Covering funeral costs: Radical measures airlines are taking in response to COVID-19

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There’s no question that the coronavirus has hugely impacted the travel industry. And that airlines, along with many other types of businesses, have seen a dramatic drop in revenue. Airlines are doing what they can to instill confidence in consumers in the hopes of luring people back into the sky. But, as with most of life’s challenges, things are often easier said than done.

While individual carriers are taking the types of precautions one might expect, like blocking off middle seats and improving cleaning measures, Emirates just recently became the first airline to offer free COVID-19 insurance.

The coverage is free to all customers, regardless of class of travel, and there’s no registration required. If a passenger catches the coronavirus while traveling, the following expenses will be covered:

• Hotel quarantine costs for up to two weeks at 100 euros (~$118) per day
• Medical expenses up to 150,000 euros (~$176,000)
• 1,500 euros (~$1,770) towards the cost of funeral expenses

I’m not sure if offering to help with funeral services actually instills confidence — it sounds a bit morbid to me. But it’s certainly one way to approach the difficulties airlines are facing in getting people to fly again.

JetBlue, in comparison, is testing out the Honeywell UV Cabin System. Originally dubbed the GermFalcon (a name I find a lot more exciting), this machine is the size of a beverage cart and can clean the length of an airplane in 10 minutes or less. The robotic system uses folding arms and ultraviolet light to disinfect cabin surfaces, including seats, lavatories and galleys.

Delta, on the other hand, has committed to delaying flights if the cabin isn’t deemed clean enough before boarding — a move we’d never see from any carrier in the past. They’re also disinfecting cabins before every single flight and are focusing their attention on high-use surfaces like armrests and overhead bin handles. They’ve even banned over 100 passengers for not wearing a mask.

How do you feel about flying right now? Our own team member Alfred recently flew from Charlotte, North Carolina, to San Juan, Puerto Rico, and was surprised to see such a lack of physical distancing at the airport and on the plane.

Do any of the measures these airlines have implemented make you feel safer or more confident to travel? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

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