TSA extends mask mandate till April 18

I'll be flying on April 21st and mandate or not, I intend to wear my mask the entire flight.

I’m fine with this. I’m wearing one even if not required.

Has anyone heard any rumblings of if they plan to drop the test requirement for vaccinated people? I mean the test to enter the US, many other countries have already done this at least for their citizens, maybe even for tourists.

I haven't, but I do think the mask mandate is a start. Like others, I will continue to wear a mask but it does show a leaning to removing the testing requirement (hopefully).

I am so tired of picking up random colds and bugs that take away from my trip that I foresee making masks a part of my normal travel and transit routine.

I will wear one regardless. Be nice if they dropped testing for vaccinated. Or at a minimum went back to giving us 3 days.

Actually, I stand corrected - the CDC is evidently considering changes. https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/02/16/world/covid-19-tests-cases-vaccine/as-more-states-loosen-mask-policies-the-cdc-director-says-the-agency-is-working-on-relevant-guidance

You linked to a paid portal. Can you summarize what was said?

Sorry, I know there's a paywall but usually you can get 4 reads a month before paying. Here's a couple of paragraphs from the short article that sums it up pretty well:

The [mask mandate] will extend at least through April 18 at C.D.C.’s recommendations, and will apply to public transportation and transportation hubs. Under the T.S.A.’s rule, passengers on airplanes, buses and trains and at airports and transit stations must wear masks. But the relatively short extension, coming as U.S. coronavirus cases have plummeted from the height of the Omicron surge, signaled that the federal government may be preparing to wind down the requirement, at least in some places. The C.D.C. was consulting other federal agencies to determine when masks should be required on public transit, taking into account case counts and the risks of new variants, among other factors.

Looking forward to the end of the TSA mask mandate. My doctor says that cloth masks have little to no value.

My box of masks says to not wear over 8 hours per day and not to wear while sleeping. just the advice for trans-Atlantic flights

I don’t have an issue with the extension of the mask mandate at all. I think cloth masks should be prohibited.

I have to say that I was happy to see the mask mandate extended. We fly to Frankfurt on 3/20 and will wear masks while in confined or crowded places whether it is mandated or not. We fly home on 5/1 from Amsterdam. I won’t be surprised if masks mandates are lifted by then, but we will be wearing ours. It will be interesting to see if a Covid test will still be required to return to the U.S. by then.

Just ridiculous at this point. The virus stays away while eating and drinking I guess. Or you can be like the Mayor of LA and just hold your breath when you remove the mask, (yes he actually said that). If you want to wear a mask, great, but it should not be a mandate anymore. I'll obey because I want to travel, but I won't like it.

I will eat slowly. Drink slowly. Might even cough a little bit to clear my throat.

You all better book so there some empty seats around me so I can stretch out.