An irate passenger took to Twitter to complain about her American Airlines pilot, whom she photographed with a prominent “Let’s Go Brandon” tag on his luggage ahead of a flight to Miami. American Airlines says it is looking into the incident.
American Airlines Pilot Pictured With “Let’s Go Brandon” Luggage Tag
Dana Finley Morrison was traveling from Hewanorra International Airport in Sant Lucia (UVF) to Miami (MIA). Before her flight, she noticed her captan had a political luggage tag on his bag. The tag said “Let’s Go Brandon” with the hashtag #FJB, which stands for “F*** Joe Biden.”
Confused? You have to go back to October 2, 2021 to NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Talladega Superspeedway. Brandon Brown won. An NBC reporter named Kelli Stavas interviewed him after.
As the interview progressed, Stavas thought the crowd was chanting “Let’s go Brandon! Let’s Go Brandon!” But they were really chanting, “F*** Joe Biden! F*** Joe Biden!” Immediately, “Let’s go Brandon” became an internet meme and new cottage industry of “Let’s Go Brandon” t-shirts, posters, cups, and other trinkets sprang up.
In a now private tweet, Morrison took to Twitter to complain about her AA pilot:
“Hey @AmericanAir – y’all cool with your pilots displaying this kind of cowardly rhetoric on their crew luggage when they’re in uniform, about to fly a plane. We are not the only passengers who noticed and were disgusted.”
American Airlines responded quickly, stating:
“Thank you for bringing this to our attention and we want to get this to the right team. Please DM any additional details.”
Morrison later shared what she claimed were direct messages between herself and American Airlines on the issue:
Ultimately, it appears this matter will be resolved internally at AA:
“We take this very seriously and have sent this over to crew leadership. They will handle this internally after review. We assure you appropriate internal review will occur.”
For me, the answer is simple: no political slogans or pins of any sort on uniforms or attached to luggage. No divisive stickers or pins either. In fact, none at all besides name tag, wings, and epaulets. Just wear the uniform. That’s the goal: to look uniform. Nothing else, not even a picture of your dog or cat. It’s what I love about Gulf and Asian airlines.
CONCLUSION
American Airlines has launched an internal investigation over a pilot who was pictured with a “Let’s Go Brandon” luggage tag. While it isn’t clear how closely AA regulates crew baggage accoutrements, it should provide a company-issued baggage tag and note that nothing else is allowed on a crew bag.
But the same complainer was fine with BLM pins and Gay Pride rainbows that crew has prominently sported in the past few years.
You can’t have it both ways, so you can argue that nothing should be allowed. But the left will claim those things aren’t political.
It’s a clown world at this point.
Where in this article are you reading this? Nothing written here argues to promote one political slogan over another. “ For me, the answer is simple: no political slogans or pins of any sort on uniforms or attached to luggage. No divisive stickers or pins either. In fact, none at all besides name tag, wings, and epaulets. Just wear the uniform.”
Those are company sanctioned pins. This luggage tag was not.
Excuse me but where do you see that this person also thought it was OK to have BLM propaganda?
The fact that you equate support for minorities (black and gay communities) with an epithet towards our President shows how much racist hatred you (and other posters) have in your heart.
Gay pride and the slogan “black lives matter” is only divisive if you hate gay people and black people. “Lets go Brandon” is a slogan used by people that tried to overthrow the government and frankly belong in Guantanamo Bay. Big difference
When did democrats become such insufferable, ignorant mouth breathers? The BLM protests were nothing but organized crime and riots that costs billions of dollars and the lives of innocent Americans.
“Black lives matter” is a very divisive title. I suggest it be changed to “white lives suck” or “squash white lives” or something more positive like that.
You are right on Dave, those were my very first thoughts when I read the article. Why is Let’s Go Branden political?
What’s next from the Nazi Germany playbook, loyalty oaths to the leader
If you ban “let’s go brandon”, could you ban “black lives matter” – both are just as divisive. BLM, the movement, has caused way more damage than the “1/6 peaceful protest” – where the only people that died are from cops.
Not true. Please check your facts – and your bias.
BLM protests have been overwhelmingly peaceful, and those that were not were mostly due to folks antagonizing BLM protestors. Multiple organizations and media outlets have assessed over 7,000 BLM marches and protests, and over 96% of them had zero issues. Just say you don’t like Black folks demanding to be seen as humans instead of laying down false equivalences, comparing a human rights movement to an attempted coup.
Lame response and accusations, Ralph. We all recall the BLM “mostly peaceful protests” banner in front of the obvious vandalism, arson, looting, and violence displayed on CNN and other media outlets.
It is not creating false equivalencies when strictly commenting on equal application of company policy.
And you telling him to “just say you don’t like black folks demanding…” is just an ad hominem attack. Pathetic.
That’s like saying OJ had a mostly peaceful evening that fateful night in June of 1994!!
So you were the witness on Gretna Green that didn’t testify at his trial where he was found not guilty by a jury of his peers?
Love how all these woke people degrade a black man who did his time for just trying to get his things back that were stolen from him. Another black man over sentenced by a judge (Judith Glass) looking to make a name for herself and get a TV show, which failed quickly.
In the spirit of the new comments policy, here’s my thoughts on political expressions on common carriers:
There are two levels of speech: Generic coalition viewpoints such as Pro-life, pro-choice, BLM, and rainbow flags. It’s argued that these are inclusive sentiments but “all lives matter” would seem to be quite inclusive (if not moreso). Expression for a particular political candidate however (negative or pro) probably crosses a different line.
I agree with others’ sentiments to just ban all political expression altogether including the rainbow flags, etc. If you want diversity and inclusion WITHIN THE LAW then have a company comply with it but otherwise, stick out of the politics altogether.
For the record, as I’ve aged I’ve become more charming and neutral as a matter of just enjoying life more. When someone throws partisan politics on the table during a dinner, I’ll quietly introduce a new topic (without asking permission) and direct energy towards something more pleasant. It’s my general philosophy as well to be a pleasant traveling companion to those around me.
Let’s go Brandon FJB.
A useless president. The nasty Vice President who is only good for giving blowies.
2024 can’t come soon enough to get rid of these two clowns.
At least he is getting work done, instead of a overweight pasty clown who watches TV all day, cheating on his taxes, cheating on his wife, not paying small businesses who worked on his projects, not pay Giuliani, having sex workers peeing on him while Kremlin watches, and incite the crowd to start an insurrection.
Can’t wait until 2024 until the overweight pasty clown is prosecuted and sent to jail.
Getting work done? Like the fine job he did with the Afghanistan withdrawal, getting Covid testing kits produced and distributed, securing the US southern boarder, and making the US energy dependent again?
I feel like securing the boarder is the 2022 version of your retarded.
We probably agree, but backwards. “Boarder?” Really? LOL.
AA can either allow all speech, or none. This bag tag was on the pilots bag, not his person, but AA is fine with their staff wearing BLM pins ON their uniforms? Sorry, that’s not how this works.
Companies still haven’t learned that they should just provide the item or service that I’m paying for and take my money. There isn’t a single position on any topic that any company can take that isn’t going to piss off half of their customer base.
Take my money, give me my stuff and STFU.
AA can either allow all speech, or none. This bag tag was on the pilots bag, not his person, but AA is fine with their staff wearing BLM pins ON their uniforms? Sorry, that’s not how this works.
Companies still haven’t learned that they should just provide the item or service that I’m paying for and take my money. There isn’t a single position on any topic that any company can take that isn’t going to piss off half of their customer base.
Take my money, give me my stuff and STFU.
Great point, and one that I hadn’t thought of. How can an airline publicly allow and endorse support for BLM but not let employees express other views?
First amendment doesn’t apply. Companies can restrict speech, no matter how unfair you see it. If they want to allow BLM pins but not FJB pins, they can. Freedom of speech is not part of the conversation.
That’s the excuse liberals say until the conservatives start building their own companies. And lo and behold.. liberal companies ban conservative companies from operating their own services by withholding web hosting services, payment services, etc.
In other words, stop the “first amendment doesn’t apply” BS.
Matt: After reading this I would appreciate your comments on Delta and other airlines allowing their employees to wear BLM pins. Do you feel those should be banned as well, in order for the employees to be “uniform?”
I think the article made it clear that he supports the Asian carrier philosophy in that no personal items be worn or shown beyond standard issue uniforms and ID.
“For me, the answer is simple: no political slogans or pins of any sort on uniforms or attached to luggage. No divisive stickers or pins either. In fact, none at all besides name tag, wings, and epaulets. Just wear the uniform. That’s the goal: to look uniform.”
To paraphrase Laura Ingraham, “shut up and fly the plane”. That is how I would prefer it as well. But the union agreements rather interfere.
I should get a “trump is a moronic traitor” tag so I can pull it out at moment of needs.
I say go the other way. Let the people represent their views on non-company owned property and then if the passengers are irate enough, lets see if they’ll cancel their ticket.
Life isn’t politically correct, if the person is offended, let them chose to go with another carrier.
I am non-partisan but it is quite amusing how this same passenger is the type of person who was likely chanting “f*** Donald Trump” at every opportunity from 2016-2021. Does that not also classify as “supportive violence against the US government”? Does everyone suddenly forget about this behavior? Regardless of who you support, we cannot deny the one-sided bias of the broader US media landscape today.
Is the passenger a pilot or an AA employee?
Some of these clowns need a class how not to draw false equivalencies.
I support free speech. It’s sort of an old fashioned American thing, isn’t it?
Free speech doesn’t apply to private companies…
Free speech means that the government cannot prosecute you for expressing your opinion. Free speech does not apply to company policies or the person’s employment expectations.
So, according to First Amendment rights, an employee can curse out a customer without any consequences since it’s all free speech?
@ Matthew — They should be fired immediately. Period.
Can you explain why Gene? Should EVERYONE who has a sticker on their personal items at work be fired? And what exactly would be ok for someone to not get fired?
Ditto that comment. This pilot needs to loses his job and has to go fly Spirit
Yes free speech doesn’t apply to private companies, but this is BS. They allow BLM crap which which is basically F the police? So F the police is fine??? Whatever. Funny how all those idiots now want more police since crime is sky rocketing!
You snowflakes don’t get it both ways. If BLM is ok then LGB should be too.
Unfortunately this isn’t new. 15 or so years ago I’d fly JFK-ZRH on AA once or more per month in business class as an EXP.
One of the senior flight attendants (purser) always wore an “El Al” lanyard. I confronted her once asking why she was wearing and showing the name of another airline and if it was appropriate. She replied it was to support the Israeli cause and that passenger’s shouldn’t question what she was allowed or not to do.
The following times I had her she very clearly remembered me and gave me a ‘special’ service. Ultimately moved away from flying AA from JFK because of her.
Did you inform AA of your decision?
FWIW, I think AA’s rules permit this, but instructing a pax not to question her was curt, impolite and worthy of a report.
Where does the tag indicate insurrection of our government and a sitting president? I only see a signal of support for NASCAR driver Brandon Brown.
Does #FJB mean frankly just butts?
“Stavas thought the crowd was chanting, ‘Let’s go, Brandon…’”
Really?!? And exactly how do you know what Stavas was thinking?
It is precisely this kind of blatant, disingenuous protectionism among and between the mainstream media and the political left that made “Let’s go, Brandon!” a rallying cry for the right. Based on how clearly Stavast’s own microphone picked up what was actually being chanted, the chances of her mistakenly hearing “Let’s go, Brandon!” are vanishingly slim.
Let’s Go Brandon!!! People said whatever they wanted about the former president and that was OK. Now because it is about Brandon it is not Ok. He is disgraceful. He is so incompetent that he allows anyone into the country and without checking their Covid tests. Yes, I landed from overseas last week and nobody asked for my Covid tests when I landed. Beginning Nov this year he better get his bingo skills up since that is all he is going to to until he is sent to a nursing home in 2024.
And the airline did not check your test before issuing your boarding pass?
@Eugene: it was a joke. On the way from the US to my destination (a third world country), I had an airline agent check my family’s Covid tests (PCR) before issuing boarding pass. She read one by one and confirmed data with each passport. However, the big surprise was when we landed. An agent from their local CDC spent time to check everything carefully and asked questions. We also had to show proof of vaccination and give her a report for each passenger I had to fill online. Very well done. On the way back to the US, it was laughable. First, no need for PCR but a quick antigen in a pharmacy was enough. The agent at the check in never read the papers. He only saw we had a piece of paper for each passenger. If the tests said “positive” he would never see it. But my surprise was when we landed in the US. Not a single soul asked us anything. Nobody checked anything. We walked in like life was normal. So they rely on an agent from a third world country that probably doesn’t even read English to decide if we can travel or not. Very disappointing.
A negative Covid result is required to board a flight to the United States, it is not a requirement to enter the country, so there would be no reason to present it upon arrival. If you somehow made it to a CBP facility in an airport, if you were a US citizen, you would have to be admitted, regardless of Covid status.
Wondering how much you have traveled recently. The airlines are the gatekeepers for Covid tests. And in some places vaccination status. The border agents rarely ever check on arrival at airports as you would not have been able to board the flight in the first place. At land crossings they do however, and it’s quite thorough.
Well, that has been poorly implemented. In most countries, airlines don’t even have employees. They contract locals to work during the check in for their flights. Trusting those will do a good job with Covid test is a big mistake in my opinion. Not having health officials at the airport to check on people coming into the country is another big failure. The level of incompetence of this administration is mind blowing.
@Santastico But I thought you argue that Covid “stuff” is all theater anyway? If so, what difference does it make to you? You should be happy we are not Europe or other countries with lock downs, restrictions, and endless mandates.
@Stuart: I am just sharing my experience to further validate it is a theater. Matthew has forbidden links here so search for the doctor that spoke at CNN and said cloth masks are simply ornaments for your face. They do absolutely nothing against this virus. Hum, CNN is saying that, not me.
I respect that. But why don’t we agree that in a sense no one knows wtf they are doing as this virus has continued to twist and turn and make things challenging. It’s all spitballing at this point. But to criticize an administration for at least trying, and in the comparison to the rest of the world doing it with far less mandates and orders, is a bit unfair. I mean, you want to take away masks on planes? Ok, but what about the rest of the world. Most other countries will not and if the U.S. does there will be air travel chaos trying to navigate the rules across borders. And really, is the stupid mask a big deal? I have no clue if it works, nor do I care. I don’t like underwear, but guess what, I wear it…maybe it prevents something, I have no idea, but it does at least keep my parts in check. And I haven’t had a cold in over two years (not because of underwear of course!).
Schools are open, places are open, I can even go to the gym if I wish, and unlike in Europe I don’t have to show my vaccination card wherever I go (though I don’t mind). You are free to roam. So, what exactly is the problem? The vaccine? Even you have stated you support vaccinations (I would expect nothing less as a Brazilian, lol!).
There may be a free speech issue at play here. AA accepted government money during the pandemic.
AA should be forced to immediately repay the money or allow full free speech
Meanwhile, let’s give a moment of thanks to the brave NY firefighters who risked their lives to save as many as possible in the Bronx blaze. To such men and women, ALL lives matter.
My opinion on this is very simple. If AA is going to allow BLM pins, then Let’s Go Brandon is fair game. Period. Full stop. Yes, technically AA is allowed to engage in viewpoint discrimination as a private company. Doesn’t make it right, though.
BTW, if you actually think that NBC reporter thought the crowd was chanting “Let’s Go Brandon”, I have some prime beachfront real estate in downtown Phoenix I’d like to show you.
Sure, because supporting black lives is the same thing as saying F[redacted] Joe Biden.
In other words, you support free speech as long as you agree with the speech
Sounds like Cuba or Venezuela
Caring about a marginalized group should not be a political statement. Just shows what type of people we are dealing with. “Indian lives matter” is not a political statement.
But “white lives matter” and “blue lives matters” is seen as racist. Such double standards!
Thanks Pete for perpetuating targeted victimhood. BLM is also not “caring about a marginalized group” any more than LGB is supporting another marginalized group.
When did this blog become so overridden with bigots? Too many “people” building a strawman (“but whatabout BLM?”) just to tear it down with made-up BS. If you can’t see that such a label with a uniformed professional is not appropriate for a workplace, then you’re the problem.
I love seeing Twitter tards getting their panties twisted over Let’s Go Brandon The meltdown will be glorious come Nov 2022, probably even worse that Nov 2016
As for the tag– if it was an F Trump tag– I don’t think the person would have complained. But that’s liberal tolerance for you– they get all upset when you disagree with them which I hate to break it to our liberal friends here, but you know who else was a big fan of censorship and lack of freedom of speech? Oh yeah– the Nazi’s. It was also illegal to make a joke about the Fuhrer. Guess this dude can’t make a joke about Biden.
AA put them in a bad spot here– because they allowed politics with BLM pins, thus promoting a bunch of commies, so that can’t be upset if someone else promotes a different viewpoint.
I think they are best served to not allow any political viewpoint from any of their employees, while those employees are @ work. What they do in their free time, is their free time.
But– AA is a poorly run company, so seriously, is this unexpected?
It’s not the statement that liberals object to, it’s the fact that the people who use it are actively trying to overthrow our elected government, and are making sure that in future elections they can throw out votes that aren’t for republican candidates. Biden needs to get tougher on these anti American scum otherwise we will no longer have a democracy. You bring up the nazis, we’ll it’s letting stuff like what’s going on in the GOP with their election denial slide that allowed them to take power. If this type of garbage isn’t shut down hard 2024 will be the last of the American democracy
Well Whiny Boomer, you should have moved to New Zealand back in 2016 like so many of your left-leaning friends swore they would do if DT won the election. And I have to deduce from your remarks that this pilot is obviously smuggling guns to other secret cadres in hiding just waiting for the secret signal to rise up and reek havoc. Please, a little less caffeine in the morning…LMAO!!!
Ask yourself… does what you just said sound any more ridiculous than a bunch of maniacs violently storming the US capital because they were angry that their reality TV show host cult leader lost a fair election and they wanted to overturn it? Or a bunch of people with the help of local law enforcement plotting to kidnap and kill the governor of Michigan?
Whiny Boomer, are you off your meds? Seek help!
Oh yea, I forgot… I must have imagined those things happening.
“If it was an F Trump tag…”. But it wasn’t! This was an F Biden tag and it was displayed by an employee in uniform.
For an employee to display an “F Trump” tag would have been just as inappropriate.
Just because the phrase is ubiquitous doesn’t mean it’s appropriate for an employee representing a company to display it on his crew luggage.
BEN YOU CORRECT
Probably pining for the days he could whip someone on a plantation. Now he has to be content with a douchey tag.
Well, you’re getting your clicks and your comments. I hope it was worth it.
Why wouldn’t it be? I’m amazed by the discussion.
@Matthew, this has been most entertaining! And how quickly it turned political. I really was not expecting to be so entertained so early in the week.
Um… an AA pilot had a luggage tag that said Let’s go Brandon.
And you’re surprised that the comment section is political?
Re: AA pilot under fire exercising free speech rights, `Let`s Go Brandon.`
Dear Matt, has this incident been resolved? What`s the status of the pilot? It`s funny, Dana Finley Morrison had her identity scratched from the Delta Tau Delta website. We have a candidate running for congress, Brandon Martin, `Let`s Go Brandon.` Would a supporter be denied passage on AA if carrying this tag? Hah!
You should be ashamed of the “discussion” you fomented.
As a private company it is not an encroachment or suppression of Free Speech to disallow such an emblem/phrase/statement. It does, however, fail the idea of “Fair Across the Board,” treatment and makes it subject to “Harm Principle.” These the are two areas where most employers get into trouble during EDD hearings. When the employee makes the case that this was unfairly disallowed because the employers allowed one and not the other. The Harm Principle asks, “Did the employee do this with the intent or did this cause Irreparable harm?” If the employer states that such is the case, they’re now responsible to prove how it impacted the company detrimentally either monetarily or to reputation. One person choosing to use another vendor, or in this case airline, fails to meet such principles. If it caused a large company or contract to withdraw such as Google, Tesla, etc. then that could possibly pass muster possibly.
In my opinion, they should disallow all non-branded material while in/on company time and property. There is no need for cross-brand promotion.
Lighten up, Francis!
All the butthurt libs in the comment section today……and not a pair of workboots amongst them. LET’S GO BRANDON!!!
What about all the butthurt racists? Like you?)
Racist is so 2020.
It’s the term liberals use against those who point out their mishaps, mistakes, policy errors, and quite simply, screw-ups.
Maybe it’ll come back in vogue during the 2024 election cycle.
Besides – last I checked, the Democrats were the biggest racists in the US. I never saw a law by conservatives that placed a specific type of race last in the pecking order for COVID treatments or any other type of government benefit.
I wish I had the last 5 minutes of my life back reading these comments. Sheesh.
I am not surprised. Check his vaccination status too! Just another of many reasons I don’t ever fly American.
‘An irate person on Twitter’ lol. Welcome to 2022. Strange how the Brandon meme is now linked to the Capitol riot, despite the riot having preceded the TV interview that spawned the incident by some months.
Let’s go Brandon is as much about the distrust about the media as it is about Biden.
While I agree that personal statements on uniforms and or company equipment should be limited, the reality is that crew bags (company property) and uniforms are subject to collective bargaining agreements. ID lanyards, pins, etc. are all subject to labor agreements. Generally speaking, Political statements are not allowed, for obvious reasons, but the question of what is political statement (be it a donkey or elephant pin) becomes more difficult when the item is less clearly “political” in terms of BLM, rainbow pins, etc., where some would consider it a political statement and others would not. Most would be shocked at how much time and pages of contracts (whole sections actually) are dedicated to addressing this sort of issue. “Beauty” and “offensive” are similarly in the eye of the beholder. Does it really matter if the person driving the bus is, in your opinion, an idiot? Everyone take a deep breath, stay calm and carry on.
Kevin, where on God’s green earth would BLM sticker or a rainbow flag not be considered a political statement?
Who cares if his luggage tag says f*** trump or f*** Biden or go Brandon or whatever . Who the f*** cares , his suitcase = his tag . Who are the self entitled people that freaking complain about a darn luggage tag . Get a life please!!!! Enjoy your flight and your vacation and don’t worry about others and their stupid luggage tags.
Probably for the reason that many here expect and wish their pilots to be less likely to support insurrections, false claims of election fraud, and a dismantling of democracy. Much like I don’t want my pilot to be wearing a torn Metallica t-shirt (though I admit would be funny!) whilst holding a sign declaring, ‘The End is Near.”
The uniforms are for a reason. They build trust and comfort. Standards. Pretty basic stuff.
If you want to wear a statement piece become a celebrity and knock yourself out.
Get rid of BLM, Rainbow gay emblems, Brandon, and all of it. However, blacks, gays and others want “special status”. They demand a preferred level of free speech while hypocritically denying the same to those with whom they disagree. The woman who complained must have little else to do, other than worry what brand of tampon to buy and how to meddle in the lives of others.
Hot Daddy!
Anybody hear about that thing called The First Amendment? What a bunch of Sallys.