Ask the Captain: Do quarantine rules apply to airline passengers making connections?
Am I correct in understanding that the various quarantine requirement policies enacted by several U.S. states do not apply to passengers who are only making connections and not leaving the secure areas of the airport? I cannot fly direct from California to Washington, D.C., without making a connection so this is not a surprise I can afford to get caught up in.
– Bruce, SoCal
It is a good question. I have looked at numerous websites but cannot find a definitive answer as to whether connecting passengers are exempt from the 14-day quarantine rule for visitors from states with high infection rates.
For instance, the FAQs for the quarantine policies in New York state, New Jersey, Connecticut and Chicago say they "do not apply to any individual passing through designated states for a limited duration (i.e., less than 24 hours) through the course of travel."
I would hope common sense would say that a connecting passenger would not be required to quarantine but I haven't found an official source that confirms that.
The bottom line is that without knowing which airline you are flying or which airports and states you'll be connecting through, it's hard to give you a straightforward answer. I suggest you check the websites for the airport(s) as well as those of the governor or health department in those state(s). And if you have time to get a COVID-19 test before you travel, bring the negative result with you as an added layer of insurance.
Domestic travelers, take note: These states still require travelers to self-quarantine or present negative COVID-19 test
How is the plane balanced before each flight? Who is responsible for checking this has been done properly?
– Brevan Adams, Littleton, Colorado
The loading of the airplane to ensure that it is properly balanced is the captain’s ultimate responsibility, as stated in the Federal Aviation Regulations.
Larger operators have specially trained ground agents that supervise the loading and calculations. The captain then reviews it and may sign the document showing his/her approval.
John Cox is a retired airline captain with US Airways and runs his own aviation safety consulting company, Safety Operating Systems.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Do quarantine rules apply to airline passengers making connections?
