Thread by @ElonBachman

1\ Just took three flights and passed through four airports, three of which are among the world's very busiest.

I was surprised by airport mask culture.

A thread...

2\ Entered first airport wearing mask. 99.5% of people masked. I immediately slipped mine down below my nose.

At check-in I took it all the way down. No comment from friendly check-in lady

Thought for sure security would scold me

3\ Nope. ID checker guy didn't care. Guys yelling about shoes and laptops didn't care.

MRI scanner guy pantomimed for me to mask up in the scanner, so I did, then immediately took it off.

No weird looks last the gate.

Thought for sure gate people would hang me...

4\ Was feeling cheeky, so I bought a bottle of water and held it while boarding. Sans mask. Nobody batted an eye. Whole flight, no mask.

Arrived at Airport 2. Mask compliance again 99.5%

Again nobody cared

5\ Flight 2 was KLM, and the bossy Dutch stewardesses descended on me like a passel of harpies.

So I masked for taxi and takeoff, then unmasked the whole flight.

6\ Airport 3. Again 99.5% masked.

Again nobody looked at me. I even did a mandatory health screening unmasked!

Flight 3 was KLM again, but these harpies didn't care.

7\ Airport 4. Again 99.5% mask compliance. Again, nobody cared that I wasn't masked

As I waited at the baggage carousel a bored security guy drifted by and motioned for me to pull my mask off

Conclusion: Water Bottle Talisman trumps Mask Talisman

*pull my mask up