(no subject)

Got to the airport to discover that they were switching to a different plane and we'd be 45 minutes late. Plane arrived. Cleaners cleaned. Pilot didn't think something was safe. After a bit, they loaded us onto the plane. We sat. A mechanic fixed something. We sat. There is always a reminder about the Federal mask law, but usually that's it. Aside from an occasional reminder I"d never seen any real enforcement, and because people are allowed to eat on the plane, all passengers who want to be maskless have to do is eat or drink, or pretend to eat or drink. I once sat across the aisle from someone who had a Starbucks cup in her hand or on a tray table for the whole flight, not drinking it, but no mask on, until pick up trash and close tray table time, at which point she put on her mask because she couldn't pretend anymore. At any rate, while we were sitting (for an hour), waiting for some sort of paperwork about the repair to be processed, they kept reminding us about the mask policy. Unusual. A toddler a couple of rows behind me was having a tantrum and repeatedly removing his mask. The gate agent threatened them with removal if he didn't wear it. Grandfather threatening, mother trying to explain (to a two year old), crying, mom becoming ever more hysterical. After a while, mom and kid (who by this point was masked and drowsing on the mom's shoulder) were told to leave the plane, and they did. All of the people surrounding them complained, mildly, but nobody (including the grandfather) got off in solidarity. We sat for about an hour before we left. After the usual time, they served beverages and snacks. Maybe 50 people without masks, although they did keep reminding people to put them back on when not actively putting something into mouths. I don't know how they justify the hypocrisy. I am worried that someone has caught something on a plane and now they're being more strict. My recollection is that there is no actual complaint department at JetBlue. If I'm lucky I'll get a survey and can rant there. I am an extremely pro-mask person but I do not see why they should discriminate against a cranky borderline rule breaker.