Alaska Airlines has expanded its Next-Level Care safety measures following consultation with infectious disease experts at long-time medical advisors, UW Medicine.
“Caring for our guests and employees and ensuring their safety has always been our number one priority. COVID-19 has touched all of us in some way and it prompted us to fundamentally change the entire travel experience,” said Alaska Airlines CEO Brad Tilden. “Next-Level Care has been informed by medical experts, employees and guests, to ensure our customers are safe, whenever they’re ready to fly.”
The nearly 100 different measures put in place are designed to enhance the safety and well-being of guests and employees, starting with a pre-travel wellness agreement. From 30 June, flyers will be required to complete a health agreement during check-in and verify that they haven’t exhibited COVID-19 symptoms in the past 72 hours, come into contact with someone who is symptomatic and agree to bring and wear a face mask or covering.
Until 31 July, middle seats will continue to be blocked and flights will be capped at 65% capacity to allow for extra space between guests not traveling together. Families or large groups can request to sit together by calling Reservations.
Other measures include the compulsory wearing of face masks for all passengers aged over 12, and for all airline employees. Personal hand sanitising wipes will be available onboard starting in July.
Alaska Airlines also claims to be exceeding CDC cleaning guidelines, using high-grade, EPA-certified disinfectant to clean critical areas throughout the plane. Overnight every plane receives a deep clean and all surfaces, including high-touch areas, are sanitised.
In addition to traditional cleaning with high-level disinfectant, planes are sanitised with electrostatic sprayers that disinfect surfaces throughout the cabin. The electrostatic sprayer allows the disinfectant to wrap around and cling to curved and cornered surfaces for an additional level of protection.
Guests now board by row numbers in smaller groups, from the back to the front, to enable appropriate spacing, while to reduce interaction between flight crews and guests, in-flight food and beverage service has been temporarily reduced. All seatback content except for the safety card has been removed to limit the spread of germs.
UW Medicine medical advisor Dr. Chloe Bryson-Cahn, an infectious diseases physician and infection prevention expert commented: “People should think of flying the same way that they would when they shop at a grocery store. Wear a mask, wash your hands, or use hand sanitiser, cover your cough and stay home if you have any COVID-19 symptoms. We’re all in this together.”
