Narrative:

This pairing was built as a deadhead out in aircraft X with us flying the same aircraft back. C/south agent in ZZZ was fully compliant to covid policies and asked that I pre-board in order to give her more space with other passengers. Fas on the aircraft did not all have masks on (was okay; we weren't boarding yet); but as the flight went on; I noticed that fas often did not have masks on; and were seen by passengers handling the snacks without masks on. The passenger next to me; also no mask; slept most of the flight; but other passengers in first class (I was assigned [first class seat]) did notice the flight attendant behavior. Given the sensitive situation; I simply pointed at my own mask and nodded. The two attendants up front then seemed to keep the masks on. Note: when food and bottled water is handed out; people; including myself are forced to pull mask up/down in order to eat. ZZZ2-ZZZ (our leg):we were unable to get paperwork prior to departure ZZZ. When I got release -- on taxi-in ZZZ1 -- I saw release-1 showing a different aircraft type. I accepted release and got off to walk to our new gate. C/south in ZZZ1 was not mask compliant (mask around neck but not on face). When I returned from walk-around; the aircraft was boarding normally: jetway full; line down aisle; etc. Fas again did not all have masks 'up'. I said something like; 'I know it's hard; but the masks are important.' not sure she heard me; but she did put it up as she went to the middle to deal with a developing seat issue. I went to the flight deck and did my thing. Within a few minutes; the purser returned to say; we have a belligerent passenger that just cussed me out because of a seat being occupied. 'He used f-bombs and called me several expletives.' wanting to resolve the problem; I waited for the C/south agent (different guy; and this one had a mask and gloves on) to arrive and I followed him back. The man had a mask on his face. He told the gate agent that company was not complying with promises made on their booking. 'I booked this seat and it showed no occupant here;' he pointed at well-masked young man in [the seat]. 'I can't have this man in this seat.' the C/south agent explained that the booking said 'if available' and that we had to accommodate additional passengers.' C/south agent said; 'you are welcome to de-plane and I'll book you on another flight.' he said; 'I'm staying; I have a connection in ZZZ.' the C/south agent looked at me; and I said to the man; 'well; we have the issue of how you treated my purser.' he mentioned being scared; and that he'd not do that again. I said; 'okay; I'll want to hear what you say to her; as I'm leaving that decision up to her.' I also offered him use of an N-95; if I could find one. He said pointing to his mask; 'this covers better than the N-95; so no thanks; I don't need that.' he apologized to the flight attendant purser and ensured he be calm going forward. The purser could have said; 'okay; thank you;' but of course; she didn't. She said loudly that; (paraphrase) 'what you did is unacceptable; and if you repeat that behavior in any way; there will be security to meet you at the gate.' the passenger nodded and said simply; (paraphrase) 'I'm scared; I wasn't supposed to have a person next to me.' there were many side conversations and other more minor passenger complaints such as requests for seat moves; and requests for passenger mask use; and reports of flight attendant non-use of masks that I won't get into.my first officer was freaked out by the fact that he'd likely be furloughed. I spent a while addressing those concerns. I went over the governmental support; etc. He calmed down enough that I felt we'd be okay; but also told him this was my first flight in [xx]-days and that we'd both need to be on our a-game; as there were likely to be errors resulting from these many threats. Also talked about how each error itself would become a threat. First officer made takeoff at his request and I made landing at ZZZ. There were many errors made due to rustiness; and we spent severalminutes in the cockpit with the debrief card. There were no far deviations during the segment.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Air carrier Captain reported various issues relating to the COVID-19 pandemic including FAs not properly using masks; passenger complaints regarding seating issues and lack of flying time.

Narrative: This pairing was built as a deadhead out in Aircraft X with us flying the same aircraft back. C/S agent in ZZZ was fully compliant to COVID policies and asked that I pre-board in order to give her more space with other passengers. FAs on the aircraft did not all have masks on (was okay; we weren't boarding yet); but as the flight went on; I noticed that FAs often did not have masks on; and were seen by passengers handling the snacks without masks on. The passenger next to me; also no mask; slept most of the flight; but other passengers in First Class (I was assigned [first class seat]) did notice the FA behavior. Given the sensitive situation; I simply pointed at my own mask and nodded. The two attendants up front then seemed to keep the masks on. Note: When food and bottled water is handed out; people; including myself are forced to pull mask up/down in order to eat. ZZZ2-ZZZ (Our leg):We were unable to get paperwork prior to departure ZZZ. When I got release -- on taxi-in ZZZ1 -- I saw release-1 showing a different aircraft type. I accepted release and got off to walk to our new gate. C/S in ZZZ1 was not mask compliant (mask around neck but not on face). When I returned from walk-around; the aircraft was boarding normally: jetway full; line down aisle; etc. FAs again did not all have masks 'up'. I said something like; 'I know it's hard; but the masks are important.' Not sure she heard me; but she did put it up as she went to the middle to deal with a developing seat issue. I went to the flight deck and did my thing. Within a few minutes; the Purser returned to say; we have a belligerent passenger that just cussed me out because of a seat being occupied. 'He used f-bombs and called me several expletives.' Wanting to resolve the problem; I waited for the C/S agent (different guy; and this one had a mask and gloves on) to arrive and I followed him back. The man had a mask on his face. He told the gate agent that company was not complying with promises made on their booking. 'I booked this seat and it showed no occupant here;' he pointed at well-masked young man in [the seat]. 'I can't have this man in this seat.' The C/S agent explained that the booking said 'If available' and that we had to accommodate additional passengers.' C/S agent said; 'You are welcome to de-plane and I'll book you on another flight.' He said; 'I'm staying; I have a connection in ZZZ.' The C/S agent looked at me; and I said to the man; 'Well; we have the issue of how you treated my Purser.' He mentioned being scared; and that he'd not do that again. I said; 'Okay; I'll want to hear what you say to her; as I'm leaving that decision up to her.' I also offered him use of an N-95; if I could find one. He said pointing to his mask; 'This covers better than the N-95; so no thanks; I don't need that.' He apologized to the FA Purser and ensured he be calm going forward. The Purser could have said; 'Okay; thank you;' but of course; she didn't. She said loudly that; (paraphrase) 'What you did is unacceptable; and if you repeat that behavior in any way; there will be security to meet you at the gate.' The passenger nodded and said simply; (paraphrase) 'I'm scared; I wasn't supposed to have a person next to me.' There were many side conversations and other more minor passenger complaints such as requests for seat moves; and requests for passenger mask use; and reports of FA non-use of masks that I won't get into.My FO was freaked out by the fact that he'd likely be furloughed. I spent a while addressing those concerns. I went over the governmental support; etc. He calmed down enough that I felt we'd be okay; but also told him this was my first flight in [XX]-days and that we'd both need to be on our A-game; as there were likely to be errors resulting from these many threats. Also talked about how each error itself would become a threat. FO made takeoff at his request and I made landing at ZZZ. There were many errors made due to rustiness; and we spent severalminutes in the cockpit with the debrief card. There were no FAR deviations during the segment.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.