United flight attendants raise alarm on crew quarantine protocols

United is telling some flight attendants whose colleagues test positive for COVID-19 to keep flying and monitor for symptoms, three employees said. “Most of us feel that’s unsafe,” said one of the employees. Reuters also viewed around a dozen comments in a private online group for United flight attendants, which expressed unease and frustration about loose quarantine and contact tracing protocols by the airline. The FAA has issued COVID-19 policy recommendations but there are no government mandates on the topic. That has created inconsistent safety protocols across the industry, from how an airplane is boarded and blocking middle seats to inflight service and crew quarantines, unions said. The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, which represents crew at 17 airlines including United, said that it has received complaints from members about United not isolating all crew who have worked with an infected colleague. “We’ve received concerns about quarantine protocols from flight attendants across the industry from carriers we represent and where we’re organizing,” said AFA spokeswoman Taylor Garland, who added some complaints were from flight attendants at Delta. United did not dispute that it tells some to self-monitor and continue working after a colleague tests positive for COVID-19, saying it follows CDC guidance on quarantines for “close contacts.” The CDC defines close contact as being within 6 feet (1.83 m) of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over 24 hours starting from two days before the onset of illness until isolation. “If a flight attendant or pilot meets the criteria, we ask them to quarantine. If not, they are instructed to self-monitor,” United spokeswoman said. <br/>