Delta is the most strict of all the airlines about wearing masks. I travel A LOT for business (even these days) and most seasoned travelers are already aware that you “earn” a permanent ban on Delta if you refuse to wear one.
Not saying it’s right, btw.
I’ve taken five round-trips on the Big D since mid-March. As long as you wear your mask in the gatehouse, when you board and during the flight attendant pre-flight checks, you are OK. You can eat and drink while the flight is in the air (I bring a supply of snacks with me along with a couple of bourbon miniatures, and buy sodas from a post-security newsstand) and the flight attendants won’t bother you about not wearing a mask.
If a flight attendant gives you a reasonable request and you refuse to obey, masks or no masks, they can pull you off the flight and charge you with the crime of failing to follow the direction of the flight crew. The Delta captains back up their crews 100%. I’m guessing the offending passengers were jerks and deserved what they got.
Believe it or not, flying has been a lot more pleasant than it was before COVID-1984 broke out. The flights have a capacity of less than 60% of the total seats on board, so they take less time to board and there is plenty of room for everyone’s carry-ons. The middle seats on Delta are empty, so horizontally challenged people like me are more comfortable. There is surprisingly very little human-created noise, so the flights are peaceful, and one can get some quality rest/thinking/working time. There are no carts in the aisle, so it is easier to get to the lav if you need to go.
When one purchases a ticket for a flight, one should furnish a medical excuse so that flying without a mask is permissible and no reason to return to the airport.
Big difference between refusing to wear one and not wearing one. The former usually involves stating your intent and provoking a confrontation while the later is not escalated. Especially when availing oneself to the free drinks.