Are people wearing face shields along with masks in the airport?

Following , as I am curious too as we leave soon for BOE.

If you want to wear a face shield along with a mask in the airport you’re of course free to do so. You however shouldn’t rely on or expect fellow passengers to do the same. Especially not in countries where the mask mandate has been dropped.

I flew domestically right after the mask requirement was lifted and there were very few masks on the plane and even fewer in the airport. Maybe 5 - 10% of people wearing masks.

We saw a few people doing this on flights, but it seemed like they added the face shield when boarding (and for the duration of the flight), and only had the mask on when they were in the airport and not crammed up to others. For inter-European country flights, where masking as a whole seemed more lax, I don't think I saw anyone doing this. For what it's worth, my partner and I immediately regretted not bringing face shields when we saw other people doing it - as you said, we would have hated to get exposed and it seems like an easy second-line of defense, especially for longer flights when you have to eat and sleep, and a bit less likely to shift (or become useless due to length of wear/humidity) than just double masking.

I flew internationally in Jan and March out of Toronto. I didn't see more than a handful of people wearing face shields (in addition to masks) in the airports. I didn't notice anyone wearing them on the plane. If it makes you feel better, then wear one. But more important, make sure your mask is well fitting and high quality (N or KN95). A shield without a mask is not going to protect you from the virus, unless someone is coughing into your face.

I flew out of Toronto last October - before Omicron. I took a face shield, but saw nobody else with one. Never did put it on, in the end.

My parents are 80+ (4 doses each) and Mom is at higher risk. Whenever I've traveled (in the US) to see them, I wear a mask and face shield at the airport when I'm in crowded security lines and boarding lines, and while boarding the aircraft. Sometimes I take it off on the plane, sometimes not - depending on case rates and where I'm flying to and from.

I have seen a few others wearing them. I do get second glances, and that doesn't bother me. At the very least, if it adds a tiny bit of protection, my parents are worth it. And if it doesn't make one whit of difference, well that's ok too.

Until now, I've been flying Southwest, where there are no assigned seats. Once I've chosen my seat, I perceive (wrongly or rightly) that people see that face shield and wonder whether they want to sit next to me. Sometimes (I perceive that) I've gotten an empty seat next to me because of it. Conversely, on Day 1 of "no masks on domestic flights," a lady and her 80+ Mom (both masked) chose to sit next to me. So I'm sure it is viewed differently by each person.

My thought has been to focus on what makes me comfortable in each scenario, and don't let others influence my thinking.

PS - I'm leaving tomorrow for 2 back-to-back RS tours and I am bringing my face shield for crowded airport situations. Exactly as you said "I don't want to get kicked off the tour!"

They are not only not wearing face shields, they are not wearing masks.

I used a face shield on one of my flights to Hawaii about 1 1/2 years ago. I was going to see my daughter who had moved there during COVID for grad school. If I hadn't wanted to see her (she was lonely) I would have skipped going. I felt like the face shield offered some additional protection especially while eating and drinking. It is cumbersome to wear, especially when sleeping but I was happy to have it. I did take it off in the airport unless people were within 6 or so feet from me.

I think wearing a shield a personal decision, it doesn't seem like it would offer any additional protection to others. It is an additional measure to protect the wearer. It does protect your eyes a bit from the virus.

Thank you for the responses. I was trying gauge what is going on out there. As of now, I am not sure if I will use one or not to further protect myself. Who knows what will be happening when I leave in a few weeks!

I flew to Europe, out of O'Hare, in late April, six days after the federal judge in Florida invalidated the CDC's mask mandate for public transportation. O'Hare had been requiring masks up until then but when we flew, they were no longer doing so. We saw very few masks being worn by passengers flying out of O'Hare that day. Most airport employees were still wearing them, but I think not all.
KLM didn't require them on our flight to Amsterdam. Air France did require them on our flight back to the US from CDG.

What is your favorite face shield? I hadn't thought about a face shield until reading your responses. I always wear a mask and try to social distance as much as possible. But I like the idea of added protection. I'm adding one to my Amazon order. Thanks for the suggestion.

We flew cross country twice recently, April/May 2022. We were often the only ones beside the flight crew wearing masks on planes as well as in airports. I did not see one face shield anywhere. We wore them in 2020; very hot wearing them.

I went SFO to London last month and saw little to no masking, and no face shields whatsoever. I wore a KN95 whilst in airports, on the planes and on public transit in London, switching to a lighter surgical-type mask for other situations.

Flew Atlanta to Munich a few days ago. I saw few masks and zero face shields.

What is your favorite face shield?
Mine says "Vantage Access" but I can't find that brand on Amazon. The characteristic that I like is the comfortable sponge band across the forehead. I'd also look for one without a label - 'cause I don't want to look any goofier than I already do :-)

In Paris all last week and now in Strasbourg. No shields anywhere. We are still masking on public transport and in stores. Very, very few others are. It’s that darn test before admission to US that drives our behavior. We have all our shots but there’s still that chance of infection.

I've had numerous flights around Europe in the last month.

I saw no shields and few masks. That's both in the terminal and on the planes. I wore a mask.

Its been many months since I've heard any authority suggest that shields were effective protection. I only ever saw people using them as a substitute for masks, not in addition to.

Following on Stan’s comments——a face shield can protect your face from droplets and microdroplets from people coughing, sneezing, or standing too close and spraying while talking. That is why healthcare workers wear them when working with patients. But they do nothing to filter the microdroplets and particles from the air you breathe. So they add very little to the protection offered by a properly fitted N95 mask (or equivalent).

I haven't seen a face shield in,, over a year. I didn't think people were still wearing them. We've been to Greece, and 3 other domestic flights in the past year, and I can't recall a shield being worn. Flew once last week and hardly even saw a mask. But if it makes someone feel more comfortable, go for it.... I am 100% maskless.

I've never had a face shield and stopped wearing masks last summer, but I plan to wear a KN95 in situations where a lot of people are in close proximity for a significant length of time-boarding planes and in subways.

I have taken a few flights in the past 2 years and haven’t seen anybody wearing a face shield. You are most exposed on the plane when you take your mask off to eat and drink - this is how a friend of mine thinks he caught Covid.

I am only thinking about a face shield so I can sip water through a straw under it and eat granola bars. Don' know if that will work. It may be better than hanging my mask off an ear while I do eat. I'll be happy to forego airplane food, but not water, to stay as safe as possible.

EDIT: I decided against a face shield since it won't do what I had hoped.

I am considering the Louis Vuitton hazmat suit in business class

we flew LAX-LHR last December. We saw what must have been an Asian flight arrive & many had full white suits taped up including a head cover. The first few passengers we saw we were looking around for a bio spill

I flew home on Sunday, 5/15, from Raleigh-Durham with a layover at Dallas-Ft. Worth, to Tucson. Very, very few people, including the flight crew, were wearing masks. I don't think I saw anyone with a face shield. I wore a KN95 mask from the time I got to the airport until I left the airport, except when eating or drinking.

I am in Paris now. Here, Covid is OVER. Their mask mandate was lifted as of Monday and no one except a few of us are wearing them. My fear is not getting Covid as I had a mild case in April. It is testing positive and not being able to join the May 29 RS Best of Eastern France tour. I’m doing no the best I can and hoping I have some protection from 2 vaccines, 2 boosters and a recent recovery. I too am curious about the eating situation on the tours. Why bother to mask on the bus if you eat together inside in restaurants?