A black woman and retired judge has claimed she was targeted for harassment by an American Airlines flight attendant for “slamming” the first class lavatory door on a flight to Phoenix. She denies that charge and believes the incident was racially motivated.
American Airlines Flight Attendant Accused Of Harassing Black Woman…For Slamming First Class Lavatory Door
On February 10, 2024, retired Circuit Court Judge Pamela Hill-Veal was flying in American Airlines first class with her family from Chicago (ORD) to Phoenix (PHX). After using the forward lavatory, a flight attendant stopped her while returning to her seat and scolded her for slamming the lavatory door.
“The flight attendant stopped me as I was returning to my seat and told me I ‘slammed the restroom door and I was not to do it again since passengers were sleeping on the plane.'”
She claimed she did not slam the door and ignored him.
Later in the flight she used the lavatory again and found the flight attendant waiting for her when she stepped out. Pointing toward the rear of the plane, he yelled at her:
“He began to berate me by pointing his finger at me towards my face and saying, ‘I told you not to slam the door … so from now on, you are to use the restroom in the back of the plane’
30 minutes before landing, she rose to use the (first class) lavatory once more and when she emerged, the same flight attendant said that she would be arrested upon landing because he “didn’t like the way I talked to him.” She claims she then physically touched her (with his index finger).
We have not heard the flight attendant’s side of the story yet, but he also accuses Hill-Veal of hitting him. But she says that is ridiculous:
“This was a complete fabrication as I told him that I never hit him.”
Hill-Veal claims she has not been able to sleep since the incident and now is afraid to fly.
My Thoughts
I saw this story on NPR yesterday and wondered if it would make national headlines, especially as American Airlines has been accused of similar race-based discriminatory treatment in the past. Using flight attendant Facebook groups, I tried to locate the other flight attendant but was not successful. Hopefully, he will come forward if he has a different account. But if everything went down as Hill-Veal describes, then he is unfit to be a flight attendant.
Meanwhile, American Airlines has vowed to investigate the incident:
“American Airlines strives to provide a positive and welcoming experience to everyone who travels with us and we take allegations of discrimination very seriously.”
We likely won’t hear any further updates from AA, but allegations like this story on NPR (and Paddle Your Own Kanoo, who published an account last night) are taken very seriously by American Airlines.
I hope American Airlines promptly gets to the bottom of this and provides additional key details if any were omitted from Hill-Veal’s account.
Everyone stop the presses, an entitled black woman thinks she’s been slighted. Better cancel every white person involved and start the lectures on race in America
@Chi Hsuan … Good prediction for the next move by the big baby . She ought to have simply apologized for the lav door matter . Easy solution .
Racist loser!!!
Does anyone think if she was a white woman, the headline would read; AMERICAN AIRLINES FLIGHT ATTENDANT BANISHES WHITE WOMAN TO ECONOMY
Retired judge can’t sleep over this small thing? Shows how incompetent and lack of empathy she had as a judge. People undergoing litigation can experience 100,000 times greater stress than just a lavatory problem.
You write: Hill-Veal claims she has not been able to sleep since the incident nad how is afraid to fly
I think that should say “…and now…”
So the gay flight attendant is racist?
So you think gay people can’t be racist. How ignorant!!
Huh. She should have checked for a phone in the lav. We know AA is known for the pee camera.
How many times does she need to go to the lavatory? Also, if she thought the FA was confrontational, why insist in going to the same lavatory? Just go in the back and move on. She looked for trouble and found it.
Every individual has different “needs” to go to the bathroom. Some people have more of an to go more frequently than others, and it shouldn’t mean facing problems from FAs or other passengers when bathroom use is akin to “first come first serve”.
I don’t know who the FA in question is, but I’ve seen some FAs treat “black” and “brown” passengers differently than “white” passengers when it comes to use of the forward lavatories. And when there are comparably aged kids involved, good luck explaining to one kid why a different kid and their parent got treated better by the FA with regard to bathroom access than the other one/set.
@GU … Perhaps she will set up a Go Fund Me request ? I would pledge a tear or two .
@GU,
I don’t know where you’re getting your data points, but I’m certainly sure you can’t back that up. I’ve been executive platinum for five years with American Airlines. I’ve never seen any type of bias when it comes to lavatories. And I’m sitting at the front of the plane 90% of the time.
But I know many people like you would like to spread the hate.
From my own observations on my many, many AA flights. 😉
I have been EXP for far more years than 5 years, although I dropped that game some years back as I was getting more than enough value out of being BA Gold for most of the same time I was EXP and had long ago earned AA Lifetime Platinum status from just flying on AA planes. And that status stuff is from (mostly ;)) just the regular paid tickets. On top of that I have racked up such a crazy amount of miles over the years and played the redemption game so well that I am pretty sure that most current EXPs today have not had anywhere near as many flights as I’ve had. 😉
So well said, I’m so tired of ignorant Black people calling out white people for telling them they’re ignorant, I’m pretty sure they already know that
Let’s compare your degrees to hers and see who’s the ignorant one.
Alan you are an attention ignorant seeker. Fools like you should be ignored. Silence is the best answer for fools like you.
Rick you need help. Blacks or minorities are not your problems. Look in the mirror and you will see your problem.. YOu..
I didn’t know there was a Pee Police. I’ll keep that in mind next time I fly.
Well , who does she think she is ? Queen of the lav , perhaps ?
“I don’t know who the FA in question is, but I’ve seen some FAs treat “black” and “brown” passengers differently than “white” passengers when it comes to use of the forward lavatories. What a bunch of BS. I am Latino, have darker skin and have flown over 4MM miles and was never treated differently while using the forward lavatory. I just don’t slam the door. It is so easy now for people to blame their bad behavior in their skin color. That’s is getting old. Don’t slam the door!
Your colorful characterization about what you weren’t around to see on some of my flights describes only your own description and limited experience. And “limited” is the right word for me to use. 😉
Jeez I wonder how NPR spun this…..not.
NPR…. that’s all I needed to read.
Was she squirting in the bathroom?
I really don’t understand why you, as the owner of this website, condone blatant racism in the comments section. I really love your content and read it more than any other travel blog, but your comments section is garbage.
Unlike most other commenters here, I tend to believe the judge. I don’t know why she would make up a story like this that risks her entire reputation. I’m interested in seeing what the FA has to say in his defense. If I had to guess, he was probably out of line.
Looks like you made up your mind before you even hear his side! Way to close that mind of yours. Maybe your free search should be suppressed also?
When I read the account on a different site I did not even read she was black, but I came to the same conclusion many here did. There’s a lot more to this story than one biased side. But if anyone disagrees with her side, they must be a racist!
*speach
Speech
100% agree with you Wes. The comment section here is generally a cesspool of racist comments anytime there is a story involving a black or brown person, especially any comments from Santastico. Its generally sad but Matt has pretty much said he will allow these type of racist comments to continue unabated.
I agree, Wes.
Matthew defends the fundamental right to the freedom of hate speech. So, the comments section here sometimes look like an KKK rally.
@Ricardo: Racist comments like those of a certain white supremacist with the initials DA may make me sad, but they do not scare me…and they help me realize such sentiment is still very present in this culture during this time. Are you afraid people are too stupid and will become racist or bigoted based on the misguided viewpoints of a zealot?
I am afraid that the misguided viewpoints of a extremist zealot will be increasingly considered normal, as is happening. Unfortunately it is something that happens not only here, but in society in general. Im talking about extremists on both sides, since today moderation and balance, or education and respect, do not sell.
But like Wes, I really love the content of your blog, is very good and I read every day. Although it would be good taste to control at least the most offensive messages, so that the many valuable comments can be read without noise, I understand that that will never happen.
Meanwhile the key is to avoid the comments section, which look like an Aryan Nations diary.
Sieg Heil, my friends!
You know Ricardo, your problem is that you’re too sensitive to others. For example, if I were to call you a weak commie bitch boy (which you are), it would probably bother you and make you go whining to Matthew or Mommy or whoever to get it taken down.
I, on the other hand, don’t care what I’m called on this blog or anywhere else. Everyone has the right to speak their minds and who are you to decide what should and should not be said?
I’ve encountered racism in my life so these are useful discussions to have.
Reading this and other previous complaints, I’m wondering if airline management ever had a discussion about having “chestcams” for FA’s and even pilots. They would be useful in accident investigations as well as avoiding incidents such as this. When incidents of air rage occur, it would certainly assist in cutting down on the differences in he-said-she-said stories.
@Wes: I agree too that this retired judge would have to be crazy to make up such a story.
But I don’t like how OMAAT censors opinions that most, myself included, may deem as counterproductive or even racist/disgusting/pathetic and also censors comments critical of him, even when meant in a constructive sense. Do we just ignore it and pretend it isn’t there? I do not view that as a wise approach.
I believe letting people express their viewpoints is a way we learn from each other and also recognize the hate and ignorance we still must contend with around us.
He removed my comment saying that he’s not shilling the Capital One Venture X enough rofl
@Matthew I actually do agree with you, and don’t want to see the comment section heavily censored or removed. I just think the people who consistently post obviously racist perspectives repeatedly shouldn’t be allowed to comment. They are often seen discussing race on posts that have absolutely nothing to do with it, and are found commenting negatively towards minorities (mostly Black people, some of the racists here claim to be Hispanic) on every single post involving race.
I mostly quit reading OMAAT in favor of your blog because it’s turned into a credit card sales/unattainable luxury travel blog, and also partially because it’s way too PC. I don’t know the answer on how to properly moderate comments, but there has to be some sort of balance. Otherwise we risk just normalizing hate.
I think it’s useful to know that there are opinions out there which are very unattractive and to even encounter such opinions. That way they can be challenged and exposed as a mockery of thought coming from opinion-holders who are unwilling to think for themselves more and be be more thoughtful toward those whom they consider to be “the other”.
I guess the real question is did she get treated that way because she’s black or did she get treated that way because she’s ignorant , being black is an no excuse for being ignorant and neither is being white so I’m not even sure why race had to come into this,
It’s probably that Pedo AA Flight Attendant that got busted. She was too old for him to video tape in the loo.
Can’t sleep over this? Afraid to fly? There are 3 other airlines offering daily service between those cities. Seems awfully dramatic for someone as worldly as a judge.
The over-emphasis on this person being a retired judge is a red-flag for me. Her linked-in page lists her name as: “Judge Pamela E. Hill-Veal (Ret)” I have friends who are still active judges– they list their name as their name, without the word “Judge” in front of it.
She served as a municipal judge for 8 years, but retired 12 years ago. What does this have to do with the incident with the flight attendant? Does everyone agree that retired judges don’t slam lav doors?
It seems like there is some aspect of escalation and dramatization here. This is a person who got into a petty dispute about closing a lavatory door, and wants to escalate this to a national story, otherwise file a complaint with the airline and move on. You have to think that, as such an important, prominent retired judge, that she has been on countless first class flights in which she has had no problems with her lavatory use, and this was just a bad trip.
I would say that this is less about racism in that she was black and more about entitled FA’s being the usual power tripping idiots that they often are.
I had a male AA flight attendant admonish me a few years ago for going through the J galley to reach the empty port side toilet. He literally went off on me about breaching their security and space and that if I did it again he would inform the Captain.
My take is that this compares more to my situation. It’s more about being a passenger rather than a particular race. AA flight attendants hate passengers. Period.
Stuart, I’m sure you’ve done a poll on all 27,000. Based on every single F/A bashing comment you make, I can guarantee you that you are the one who hates F/A. If I had friends that had awful flights on EVERY SINGLE flight they were booked, I’d think twice about ever stepping foot on a plane with them. You must be miserable and I’m sure it’s tiring. As far as this situation, I haven’t heard the other side yet but of course judges, attorneys, etc NEVER lie. Eye roll.
Well Cinderella/Cinderella Flyer1 based on comments from passengers, bad flight attendant experiences do happen from those miserable in the job. So if the shoe fits, wear it. And those that do not encounter the power trip simply avoid any interaction to be spared angst. So go suck down another champagne cocktail.
Of course there are bad flight attendants. There are bad apples in every job including yours Maryland. As for the champagne, I’m not a big fan but thanks.
But you have commented on aperol and champagne?
There are some misbehaving FAs who are on unnecessary power trips and wrongly take their issues out selectively on some passengers. I’ve seen some of that too. And even some rather good FAs may sometimes have bad days and sometimes wrongfully go wrong in dealing with passengers. Fortunately, both of the above sorts of FAs are less common than the consistent ones who do their job professionally and without taking things out wrongly on passengers. But none of us should be shy about relaxing there are some FAs who are poorly suited to the job of dealing with a diverse mix or passengers and whatever circumstances a flight full of passengers can throws their way.
@Flyer1 You are not far off. I despise all Union loving lazy and entitled U.S. FA’s who are a global embarrassment in both service and presentation to their career. I own that bias. Rightfully. Perhaps it’s time you also own the cancer in your ranks, change it, and prove me wrong the right way. Trying to just tell me it’s not like that and I’m mean when I experience it weekly isn’t going to persuade anyone here. Any person who flies regularly on non-US airlines knows full well how dismal you all are in the US. How hard you fight to avoid any level of service. And are just generally part of a really nasty culture. With seatbelt barriers blocking the galley as testimony number one.
Clearly in my lifetime we won’t ever get over racism. Whether it is a white person who simply can’t stand blacks or a black person who expects to be given things because ancestors were slaves.
There are a lot of good people on both sides but the others make it tough on everyone. I’ve seen minorities run to management anytime they didn’t get promoted and often management just gives in since they don’t want to deal with the hassles. I’ve seen white people clearly be racist (or sexist) which is bad as well.
And some people are just looking to cause trouble. I wasn’t there so I have no idea but just another unfortunate situation.
Judge Hill-Veal isn’t just a retired judge, but also sits on Illinois’ Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission:
https://www.isba.org/barnews/2024/01/illinoissupremecourtappointspamelahillvealasardcre. Her credentials are impeccable. And while her impressive credentials certainly do not, in and of themselves, serve to confirm or deny her version of events, I believe that she would come across as quite credible to any tribunal reviewing this matter.
And frankly, even if she did slam the door (or close it with more force than was actually necessary to close it), that is not a basis to demand that a first class passenger use the restroom in the back of the bus… I mean plane. If Judge Hill-Veal were truly disruptive, then the FA should have immediately notified the captain of a Level 1 disruptive passenger, and allowed the Captain to determine the correct course of action. That the FA never declared a level 1 disturbance or notified the Captain is pretty good evidence that the FA was just an a-hole, and probably a racist one at that.
And @Mr. Marcus, many of the retired judges and justices I know still use “Judge” and “Justice” as titles in their communications. And while I call my friends who are retired judicial officers by their first names, when introducing them to others, I generally use their titles. People work very hard to rise to a place in their career where they have such a title, and a retirement or death should not take away that honor.
Quite right. I agree.
Neal, yours is the most balanced comment here, thank you for this. I wanted to highlight a few points you’ve already made, namely:
1. A judge will usually have greater credibility, absent egregious past behaviour that stains their reputation. Nothing in the judge’s record calls her credibility into question; all there is are cynical, baseless comments in this section that basically evidence the commenters’ (un)conscious biases.
2. Sending a first class (black) passenger to the back of the bus (plane) isn’t a good look, especially given the (obvious) racist implications of such a “request.”
3. If the judge here was actually in the wrong and was behaving in a truly unruly manner, where’s the incident report? Why was the captain not made aware? Why were police not called to meet the plane on arrival? This lends even more credibility to the judge’s account and raises additional questions about the FA’s motivations.
4. A judge is a judge even after they retire. It’s simple courtesy to the person and respect for a title they’ve earned. Again, absent conduct unfitting of the office, I see no reason why this particular judge is being obnoxious by styling herself as one, even after retirement.
I know a lawsuit will be filed. Took me about 15 minutes to find a lot written about the Judge. Very interesting. I’ll just let everyone look for themselves. So, back to I’d love to hear the other side of this story.
I guess you will wait, possibly coordinate stories just like the pedophile with the phone. I suspect it’s all difficult when you spend the flight hiding?
Some Male FA are so over the top. I’d like to know what the passengers on this flight thought of his Service and Personality. Maybe this guy needs to work economy more to appreciate working Business Class. Clearly he has seniority and no class. Or, the retired Judge is looking for fast cash as she knows how the race card allegations work in her favour. She also needs a Dr visit to address her need to visit the Lavatory three times on a flight from Chicago to Phoenix.
Sorry but don’t airlines have clear rules that you are only allowed to use the bathroom in your cabin of service? So what’s the problem – door slamming or not.
The problem is that the (black) passenger who was scolded and told to use the rear toilet was in fact seated in first class, so was entitled to use the front lavatory.
Because the two are mutually exclusive?
My first time posting here. I have been flying since 1962 and have flown all over the world. I have had wonderful flights as well as nightmare flights. I have been subjected to a lot of racism ( TWA, and BA) in which FAs were angry that I was in first class. It happens. I have also been subjected to rude treatment for existing or as one FA told me..I think I am special and sooo pretty fir sitting in first class. Please make that make sense. I joined to make 2 observations: A. I stopped flying in 2019 just before COVID and have given up international travel. I drive almost everywhere now. Please do not make fun of PTSD or try to pretend to know at what level individuals are traumatized by any event. You are not them. B. Race cards are ” played” when dealt. Before dismissing anyone’s story or taking sides..start by taking away their race , religion, ethnicity, gender etc ir imagine the incident happening to you. There are some very mean FA and some with mental health issues. Same for passengers. We have to try to stop identifying stories by race then knee jerk defending one person because they are the race we align with. IF she was slamming doors thatcis not a policy to send someone to the back of a plane or arrest them for. If he tried to do that, he was out of line with AA policy. This may sound odd but as a passenger, she is afforded certain courtesies because her money helps to psy certain bills for the airlines. If she slammed doors, he could report it but never, ever should have berated anyone. WE should not condone the FA’s behavior to the passenger no matter how many times she used the bathroom. Her use was irrelevant. It was unprofessional to berate or threaten a passenger. Passengers can be informed of certsin repercussions but no one should ever be threatened. And as consumers, we should look beyond race to a baseline for customer service and how service oriented businesses shoukd treat others. TBH, flying seems like a combo of both a zoo and circus these days.
1st of all the FA had no business scolding her about a door closing period. She may not have believed she was slamming the door. Next, she paid her money to use the 1st class lavatory so again he shouldn’t be telling her to go all the way to the back of the plane to use economy. I will say it amazes me how many people have to go to the restroom while up in the sky. I’m a frequent flyer and I have used the lavatory only once on a plane and that was an 8 hour flight.
Maybe she tossed back a couple of martinis st the 1st class lounge before boarding. Who cares why she needed to pee 3x? She should be treated with RESPECT, no matter the color of her skin.
Agreed.
As it should be. She is probably a habitual hotel door slammer also.
And a seat back puller. Folks you get up out of your seat by pushing up on the armrests with your core. Not pulling the seat back in front of you cause you have to pee every 20 minutes on a 10 hour flight. Some of us are trying to sleep. Slam the door, pull the seat spresers tuckers you are all equally worthless.
Alan you are an attention ignorant seeker. Fools like you should be ignored. Silence is the best answer for fool like.
It’s still waiting to see why the dumb racists in this post is calling the Judge ignorant? She used the bathroom she had a right, & paid to use. Her going to Economy to appease the angry FA makes zero sense.
Interesting blog. The comment section is a trash can with to many bitter crazies