I just flew 4 hours with 160 strangers

I just took my first flight since COVID 19. It was a four hour flight and it was 100% occupied. So I, along with 159 other strangers (not including the pilots and crew) sat shoulder to shoulder, in a sealed environment.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining. No one forced me to fly, it was my decision and the airline did email prior to the flight to warn me it was going to be a potentially near capacity. Yes, they required all passengers to wear a face covering, and best of all, once we landed we were instructed to stay seated (shoulder to shoulder), until the row in front of us was moving in order to maintain social distancing.....really !!

My complaint isn't the flight. I want to know if we are permitted (and given the choice) to sit in a sealed environment, inches from 150+ other people for four hours, why are beaches, parks, theaters, restaurants, museums, amusement parks, etc being treated different? How was that flight safer than sitting in a movie theater, or sitting in a bar having a drink?

In the spirit of full disclosure, I am one of those that never understood why we went to such extremes, and shut everything done (I still to this day don't understand why the toilet paper shortage happened). So I'm in no way saying airplanes shouldn't be full. But if I am given the option to fly for four hours, literally inches from total strangers, surely I can go to a movie, Disneyland, the beach or a bar without the need to worry about social distancing and wearing a hazmat suit.

I understand some folks won't leave their homes until a vaccine is available. That is their choice and I respect that. But give us the choice to return to a movie theater or a full restaurant, like the choice I was given to fly. I'll wear a face covering, wash my hands and let one row leave at a time to maintain social distancing once the movie is over. I promise.

T Paul Thomas teaches business and social entrepreneurship at Northern Arizona University and serves as the CEO of the Northern Arizona Leadership Alliance (NALA).  Prior to joining NAU in 2013 Paul spent 25 years as a serial CEO and President.  Paul can be reached at [email protected]