The other DrC and I have taken commercial flights to and from many places in Europe, Asia, North and South America, and Oceania. Much of the time we were making connection with a cruise ship, either as passengers or as lecturers. We've also flown as part of our work.
We agree that one experiences an increased chance of catching some respiratory or gastrointestinal illness when flying, it has happened to us more often than we'd like. The same is true of cruise ships. Calling both "giant Petri dishes" is an exaggeration, but admitting the increased chance of illness is, in our view, simple common sense.
So ... while most political conservatives can't wait to tear off their masks (see here and here), we agree that if we choose to fly in the future we will mask up. Note my use of the word "if" is intentional, it's not a synonym for "when." Interestingly, The Washington Post agrees.
I haven't flown (or cruised) since the Covid epidemic began, and I'm not anxious to resume doing so. And yes, I do miss it.
