These Airlines Have Banned Fabric Face Masks on Planes

As face masks have become a flight essential while traveling amid the COVID-19 pandemic, airlines have implemented specific rules as to which face coverings are deemed acceptable for flying.

While most cloth masks are generally allowed in public places throughout the United States, several domestic airlines including Delta, United, Southwest, and American, do not allow face coverings like bandanas and scarves.

Below is a list of masks that are banned from specific U.S. airlines, along with their respective websites.

Delta:

• Bandanas
• Scarves
• Masks with slits, punctures, holes,
• Masks with exhaust valves

United:

• Bandanas
• Masks with exhaust valves
• Singular face shield

Southwest:

• Bandanas
• Scarves
• Ski masks
• Balaclavas
• Single layer masks
• Masks with slits, exhalation valves, or punctures
• Singular face shield
• Shirt or sweater collars

American Airlines:

• Bandanas
• Balaclavas
• Scarves
• Ski masks
• Face covers with exhaust valves or vents
• Face covers made of mesh or lace type fabric
• Gaiters

Hawaiian Airlines

• Scarves
• Ski masks
• Balaclavas
• Masks with vents, mesh, slits, exhalation valves, punctures, or other obviously transparent cloth coverings

JetBlue

• Masks connected to tubing or battery-operated filters

Currently, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has mandated that masks be worn on all public transportation, including in airports, until at least March 18, 2022. The mandate was first implemented in January and has been continually extended.

Alison Fox is a contributing writer for Travel + Leisure. When she's not in New York City, she likes to spend her time at the beach or exploring new destinations and hopes to visit every country in the world. Follow her adventures on Instagram.