having a cold vs tsa or airlines

[NYDisneyKid]

Dont know if this is a dumb question but if you have a cold and are coughing when going through security will they refuse you beyond that point?

 

[OKW Lover]

TSA isn't a health service. TSA is only there to prevent you from bringing dangerous items onto the plane.

 

[maxiesmom]

If a FA feels you are sick to the point that you would be a danger to yourself or to others, or are incapable of reacting properly during an emergency, they can deny you boarding. I don't think it happens very often, but it does happen.

I don't think the TSA screeners care one way or another, as long as you don't cough on them.

 

[goofy4tink]

TSA doesn't much care. Why the question??? Has it been said somewhere that being ill is a TSA issue???
It is pretty much up to the individual airline gate attendents and then FAs to monitor any illness.

 

[eliza61]

Dont know if this is a dumb question but if you have a cold and are coughing when going through security will they refuse you beyond that point?

TSA will not say anything but your plane traveling mates might give you quite a few dirty looks if your hacking up a lung on the flight.

 

[maxiesmom]

TSA will not say anything but your plane traveling mates might give you quite a few dirty looks if your hacking up a lung on the flight.

While that is very true, try to keep in mind that not everyone who is "hacking up a lung" has something contagious. I know my allergies can flare up, causing me to cough a lot, and I'm sure I may sound ill. But I'm not really.

I remember one time on a Disney bus there was a kid who was coughing a lot. I looked at the child, then looked at the mom and asked "Allergies?" She said yes, and sounded greatful that someone understood. They must have been getting looked at like the poor kid had the plague. Maybe it is because I am used to it, but an allergy cough sounds different to me.

 

[NYDisneyKid]

TSA doesn't much care. Why the question??? Has it been said somewhere that being ill is a TSA issue???

was just asking,,,geesh

 

[jsilvers]

If a FA feels you are sick to the point that you would be a danger to yourself or to others, or are incapable of reacting properly during an emergency, they can deny you boarding.

That's not quite accurate. From the Department of Transportation's regulations for airlines (specifically, 14 C.F.R. 382.21):

(a) You must not do any of the following things on the basis that a passenger has a communicable disease or infection, unless you determine that the passenger’s condition poses a direct threat:

(1) Refuse to provide transportation to the passenger;
(2) Delay the passenger’s transportation (e.g., require the passenger to take a later flight);
(3) Impose on the passenger any condition, restriction, or requirement not imposed on other passengers; or
(4) Require the passenger to provide a medical certificate.​

DOT provides some guidance as to what is a "direct threat", including:

Example 1 to Paragraph (b)(2): The common cold is readily transmissible in an aircraft cabin environment but does not have severe health consequences. Someone with a cold would not pose a direct threat.
Example 2 to Paragraph (b)(2): AIDS has very severe health consequences but is not readily transmissible in an aircraft cabin environment. Someone would not pose a direct threat because he or she is HIV positive or has AIDS.
Example 3 to Paragraph (b)(2): SARS may be readily transmissible in an aircraft cabin environment and has severe health consequences. Someone with SARS probably poses a direct threat.​

Bottom line: A cold/coughing shouldn't trigger any official concerns, unless you look so sick that the airline starts to become concerned that it might be a symptom of something truly awful, like TB.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

TSA isn't a health service. TSA is only there to prevent you from bringing dangerous items onto the plane.

And they don't even do that well

 

[goofy4tink]

was just asking,,,geesh

I don't usually feel the need to explain myself, but ......there have been way too many inflamatory TSA threads lately. Hence the question.

 

[NYDisneyKid]

I don't usually feel the need to explain myself, but ......there have been way too many inflamatory TSA threads lately. Hence the question.

then you as a "mod" why not just ban any tsa questions on here? now,,,thats just my opinion

 

[taitai]

I have only had this happen in other countries. In Hong Kong during the Avian Flu outbreak and in Mexico during the Swine Flu outbreak. They would take people's temperatures (in Hong Kong they used heat recognition video) and if you were hot, which I was not, then they took you aside. I am guessing they would refuse entry into the country for anyone who might, potentially, be sick. As that was not me, I really have no idea what happened to those people.

 

[eliza61]

then you as a "mod" why not just ban any tsa questions on here? now,,,thats just my opinion

Because the majority of us should be able to discuss any topic without the "few" who feel the need to ruin it. Banning usually punishes the many due to the behaviour of the "few".
I applaud mod for taking control before any discussion spirals out of control, then those of us who can manage to discuss things without inflammatory statements can do so.

 

[goofy4tink]

Because the majority of us should be able to discuss any topic without the "few" who feel the need to ruin it. Banning usually punishes the many due to the behaviour of the "few".
I applaud mod for taking control before any discussion spirals out of control, then those of us who can manage to discuss things without inflammatory statements can do so.

Yeah, what she said...well, the part about the 'many vs the few' anyway.

 

[NYDisneyKid]

Yeah, what she said...well, the part about the 'many vs the few' anyway.

so (she) speaks for you? with all due respect my question was for you not the other person.

 

[kaytieeldr]

so (she) speaks for you? with all due respect my question was for you not the other person.

And in an open forum such as this, when you ask a question in public, anyone can and will respond.

 

[eliza61]

so (she) speaks for you? with all due respect my question was for you not the other person.

Equally respectfully, that's why there is the PM button. when you post on an open forum, on a public internet website, anyone is free to comment on your statement as long as they are following the rules.

That means I get to voice my opinion especially when it's a topic that effects me, as banning does.

 

[keishashadow]

While that is very true, try to keep in mind that not everyone who is "hacking up a lung" has something contagious. I know my allergies can flare up, causing me to cough a lot, and I'm sure I may sound ill. But I'm not really.

I remember one time on a Disney bus there was a kid who was coughing a lot. I looked at the child, then looked at the mom and asked "Allergies?" She said yes, and sounded greatful that someone understood. They must have been getting looked at like the poor kid had the plague. Maybe it is because I am used to it, but an allergy cough sounds different to me.

probably a good idea to treat the symptoms if possible to have an enjoyable flight experience all the way around

i had a woman sit next to me on flight once who boarded with dark sunglasses. She removed them once the flight departed and confided to me she had pink eye...indeed she did, thanks for not sharing. Not sure if that would've precluded her from flying anyway, but certainly a convincing argument to wipe down your tray.

 

[goofy4tink]

so (she) speaks for you? with all due respect my question was for you not the other person.

Really?? Seriously??? You don't 'like' that I quoted someone else that said exactly what I would have said??? I really sort of resent your 'questioning' of my moderation. If you have an issue, take it up with the webmasters!! But stop chastizing me here...not appreciated at all.

 

[koho]

TSA is not preventing passengers from boarding flights due to illness. They were pulling people aside and having them checked or preventing them through the check point back when the bird flu first started to hit but that was about two or three years ago.

The only one that can prevent you from boarding a flight is the Captain. He/she has the right to refuse a passenger from boarding the plane. Also if you make the flight divert for an in flight medical emergency they will not let you continue on with the flight until you are cleared by a doctor.

I know this for a fact. I work for an airport FD and people refuse treatment and or transport from the squad and the Captain will not let them fly until they are see by a doctor or they can try again the next day.

So if your not feeling to bad you should be fine.