get in touch with our reservations office, and we will make sure that we accommodate them in an appropriate fashion.”
Breitbart reported that Delta Air Lines would handle such requests on a case-by-case basis.
Perhaps explaining why so many Americans cheered the ruling, the outlet also reported that Judge Mizelle’s decision came more than a year after President Joe Biden indicated the masking policy would be for 100 days.
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But the mask keeps you safe???