Ready or not, the airline folks are prepared for what they expect to be a busy summer. But the specifics can still be a bit unclear.
1. The Mask Muddle
In the fight against COVID-19, the lawyers have taken over from the doctors. The answer to the question “Will I have to wear a mask or not” is a firm “it depends.” The CDC said you have to wear a mask on public transport, at least through this week, but a judge said “not to fast” and struck down the rule. The CDC will probably appeal, but only if it intends to extend the mandate beyond May 3, which I believe is likely. Similarly, some private-attraction mask or vaccination requirements are under legal attack, with no way to guess the outcomes. COVID-19 still has a few nasty surprises up its sleeve, and you won’t see any permanent worldwide relaxation of mask or vaccination requirements. Clearly, if you want to be able to travel freely this summer — most modes, most destinations, most attractions — you need to be prepared to wear a mask and show a vaccination card or equivalent even if you never actually have to do so.
