Airline apologizes to mother after breastfeeding controversy. / NBC 5
A breastfeeding mother was reduced to tears after being berated by an airline employee who claimed she had been carrying too many bags, while in fact, she was not.
While preparing to board a plane May 6 from Los Angeles to her home in Chicago, Kelsey Myers was stopped by two gate attendants who mistakenly ordered her to check-in one of her bags that had her breast milk cooler and pump inside.
In a Facebook complaint to American Airlines, the mother explained that she had been boarding flight number 1243 with a carry on, personal item and a breast pump.
She said she was stopped by a gate attendant named Daniel who first told her she was carrying too many bags, the MailOnline reported.
Breastfeeding mother Kelsey Myers was reduced to tears before boarding a flight on Sunday. Photo / Facebook
"I explained to him my breast pump is a medical device and the small cooler was breast milk. And he still told me I need to check my bag. I continued to tell him I read their policy online and knew what I had was allowed to be carried on," Myers wrote.
The gate attendant then called a supervisor over to the area to help him out, when the altercation became worse.
"Juliette arrived. She did not even ask me the situation, but instead immediately told me I need to check a bag,' the mother-of-one went on to say.
Myers repeated her story to the supervisor, telling her she was aware of the airline's policy and that the items she had been carrying were necessary medical devices.
Juliette then shouted at the new mother in front of roughly 50 people, asking Myers: "How many boobs do you have?!"
Myers decided to take the high road and check the bag in, but began tearing up while boarding the plane.
Above shows Myers' luggage. She had been holding a carry-on, a personal item and equipment for breastfeeding. Photo / NBC5
"I have never felt more harassed, disrespected and humiliated in my life," she added.
"She would not reason at all and continued to scream at me in front of everyone so I eventually just gave in and checked my bag.
"I'm shocked that a supervisor would show such disrespect. I'm also very surprised that a supervisor would have no knowledge of what seems to me like a simple policy."
American Airlines said in a response on Facebook the company would be reviewing the matter internally and be in touch with the customer.
In a statement earlier Wednesday to NBC 5, American Airlines representative Leslie Scott also confirmed Myers was properly following their policy and that the incident should have never happened.
"If I'm not violating the rules, and I knew I wasn't, then why am I getting humiliated?," Myers said to the news station.
The outraged mom took to her Twitter explaining that the airline had offered her a voucher to compensate for the mess.
