More flights, empty middle seats: How are airlines adhering to social distancing?

While it has become the norm for passengers to wear masks while on planes, social distancing has sometimes been ignored.

Many videos and photos have shown crowded flights with passengers next to one another during the coronavirus pandemic.

So what are airlines doing to protect its travelers and adhere to social distance guidelines?

American Airlines

Earlier this spring, American Airlines announced it would “not assign 50% of main cabin middle seats or seats near flight attendant jump seats” on flights, but it did not enforce a capacity on its flights.

The airline will now notify travelers if their flight is crowded and will allow them to move to another open flight without any additional cost.

“American customer service agents also may reassign seats to create more space between customers or to accommodate families who need to be seated together,” the airline stated Wednesday. Passengers will also be allowed to move to another seat once boarding is complete.

United Airlines

United announced an initiative that includes limiting passengers’ abilities to choose their seats in advance. It will now allow customers to choose a different flight if their plane is more than 70% capacity.

“We’ll do our best to reach out about 24 hours before departure and we’ll also provide options at the gate,” United said on Twitter.

The policy change came after Ethan Weiss tweeted a photo of doctors and nurses onboard a full United plane on May 9. He said people on the plane were scared and shocked.

Delta

Middle seats will be blocked on Delta flights, as well as “select” aisle and window seats, the airline announced this month. Additionally, seats will be capped at 50% in the first class section and 60% elsewhere.

Other rule changes will allow gate agents “to determine how to best seat customers consistent with the temporary changes” it has implemented.

The changes are in effect through June 30.

To ensure flights are no more than 60% full, Delta announced Wednesday it is adding dozens of more flights.

Southwest Airlines

Southwest announced last week it will continue to limit capacity on its flights through July, according to Reuters.

Planes through the airline will have around half the capacity they did last year, Reuters the news outlet reported.

Passengers traveling together can still sit next to one another, but the move allows the airline to give “customers more personal space and practice social distancing,” CEO Gary Kelly said, according to CBS Fort Worth.

Middle seats will also be left open through July on its Boeing 737 planes, Axios reported.

JetBlue

Through at least the July 4 holiday weekend, JetBlue will continue to block “middle seats in rows where parties are not traveling together,” it announced last week.

“On its smaller Embraer 190 aircraft, JeBlue will block aisle seats,” it said.

“Now more than ever, those choosing to travel want as much space as possible,” JetBlue President Joanna Geraghty said. “We are pleased to extend our efforts to keep seats free and help everyone onboard spread out.”

This story was originally published May 28, 2020 at 10:03 AM with the headline "More flights, empty middle seats: How are airlines adhering to social distancing?."