An American Airlines’ gate agent humiliated a woman, loudly chiding her for trying to bring breastfeeding equipment and breastmilk onboard her flight.
The incident happened at Los Angeles (LAX) while boarding a flight to Chicago (ORD). A gate agent stopped Kelsey Myers from boarding, stating she had too many carry-on items. Myers was carrying a small rollerboard bag, purse (personal item), breast milk in a cooler, and a breast pump.
When the gate agent stated she had too many carry-on items, Myers explained that the breast pump was a medical device. She even placed the milk cooler in the small breast pump bag. See the video below for pictures of exactly what she tried to bring aboard.
According to Myers, the gate agent was combative and refused to listen.
She stated yelling at me to check the bag. In a condescending tone, she screamed in front of about 50 people waiting to board the flight ‘how many boobs do you have?’
Myers ended up checking her larger bag.
Here’s what AA’s carry-on rules say about breast pumps and breast milk:
Diaper bags (1 per child), soft-sided cooler bags with breast milk, child safety seats, strollers and medical or mobility devices don’t count as your personal item or carry-on.
In other words, the agent was totally out of line for humiliating Myers and totally wrong on her employer’s carry-on policy.
AA initially offered Myers a $75 voucher. Myers believe the compensation amount should be higher. I do too.
An AA spokesman told NBC 5 Chicago that the agent was wrong, adding:
It’s difficult enough to travel as a breastfeeding mom.We want it to be easier, not more difficult.
CONCLUSION
I bet the gate agent is used to far too many passengers trying to take advantage AA’s carry-on policy. Still, there is no excuse for failing to understand AA’s carry-on exemptions. Most importantly, though, it is disgusting that Myers was ridiculed in such a condescending way.
I’ve had the same problem with AA with CPAP. Never an issue on any other airline. Not sure why they don’t seem to have the right training in place
*humiliates – not humilities
Thank you. My bad.
The headline reads “…AGENT HUMILITIES…”
“HUMILIATES” perhaps?
Seems par for the course at American Airlines
yeah because no agent for any other airline has ever humiliated any passenger before.
Must have been a slow news day for NBC 5 Chicago.
I would’ve told them, “just because you’re so unconcerned with your children’s health doesn’t mean I am; like, it’s fine if you want to toss your sanitary equipment into a bag with other things and have your kid drinking something that tastes like dirty pennies, old/crushed peppermints, and lint, that’s on YOU! I, however, have no intention of exposing my kid to unnecessary germs and dirt just because y’all don’t know your own policies and this equipment is vital to keeping my kid fed and healthy and if you’ve got an issue with that you better call the CEO of this dumpster fire of an airline because it’s going on with me whether think it should or not!”