On Southwest flights, empty middle seats are cold comfort

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I had my own row, but there were people behind and in front of me and across the aisle.

My flights went smoothly enough. I kept my face mask on until it was time for the meal service, or should we say snack service.

COVID-19 has changed the in-flight routine for the worse.

Water with ice was the only drink option. The flight attendant served it alongside a package of snack mix. Southwest Airlines has never been generous with food — small snack bags are their standard fare.

I sorely missed the pre-pandemic complimentary drink choices that included juices, sodas and coffee.

The flight attendant said the water came from a can. So, if airline personnel have to pour the water into a cup, would it be more dangerous pouring soda into the plastic cup? Is there something about soda that makes it a more welcoming transmission vehicle for the coronavirus than water? Is this about COVID-19 or Southwest saving a few pennies per passenger, given management’s concern about the bottom line?

As for Southwest keeping planes limited to 65 percent capacity, what happens after Sept. 30 is unclear.

At the end of September, the billions of dollars Southwest and other airlines are receiving in federal stimulus aid runs out. The money is used largely to help keep flight crews, ticket agents and reservation agents employed.

If passenger demand rebounds, Southwest may be forced to sell beyond 65 percent capacity starting on Oct. 1 if it wants to once again make money and avoid laying off employees. Airline analysts say it’s impossible for Southwest to make a profit keeping one-third of its seats empty.

For now, Southwest is one of three major airlines not selling all of their seats. Delta Air Lines and JetBlue Airways are the others.

On the other side of the aisle are United Airlines and American Airlines, which decided recently to stop blocking off seats. They’re selling every space they can. The airlines are in the worst financial shape among major carriers.

Pictures on the internet of packed planes show it’s a real possibility that flyers will be seated six to a row.

United officials defended their practice of filling planes in a recent news briefing.

“Look, when it comes to blocking middle seats, that’s a PR strategy,” United spokesman Josh Earnest said. “That’s not a safety strategy.

“When you’re on board the aircraft, if you’re sitting in the aisle, and the middle seat is empty, the person across the aisle from you is within 6 feet of you,” he said. “The person at the window is within 6 feet of you. The people in the row in front of you are within 6 feet of you. The people in the row behind you are within 6 feet of you.”

What he said was true, as I saw on my flights. Social distancing was impossible, even though I had my own row.

Earnest said United was taking steps to keep passengers healthy on its planes, including requiring customers to wear masks, offering top-grade filtration systems and thorough plane cleanings.

Other airlines also speak of their mask polices, their hospitalgrade air filtration systems and sanitization policies.

For me, though, the empty seat next to me was a comfort, albeit a small one. Besides, who doesn’t enjoy sitting next to an empty middle seat?

It may not do much to protect me from the virus, but at least I won’t feel crammed during my trip.

randy.diamond@express-news.net

Tony Gutierrez / Associated Press Southwest is selling only 65 percent of its seats through Sept. 30 to keep the middle seats open.