“As outbreaks of the H1N1 virus inject more frazzle into already-frayed travelers, airlines and their approach to sick passengers are being scrutinized…

The airlines say they are listening to fliers’ concerns and, in several cases, reacting. Some are even specifically looking for swine flu…

Earlier this month, a woman traveling home to Hawaii was ordered by flight attendants to leave a United Airlines plane set to depart Tampa, Fla… The passenger, Mitra Mostoufi, had become suddenly nauseous after taking restless-leg medicine and requested an airsickness bag…

According to Mostoufi, one flight attendant responded: “You’re a health risk,” while another told Mostoufi she might have swine flu and, therefore, had to exit… Although United Airlines suspected Mostoufi carried H1N1, still another United employee tried to rebook Mostoufi on an American Airlines flight, Mostoufi said. She reached Honolulu the next day aboard a United plane.

Flight crews are responsible for determining when passengers are visibly too ill to fly — to protect the “safety and health of all travelers onboard” — and the airline was within its rights to bump Mostoufi, according to United spokesman Rahsaan Johnson.

Should flight attendants, however, have the authority — or be expected — to diagnose swine flu?

‘From H1N1 to heart attacks’
At US Airways, “all employees have information on how to help passengers displaying symptoms of any medical issue, from H1N1 to heart attacks,” said spokesperson Valerie Wunder. “We follow the procedures and protocols as advised by the [U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention], who lists the symptoms of H1N1.”

Problem is, six of the 10 swine flu symptoms listed by the CDC are outwardly silent: sore throat, fever, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. (The other symptoms may include a cough, runny nose and, sometimes, diarrhea and vomiting). Will flight attendants start feeling passengers’ foreheads as they simultaneously scan their ticket stubs?

.Affordability trumps social responsibility
“Ideally, sick people should stay off planes,” said organizational behavior consultant Mary Federico, a New Yorker who has “suffered the consequences” of jetting with contagious seatmates. “But it’s unrealistic to expect that to happen … There is little or no flexibility with flights. Availability and cost and penalties are issues.”

According to an early November poll conducted by the Consumer Travel Alliance, almost 73 percent of the passengers questioned said they would fly with swine flu rather than pay airline rebooking fees (which can cost as much as $250). TripAdvisor.com posed the same query in late October and, according to the Web site, 51 percent of its respondents said they, too, would lug their bags and their H1N1 germs onto scheduled flights rather than pony up change fees.

What’s more, most passengers check in online or at an airport kiosk and “gate agents barely look at a passenger — they only grab your boarding pass,” said JoAnne Kochneff, who owns Travel by Gagnon in Grand Rapids, Mich. “Their job is to board the aircraft as quickly as possible … When would it come to the attention of the airline that someone might be suffering from H1N1?”

Fees waived — with a note from your doctor
To keep sick travelers from flying, United, Continental, Northwest and AirTran Airways all have opted to waive change fees for passengers who postpone their trips due to illness. In most cases, the customers must fax the airline a doctor’s note to dodge the change fee.

“If a passenger has H1N1, we don’t want them to travel any more than they don’t want to travel,” said AirTran spokesman Christopher White. “It’s best for them and best for us that they don’t fly.”

For people who possess non-refundable American Airlines or US Airways tickets, however, change and cancellation fees will still be applied if those customers reschedule their trips due to swine flu, according to spokespersons at both airlines.

“I can understand that the airlines are concerned about bogus medical excuses — they may worry some of the flying public will try to take advantage of the H1N1 scare and use their ‘flu’ as a way to circumvent an airline change or cancellation fee,” said Ann Lombardi, a travel agent at Atlanta’s “The Trip Chicks.” “I know, too, that the airlines are struggling financially and may be reluctant to initiate laxer rules … But something has got to give. And the ball is in the airline’s court.”” ( via msnbc.msn.com) by Bill Briggs

Pointswizard.com Spin: Click here to read the rest of Swine flu puts airlines, travelers in tough spot

“Last spring thousands of travelers canceled trips to Mexico after a swine flu outbreak there emptied beaches and resorts.

Staying home won’t protect you from swine flu now: Forty-six states have reported widespread flu activity.

“The thought that the virus was just a Mexico problem is gone,” said Sondra Wilson, owner of several Travel Leaders travel agency locations in Washington State. “We know it’s here and all around us.” She said her clients are booking travel to Mexico, but trips there and elsewhere are being booked closer to departure dates than in the past.

Q. Is it OK to travel during the swine flu outbreak?

A: The CDC says “some travelers at increased risk of complications from flu may want to consider postponing travel.” The agency identifies those in the high-risk categories as pregnant women, adults older than 65, babies and children under 5, and those with chronic illnesses. If you are in a high-risk category and must travel, the CDC recommends that you talk to a doctor about whether to take flu medications with you in case you can’t get medical care right away. If you are sick, stay home.

Q. Will I face a health screening if I fly?

A. The U.S. is not screening either inbound or outbound air travelers, according to the CDC. But you may face screening in other countries, including having your temperature taken by a walk-by thermal scanner or with an oral or ear thermometer. Last spring and summer, the U.S. State Department received many reports of U.S. citizens who were quarantined in China during the swine flu outbreak. In some cases, they had no symptoms, but had merely been on flights that stopped in Mexico en route to Asia.

Even in the U.S., airlines have the right to deny boarding to passengers for any number of reasons, including sobriety, hygiene and illness, according to Wayne Harvey, president of the Airport Facilities Council of the International Facilities Management Association.

Q. How can I protect myself against swine flu? Should I wear a face mask?

A. The CDC says there is little information on the effectiveness of disposable paper face masks. They are not recommended in most settings.

The most important thing you can do is to wash your hands frequently with soap and water, or use an alcohol-based hand rub. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. To protect others, use a tissue or cough and sneeze into your sleeve.

Frequent travelers have other rituals too. Anne Banas, executive editor of SmarterTravel.com, says she cleans airplane tray tables with sanitizing wipes before using them, and she avoids putting items in the seatback pocket, where previous passengers may have stored dirty tissues.

Bill Miller, who handles business development for CheapOAir.com, avoids drinking out of glasses in hotel rooms, using disposable cups and bottled water instead. He also tries to stay away from breakfast bars and other buffet meals where germs can spread.

Q. If I cancel a planned trip because of swine flu, will I get a refund?

A. Travel suppliers are not obligated to help but it’s worth asking. Last spring, when the outbreak was at its worst in Mexico, some travel suppliers offered credits toward future trips. Some resort chains with hotels in Mexico and other locations allowed travelers to switch destinations if they had availability at hotels elsewhere, but travelers had to book new airfare.” ( via Associated Press)

Pointswizard.com Spin: Click here to read more Tips for traveling safely during flu season

“Let’s all take a deep breath.

Sure the swine flu news is making us nervous — very nervous — just when millions of us are planning our much-needed summer vacations. But that doesn’t mean we should grab the kids and huddle under the covers.

We just have to plan — and travel — smart. So far more than 90 cases have been reported in the United States with the first U.S. death reported Wednesday. The World Health Organization, which has upgraded the influenza alert level, says that given the widespread presence of the virus, current focus should be on “mitigation measures” and urges those who are ill to delay international travel and for those developing symptoms after an international trip to seek medical attention.

Of course, if we are smart, we’re going to avoid “nonessential travel” to Mexico, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has now recommended. (For the latest information, visit www.cdc.gov/travel.)

No need to panic if you have already booked a trip to Mexico. The airlines are waiving change fees and cruise lines are temporarily diverting ships. You should be able to either reschedule or get a refund without penalty for your hotel too.

With every resort offering incredible deals this summer, you shouldn’t have trouble finding an alternate destination for some fun in the sun with the kids.

At the same time, it’s unclear if everyone is heeding the advice of health experts. Tim Smith, spokesman for American Airlines, says the airline is continuing to operate its normal schedule of 42 daily flights to Mexico.

“No agency has asked us to reduce our schedule, though we obviously will continue to monitor demand.” Smith noted that the volume of calls from customers seeking to change their Mexico itineraries has been far less than during a severe weather event.

The most important thing, of course, is to do all you can to keep the gang healthy wherever you’re going.

“Watch the news, since swine flu is an international problem affecting numerous countries,” urges Dr. David Tayloe, the president of the American Academy of Pediatrics (www.aap.org), who has traveled widely with his own four children.

Strict hand washing — for at least a minute — is key, Dr. Tayloe adds.

“Bring hand sanitizer,” adds Atlanta pediatrician and parenting author Dr. Jennifer Shu, editor of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ book on baby and child health. “Teach kids not to touch their faces and avoid sick people.”

“The goal is to avoid crowds and close contact,” says Dr. Meg Fisher, the chairman of the department of pediatrics at the Children’s Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center and an infectious disease expert for the Academy of Pediatrics.

If you are flying, use common sense — keep your distance from people who are coughing, sneezing or who appear ill. Check out the Plane Clean Air Filter, a compact gadget that attaches to the passenger’s overhead nozzle that promises to remove viruses and bacteria from the air stream.

At present, the use of masks in airports and other crowded places is not recommended, says Dr. William Schaffner, chief of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt Medical Center and spokesman for the Infectious Diseases Society of America. “A sick person could use the mask to reduce the risk of infecting others,” he explains. “It is unclear whether the use of such surgical masks will help prevent a person from acquiring infection from others.”

Also, to provide any protection, masks must be used properly. They must cover both the mouth and nose. According to Dr. Fisher, however, young children will probably not take kindly to wearing masks. Adults either, she notes, as many find them uncomfortable.” (via  www.cnn.com) by Eileen Ogintz

Pointswizard.com Spin: Click to read more about – Keeping kids healthy away from home

“As countries around the world look for the right balance between keeping their citizens safe from the swine flu and avoiding undue alarm, international travelers are facing two issues.

The first and more obvious is personal safety: is this a time to stay home and not risk any unnecessary travel, particularly to Mexico? The second is the potential for an unfriendly welcome abroad, as some countries begin to look askance at anyone with the sniffles who shows up at their borders.

Although swine flu cases have now been confirmed in seven countries, and possible cases are being investigated in several more, the focus for Americans remains overwhelmingly on the possible dangers of traveling in Mexico. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that Americans forgo all “nonessential travel” there (wwwn.cdc.gov/travel), and travel companies are giving breaks to travelers who want to cancel reservations.

Many airlines, including American, Continental, Delta, JetBlue, United and U.S. Airways, have relaxed their ticketing policies for travel to Mexico so that passengers who had trips scheduled can postpone them or change plans without change fees or penalties. Hotels, including Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, and online travel agencies like Orbitz.com said they would waive penalties for canceling or changing hotel reservations in Mexico.

Some nations, particularly in Asia, are tightening their borders and immigration controls, and American travelers, along with Mexicans, are finding themselves objects of suspicion. Health officers at three Japanese airports were being deployed Tuesday to check passengers before they got off flights from Mexico, Canada and the United States. Travelers suspected of having the flu would be quarantined and examined further at medical facilities, news agencies reported, citing the Japanese health minister.

At least eight other countries in Asia were checking airline passengers arriving from North America, and China was tightening land border checks as well. Hong Kong, Taiwan and Russia were set to quarantine passengers suspected of having the flu. The outbreak of the swine flu virus, which is believed to spread in the same way as the seasonal flu – from person to person through coughing or sneezing – is raising questions about the cleanliness of the air in airplane cabins. The Association of Flight Attendants is calling for carriers to provide plastic gloves and masks to crew members, as it did during the outbreak of SARS, severe acute respiratory syndrome, in 2003, said Corey Caldwell, an association spokeswoman.

Most of Boeing’s airplanes have air filtration systems with “similar performance to those used to keep the air clean in hospitals, operating rooms and industrial clean rooms,” according to Jim Proulx, a Boeing spokesman. “These filters are very effective at trapping microscopic particles as small as bacteria and viruses,” Mr. Proulx continued. “All Boeing production airplanes have HEPA filters, which are effective at capturing greater than 99 percent of the airborne microbes in the filter air. ” (via mobile.nytimes.com ) By MICHELLE HIGGINS

Pointswizard.com Spin: Click to read more about Swine Flu – What Travelers Should Know