The price of plane tickets is about to go up, and when it does, don’t blame Air New Zealand or Jetstar for it.  Because it is not their fault. 

They have asked the government to change social distancing rules for planes because of science, and they’ve been given a flat no this afternoon. 

As you know, under level 2, social distancing rules applying to everything: restaurants, public transport, queuing for the dairy, and, of course, flying on planes. 

But there is a debate about whether you actually need to social distance if you are wearing a face mask.  Both Professor Michael baker and Associate Professor Nick Wilson, both of whom are epidemiologists, say masks are sufficient.  If everyone’s masked up, we can fill up the busses or the planes.  

But Ashley Bloomfield and Health Minister Chris Hipkins say no.  They disagree with the experts.  To them, social distancing is the most important and masks are only an ‘adjunct’ to that. 

Now I dunno about you, but I would trust Michael Baker in this instance because he has consistently been months ahead of the ministry of health in his advice. 

Take for example mandatory face masks.  He called for that as early as May, the health ministry and cabinet only agreed this week.  That’s three and a half month lag at least.  

So chances are pretty good that they’ll eventually catch up with him on this eventually too. 

Quite frankly if we can change the rules, if we can fill busses and planes under level 2 with mandatory face coverings, we should do it.  Because social distancing makes it impossible for airlines.  Once they leave the middle seat spare, they can only sell 50 and 65 per cent of the seats on that plane. 

Jetstar says that makes flying unviable, so they’ve cancelled all flights until at least September 6. Air NZ has blocked 120,000 seats from selling over only 10 days and has warned it can’t offer any cheap flights. 

If you find your flight cancelled, you’re forced to rebook and it costs more than what you originally paid, don’t blame the airline.  They’ve asked for permission to fly safely with masks, and fill the planes to keep the costs down, but they were told no. 

So, blame the people saying no.