In a poll completed last week, almost 73 percent of passengers said they would fly even if they had the flu. More than half of those would fly because either change fees were too high or it was “to late” to make changes vacation plans.

With daily headlines like Flu shots running low, Swine flu fears, Seven-year-old girl dies, Flu epidemic to hit country earlier and worse, it would seem that everyone should be doing their part to slow the spread of this disease. The airlines have not done their part. The still impose onerous change fees and sometimes dramatic airfare increased to reschedule flights.

Yesterday, when landing at Washington Regan Airport, I noticed signs posted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) urging passengers not to fly if they feel they may have the flu. Unfortunately, the signs make no mention of the financial ramifications changing tickets at the last minute mean. It would be nice if the airlines and the CDC would work together.

Here are the CTA survey responses. This sample is from a very frequent flying group of respondents — about 30 percent are elite members of frequent flier programs and almost half are frequent leisure travelers who fly three or more times each year.

1. If you thought you had the H1N1 (swine flu) or any flu, would you pay the airline change fees (up to $250) and possible additional changes in airfare to change your flight?
Yes — 27.3%
No — 72.7%

2. Have you ever flown while sick in order to avoid a change fee?
Yes — 43.6%
No — 56.4%

3. If you did fly while sick, why?
I had to fly for work — 22.7%
The rest of my family was flying so I didn’t have a choice — 8.3%
My vacation plans were set and it was too late to change them — 25.2%
The airline wouldn’t let me change my flight — 12.4%
Change fees were too high — 31.4%

4. What do you need to do to get a note for a trip cancellation from your doctor?
Call my health insurance company first — 3.6%
Go to the emergency room — 2.2%
Just call my primary care doctor and he will see me — 66.6%
Forgetaboutit. It takes forever and costs more than the change fee — 27.6%

5. Should airlines allow changes to airline tickets during the flu season for passengers that claim they have the flu?
Yes — 31.5%
Yes, but only with a doctor’s note — 60.9%
No — 1.8%
No, passengers should buy insurance for problems like these — 5.7%

This is not the only survey that shows passengers will fly with the flu — another survey of thousands of travelers conducted by TripAdvisor showed that more than half of passengers would fly with the flu.

This week the Consumer Travel Alliance is sending these results to the airline CEOs and asking them to suspend change fees and penalties during the flu season for sick passenger.

A disturbing new poll says 51 percent of air travelers say they’d rather fly while infected with the flu than pay a $150 airline change fee.

The survey, conducted by TripAdvisor.com, asked travelers if they would fly while they’re sick in order to avoid paying a booking change fee. A total of 2,327 users responded.

Airlines have resisted calls to loosen their highly profitable change-fee requirements in the face of the H1N1 epidemic. They apparently prefer a Band-Aid solution to the problem.
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Last week, I published an opinion piece, Why swine flu shouldn’t fly. No sooner had my post hit cyberspace than I received a copy of a letter sent by the husband of an infected passenger who had been socked $200 to change his tickets.

This passenger’s letter provides a stark example of the unconcern Delta registers for any of their passengers. They, as an airline, measured by their cancellation policies, would rather passengers fly sick and infect other passengers and spread this virus rather than do the right thing and allow passengers to make alternative plans without a penalty.
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No one likes to sit near someone with the sniffles or a cough on the plane, but what about the very real prospect of your seatmate having swine flu? If current airline policies continue, those who have flu-like symptoms and heed the Centers for Disease Control warning to “stay home and avoid travel for 7 days” will face hundreds of dollars in airline fees and penalties. How many will still fly despite their illness and the chance of spreading it?

An unprecedented national effort is being waged to limit the impact and spread of the H1N1 flu (swine flu) virus. Millions of vaccine doses are now being distributed across the country, health care workers are being inoculated en masse, government workers have new medical leave policies, schools are being closed and the head of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) warned, “We have not had a flu season like this in at least 50 years.”

Neither the airlines nor the Department of Transportation (DOT) have made a meaningful response to this pandemic as it sweeps the country. Basic common sense tells us that airplane flights — putting large groups of people in a small, contained space — will facilitate the spread of this virus.

So far, the airline industry’s sole response has been to remove pillows and blankets from many aircraft. Plus, spokespersons for the airlines have said, “If you are sick, stay home.” Yet, our airlines are actually punishing passengers who choose to not fly when infected. The airlines can and should change policy to help slow the spread of H1N1.

Airline passengers have to pay change fees of as much as $150 for domestic flights and $250 for international flights when they opt to change a flight. Then, they are required by the airlines to pay the difference between the original price paid for their flight and the current airline price. (When comparing the cost of an advanced-purchase ticket with the cost of a flight leaving next week, that difference can be dramatic. In fact, it can be up to four times as much or more.)

Getting more people with flu symptoms to comply with the CDC’s suggestion about travel when ill with the flu would be greatly facilitated by the airlines allowing passengers with a health professional’s letter indicating that they have or may have H1N1 to be allowed to reschedule their trip at no additional cost.

Just think of the difference airlines could make in limiting the spread of H1N1 by being proactive and making these changes immediately. But, absent any changes in policy by the airlines, the DOT, in consultation with the CDC, should get in gear and mandate that the airlines eliminate their change and cancellation rules that punish passengers for being good citizens.

During this flu season, swine flu shouldn’t fly. Dropping the airline penalties will help make this happen.