Alaska Airlines banned a state senator from flying with them after she continued to refuse to comply with the airline’s mask mandate.
Sen. Lora Reinbold, a 57-year-old Republican lawmaker who has railed against COVID-19 precautionary measures repeatedly in the past, was banned after an incident with airline employees regarding the airline’s mask policy, which was first reported by the Anchorage Daily News.
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“We have notified Senator Lora Reinbold that she is not permitted to fly with us for her continued refusal to comply with employee instruction regarding the current mask policy,” spokesman Tim Thompson told the Washington Examiner. “This suspension is effective immediately, pending further review. Federal law requires all guests to wear a mask over their nose and mouth at all times during travel, including throughout the flight, during boarding and deplaning, and while traveling through an airport.”
The GOP senator vented her frustration that the news of her ban was publicized via social media on Sunday.
“Until there is a fair determination, after thorough review of both sides, I believe this should be confidential,” Reinbold wrote on Facebook. “I learned about Ak Air decision before I knew there was even an inquiry and before I had a chance to talk to or discuss this with anyone at Alaska Air. I never received a warning via a yellow card per their policy either. There was no due process before a temporary decision that is ‘under review’ was made public. Alaska Airlines sent information, including my name, to the media without my knowledge nor permission. I do believe constitutional rights are at risk under corporate covid policies.”
She also claimed the “uptight employees at the counter” were part of the problem.
Given Alaska Airlines is the only commercial airline that operates daily flights to the state capital from the Anchorage area, she was forced to find alternative transportation to make sure she could get to the Capitol by Monday. Instead, she was forced to go on a 14-hour car ride, which took her to Canada, and the journey also included a ferry ride, Reinbold said.
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“Alaska I went to new heights to serve you & have a new appreciation for the marine ferry system,” Reinbold said in a separate social media post, regarding her travel plans. “I am keenly aware of the monopoly in air transport to Juneau that needs reviewed!”
Last year, Reinbold said the “mask bullies” on the airlines spoke to her about her mask usage after “a scaredy cat Karen whined loudly and was a Tattle tail when I took my dumb worthless suffocating mask off, a bit longer than she wanted, for my food and drink.” She also said they were a part of “mask tyranny.”
The senator did not immediately respond to the Washington Examiner’s requests for comment.
