I flew on the 2 largest US airlines in 2021 and couldn't believe how much better Delta was handling the pandemic over American

Thomas PalliniFeb 21, 2021, 19:38 IST

Flying on American Airlines and Delta Air Lines during the pandemic.Thomas Pallini/Insider

American Airlines and Delta Air Lines have taken two very different approaches to the pandemic.
Delta has been blocking middle seats since April 2020 while American never embraced the policy.
I took three flights on both airlines in 2021 to see how the two were handling social distancing in the skies.

American Airlines and Delta Air Lines were the two largest airlines in the US before the pandemic, each generating billions in revenue each year and boasting the largest fleets of any global airline. Both offered similar products with the choice between the two coming down to factors like customer preference, price, and loyalty.

The divide between them widened during the pandemic, however, thanks to one key factor: safety. While Delta blocked middle seats through for most of 2020, American filed its planes to capacity as early as the summer.

I flew on both carriers in June 2020 on my first trip back to the skies since the pandemic began and found Delta to be a far sight better than American, largely because of the former's above and beyond approach to safety. But as we enter a new year in aviation's recovery, I wanted to see just how the two were faring nearly one year since COVID-19 upended aviation.

I took three flights across both airlines on a recent trip, flying from New York to Miami on American and then from Houston, Texas to Los Angeles via Salt Lake City on Delta. The result was surprising, especially as the US continues to see record COVID-19-related deaths and a slow-going vaccine rollout.

Here's which one handled pandemic flying the best in 2021.

My first flight on American took me from New York to Miami on one of the airline's most popular routes. Florida has become a travel hotspot due to lax restrictions and airlines are angling to take advantage.

Flying on American Airlines during the pandemic. Thomas Pallini/Insider

My first flight on American took me from New York to Miami on one of the airline's most popular routes. Florida has become a travel hotspot due to lax restrictions and airlines are angling to take advantage.

When I checked in, I was required to acknowledge that I didn't have any COVID-19 symptoms and I haven't been exposed to nor tested positive for the illness. This is standard practice across all major US airlines now but enforcement has proved tricky.

Flying on American Airlines during the pandemic. Thomas Pallini/Insider

When I checked in, I was required to acknowledge that I didn't have any COVID-19 symptoms and I haven't been exposed to nor tested positive for the illness. This is standard practice across all major US airlines now but enforcement has proved tricky.

Check-in at LaGuardia Airport was filled with social distancing measures including plexiglass partitions at ticket counters and spaced kiosks. The same can be found at airports across American's network as is the airline's new safety standard.

Flying on American Airlines during the pandemic. Thomas Pallini/Insider

Check-in at LaGuardia Airport was filled with social distancing measures including plexiglass partitions at ticket counters and spaced kiosks. The same can be found at airports across American's network as is the airline's new safety standard.

Ticket in hand, I headed to the gate through LaGuardia's newly-renovated Terminal B and arrived at the gate a few minutes before boarding. It was decently crowded and I was expecting a full flight.

Flying on American Airlines during the pandemic. Thomas Pallini/Insider

Ticket in hand, I headed to the gate through LaGuardia's newly-renovated Terminal B and arrived at the gate a few minutes before boarding. It was decently crowded and I was expecting a full flight.

Here, there were more plexiglass partitions, social distancing stanchions, and even floor placards to remind folks of social distance and of the new onboard mask requirements.

Flying on American Airlines during the pandemic. Thomas Pallini/Insider

Here, there were more plexiglass partitions, social distancing stanchions, and even floor placards to remind folks of social distance and of the new onboard mask requirements.

The digital signage at the gate didn't do much to convey the safety message. Using this signage to promote the airline's safety measures can help flyers feel comfortable that the airline is doing everything they can to keep their customers safe, as it did for me on my first flight back.

Flying on American Airlines during the pandemic. Thomas Pallini/Insider

The digital signage at the gate didn't do much to convey the safety message. Using this signage to promote the airline's safety measures can help flyers feel comfortable that the airline is doing everything they can to keep their customers safe, as it did for me on my first flight back.

American does, however, send a push notification to those with the airline's mobile application saying that the aircraft has been disinfected and reminding passengers to social distance.

Flying on American Airlines during the pandemic. Thomas Pallini/Insider via American Airlines

American does, however, send a push notification to those with the airline's mobile application saying that the aircraft has been disinfected and reminding passengers to social distance.

The flight was off to a good start but quickly fell down during boarding.

Flying on American Airlines during the pandemic. Thomas Pallini/Insider

While an agent was reminding passengers to wear their face coverings at all times, American hasn't changed its boarding procedure to back to front so first class still boards first followed by the first few rows of economy, and so on.

Flying on American Airlines during the pandemic. Thomas Pallini/Insider

While an agent was reminding passengers to wear their face coverings at all times, American hasn't changed its boarding procedure to back to front so first class still boards first followed by the first few rows of economy, and so on.

The guiding principle behind back-to-front boarding is that passengers in the back don't have to walk through a crowded aircraft to get to their seats. If you're in basic economy and boarding last, for example, you're still walking through an entire airplane full of people.

Flying on American Airlines during the pandemic. Thomas Pallini/Insider

The guiding principle behind back-to-front boarding is that passengers in the back don't have to walk through a crowded aircraft to get to their seats. If you're in basic economy and boarding last, for example, you're still walking through an entire airplane full of people.

The jetway was bare with no social distancing placards. These placards are largely ignored but are, once again, symbols that show the airline is taking additional action to keep travelers safe.

Flying on American Airlines during the pandemic. Thomas Pallini/Insider

The jetway was bare with no social distancing placards. These placards are largely ignored but are, once again, symbols that show the airline is taking additional action to keep travelers safe.

Once on the plane, flight attendants welcomed us with a hello but we didn't receive anything in the way of hand sanitizer or alcohol wipes.

Flying on American Airlines during the pandemic. Thomas Pallini/Insider

My seat was immaculate and I didn't have any concerns whatsoever that American didn't do a great job in this department.

Flying on American Airlines during the pandemic. Thomas Pallini/Insider

American has not blocked any seats on its aircraft since June 2020 so I'd almost definitely be seated next to another flyer since this was a full flight on a popular route.

Flying on American Airlines during the pandemic. Thomas Pallini/Insider

American has not blocked any seats on its aircraft since June 2020 so I'd almost definitely be seated next to another flyer since this was a full flight on a popular route.

Once settled in, both the flight attendants and pilots reminded passengers to wear their face masks as part of the safety brief.

Flying on American Airlines during the pandemic. Thomas Pallini/Insider

As expected, my row was initially full but I managed to luck out, however, as our middle seat occupant chose to sit closer to his companion and occupied another middle seat instead.

Flying on American Airlines during the pandemic. Thomas Pallini/Insider

As expected, my row was initially full but I managed to luck out, however, as our middle seat occupant chose to sit closer to his companion and occupied another middle seat instead.

I was surprised to see an in-flight service start promptly after takeoff. My last flight on American saw drinks served only on request but on this flight, we were given a snack bag with pretzels, a sanitizing wipe, and a water bottle.

Flying on American Airlines during the pandemic. Thomas Pallini/Insider

I was surprised to see an in-flight service start promptly after takeoff. My last flight on American saw drinks served only on request but on this flight, we were given a snack bag with pretzels, a sanitizing wipe, and a water bottle.

One pet peeve I noticed was that flight attendants were not wearing gloves while doing the service, something that differs on every airline it seems.

Flying on American Airlines during the pandemic. Thomas Pallini/Insider

After the service, I walked around the plane and noticed multiple passengers flouting the mask mandate. Some either had the covering under their nose or off entirely.

Flying on American Airlines during the pandemic. Thomas Pallini/Insider

Flight attendants on all airlines don't walk the cabin as frequently as they once did since there's no in-flight service and while it reduces passenger interaction, it does make enforcing the mask rule harder as it relies on other passengers speaking up.

Flying on American Airlines during the pandemic. Thomas Pallini/Insider

Flight attendants on all airlines don't walk the cabin as frequently as they once did since there's no in-flight service and while it reduces passenger interaction, it does make enforcing the mask rule harder as it relies on other passengers speaking up.

Soon enough, it was time to land in the warm-weather paradise of Miami.

Flying on American Airlines during the pandemic. Thomas Pallini/Insider

A reminder to social distance during deplaning, however, went unheeded and most flyers defaulted to the norm of standing in the aisle as soon as the seatbelt sign turned off. This is common on any airline, not just American.

Flying on American Airlines during the pandemic. Thomas Pallini/Insider

A reminder to social distance during deplaning, however, went unheeded and most flyers defaulted to the norm of standing in the aisle as soon as the seatbelt sign turned off. This is common on any airline, not just American.