Consumer Reports: Airline problems during pandemic

Airlines are struggling to provide socially distanced flights during the pandemic.

THIS PAST JUNE, DANNY BUSHBOARDED AN AMERICAN AIRLINESFLIGHT, WITH HIGH HOPES THATSHE'D FLY IN A SAFE ANDHEALTHY ENVIRONMENT.

"THEY PUTOUT THE DIALOGUE AS IF THEYWERE BEING VERY SAFE ANDCONSIDERATE FOR COVID, BUTWHEN YOU ARRIVED AT THEAIRPORT NONE OF THOSE THINGSWERE HAPPENING." ONCE SHEBEGAN BOARDING, SHE WASAPPALLED TO SEE CROWDEDBOARDING AREAS, PASSENGERSWITHOUT MASKS, AND AJAM-PACKED FLIGHT WITH MIDDLESEATS FILLED.

HER 20-YEAR-OLDSON HAS A SUPPRESSED IMMUNESYSTEM, SO SHE TAKES SOCIAL-DISTANCING VERY SERIOUSLY.

"IHAD ANXIETY THE ENTIREFLIGHT." SINCE DANNY'S FLIGHT,AMERICAN AIRLINES SAYS IT HASTIGHTENED ITS REQUIREMENTS FORFACE COVERINGS AND NOWPROHIBITS ANYONE OVER THE AGEOF 2 FROM FLYING WITHOUT AMASK.

WHILE SOME AIRLINES MAKEMASK-WEARING MANDATORY AND AREBLOCKING OFF MIDDLE SEATS,CONSUMER REPORTS HAS FOUNDAIRLINES' COVID PRECAUTIONSARE ALL OVER THE MAP.

CHYRON:BILL MCGEE, CONSUMER REPORTSAVIATION EXPERT "IN MANY CASESTHE POLICIES ARE CONFLICTING.SO, IF YOU'RE FLYING ON TWODIFFERENT AIRLINES ON THE SAMEDAY, YOU MAY VERY WELL HAVETWO DIFFERENT SETS OF RULES."CR SAYS WITHOUT FEDERAL RULESIN PLACE, AIRLINES WON'T BEHELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR MAKINGTHEIR FLIGHTS AS SAFE ASPOSSIBLE.

"THE DEPARTMENT OFTRANSPORTATION HAS NOT STEPPEDUP AND HAS NOT PROTECTEDCONSUMERS AS WE BELIEVE THEYSHOULD." IN THE MEANTIME, IFYOU MUST FLY, HERE'S WHAT YOUCAN DO NOW TO KEEP YOURSELFSAFE.

BEFORE YOU BOOK, CONTACTTHE AIRLINE AND ASK IF THEYGUARANTEE EMPTY MIDDLE SEATS,AND HOW STRICTLY IT ENFORCESMASK- WEARING.

PACK A GO-BAGWITH EXTRA MASKS, HANDSANITIZER, AND SANITIZINGWIPES.

WHEN YOU BOARD, CLEANYOUR SPACE.

WIPE DOWN THE AREAAROUND YOU -- EVEN THE AIRNOZZLE ABOVE.

AND BLAST THATAIR FROM THE NOZZLE DIRECTLYONTO YOUR FACE FOR THE ENTIREFLIGHT.

AS FOR DANNY BUSH, SHEPLANS TO FLY AGAIN THIS MONTHWITH A DIFFERENT AIRLINE, ANDHOPES THAT MORE PEOPLE WILLFOLLOW SOCIAL- DISTANCINGGUIDELINES THIS TIME.ONE EXPERT TOLD CONSUMERREPORTS -- THE SAFEST PLACE ONA PLANE IS THE WINDOW SEAT, ASFILTERED AIR COMES IN DIRECTLYABOVE YOUR HEAD.

YOU'LL ALSOHAVE FEWER INTERACTIONS WITHPEOPLE PASSING BY YOU IN THE