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Woman Dragged Off Southwest Flight Over Allergy

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A woman on a flight to Los Angeles International Airport was dragged off a Southwest plane Tuesday night by two police officers after claiming she was deathly allergic to two dogs on the flight. Video shows the woman being forcibly removed by two law enforcement officers. She can be heard yelling, “Don’t touch me,” and at one point also accused the officers of ripping her pants. The kerfuffle was preceded by the woman telling the flight crew that she had a life-threatening allergy to two dogs on… (losangeles.cbslocal.com) More...

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whherron
William Herron 59
"I'm allergic to dogs. It'll kill me."
"Then we'll reschedule you to another flight."
"Oh, wait a moment...that's not what I was trying to accomplish."
Braniff77
Braniff77 38
If she was deathly allergic, why didn't she got off the plane right away? During all the time she spent arguing with the crew, wasn't she afraid that the allergy would kick in?
carlsonj
James Carlson 5
I know I would have. Even if the animal were removed, the allergy is to proteins in the saliva and dander ... and that gets all over everything and can't easily be removed.

When I was young, I had an allergy like that to cats. Within minutes of entering a room where a cat had been -- or even a room where a cat owner covered in bits of fur had visited -- I would have an immediate reaction. If I didn't leave, I'd feel my throat constrict, and I'd have to be carried out.

Well-meaning relatives would tell me that they confined a pet to another part of the house and vacuumed "really well." Ha. That does little to no good.

To answer others, no, I never had an epi-pen or a doctor's note -- this is before that product was invented (it first went on the market in 1987). But I usually had Benadryl and a keen sense of staying away from those creatures. And, fortunately, many allergies tend to change over time.

I hope there's more to the story, but I doubt we'll hear about it. Nobody cares much about the follow-up because there are no headlines in that.
smburke56
sheila burke 0
In the pecking order of mammals Humans trump dogs, dogs don’t buy the tix and people abuse the reason for dogs - >23lb dogs- in cabin vs luggage hold.
AWAAlum
AWAAlum 2
Except that defies the reason for a service dog.
DaQi
DaQi 9
Not defending this lady in any way but this does bring up an interesting concern regarding animals/pets on planes. I am a pet lover and don't have a problem with cats or dogs but that doesn't mean that I want to spend my time on a plane with your dog or cat in close proximity to me. Most pets and certainly all the true service animals are well behaved but there are situations that I have experienced where an owner for example takes their dog out of its carrier and cuddles it right next to me or a situation where a dog escaped its carrier and then pawed and clawed its way across me which is unacceptable. Where do we draw the line on this. As I say I like dogs/cats but that doesn't mean that I want to spend a flight with your pooch in my face while you make kissy face with it while it gets hair on my clothes.
bobmyersco
Bob Myers 3
Sure - but there's nothing special about pets here. I don't want to spend a flight with your dog, cat, child, smelly feet, etc., in my face, and I doubt that anyone else want to spend their flight with mine. It's called common courtesy and thoughtfulness, and if you can't have a given item - whether it be a pet, a child, your lunch, whatever - with you on the flight without it unreasonably infringing on others, then you need to rethink bringing that item with you. On the other hand, it is unreasonable for anyone else to object to my simply HAVING a certain item with me on the grounds that it MIGHT cause them a problem if I am unable to control it, keep it to myself, etc.. People need to be a good deal less concerned with themselves and a good deal more thoughtful regarding those around them.
DaQi
DaQi 3
Agreed, that actually this does come down to common courtesy and is a wider issue.
dalehill800
Dale Hill 1
What an awesome thought Bob. Imagine that. People putting others consideration before their own. A little self restraint goes a long ways. I find I'm happier biting my tongue and later complaining I wish I had spoken out than speaking out and later wishing I had not.
AWAAlum
AWAAlum 0
The article didn't refer in any way to the subject dog's behavior or lack thereof. Your comments are valid, however, have nothing to do with this event.
f4ucorsair
Sull Ivan 3
Or what happens in an emergency? Will the animal be loose in the panic? Will the owner attempt to carry the animal and/or crate out during an evacuation? It’s already bad enough when you see these idiots (e.g., Asiana) trying to extract their carry on luggage as it is.
bobmyersco
Bob Myers 2
Have you ever flown with a pet? To be in the cabin, you are typically required to have the animal in a carrier which will fit under the seat in front of you, and you are generally not permitted to remove it from the carrier during flight. This means that we're not talking about any but relatively small pets here, and they will not be "loose in the panic" in an emergency situation. The exception, of course, is the case of service animals, but we can reasonably assumed that they have at least the minimum amount of training required so as not to be a concern.
TiredTom
Tom Bruce 1
been on a couple of flights where passenger removed animal from underseat cage... again... it seems consideration for others not a high priority for some people...
silcalifano
Many people are much nastier than any pet! Yeah, I still fly a lot, and prefer pets to some people.
AdrienneErtukel
I, too, prefer many pets to the people I encounter on flights. I fly overseas at least twice a year and have only encountered a pet on board a flight once. Service dogs I see more often. None of these animals clip their nails, put their bare feet on the armrests, or floss their teeth while in flight. Human passengers however, do.
tjperez927
Tony Perez 24
I heard that passenger jets will soon be equipped with cargo-loading rollers in the aisles to streamline this process!
SmokedChops
SmokedChops 11
And you sir, win the internet for today. Brilliant!
dalehill800
Dale Hill 3
Yes, that is! And does that plane come with ejection seats for unruly passengers?
Nultech
Nultech 0
A direct consequence of the airlines using baggage fees to turn us into a nation of baggage handlers. Does the airline CEO travel without a clean pair of knickers? I thought not.....
manowell
manowell 3
Southwest doesn't charge baggage fees.
joelwiley
joel wiley 0
Does the airline CEO travel on his/her product?
AWAAlum
AWAAlum 0
Most likely, yes.
manowell
manowell 1
Yes. :-)
watkinssusan
having worked flights with service animals,i can tell you that paperwork and verification,as well as pre booking and advising the airline of a service animal is required..very small dogs and very small cats,no birds or othersuch,are allowed with proper paperwork and a fee to be carried on if the carrier fits under the seat in front of them..usually only one per cabin..these are not service animal,but someones very small pet..service animals are not held on a lap, nor in a carrier,but sit at the owners feet (bulkhead)and are required to wear the vest..these animals do not bark nor cause any inconvenience to others..i have never heard of a person reacting the way this woman did,nor seen anyone die from a pet allergy..i believes she had some issue and was trying to capitalize on getting not only attention, but some form of compensation..if she was truly afraid of an allergic reaction,you can rest assured the crew or the agents at the gate would have made sure she was rebooked on another flight..also I might add,persons with service animals are preboarded in front of the othe passengers,so everyone does see them before they board the airplane...
sparkie624
sparkie624 3
Very true in most cases.... There are exceptions.. For example close connections. I can only remember once that they were not preboarded and there were other circumstances that came into play. Also most persons who are Handi-Caped board first as well as it is much more convenient to people helping them as well as being more discrete.

[This comment has been downvoted. Show anyway.]

tyketto
No. She's right. My wife is blind and has had a guide dog ever since I met her. Everytime we've flown with her, she has always preboarded with her dog, sat in the bulkhead, and wore her harness or vest stating that she is a working service animal.

How about you learn more about service animals before you spout off absolute nonsense about what you definitely do not know.
pilot62
Scott Campbell 14
I have an allergy to dogs ... ever heard of guide dogs for the blind ? Yea they are more important than your allergy - Drive next time I'm sick of stupid people delaying flights - 150 flight a year every minute counts
sparkie624
sparkie624 5
She was sick.... Mentally Sick!
tcmarks
Tim Marks 18
Actually, she appears to be part of the elitist entitlement crowd, it's all about her and if she does not like something then you must submit to her wants. Doesn't matter there are 130 other people taking the same flight or that the dogs in question are legal service dogs for those people with a handicap. The sane general public should not have to put up with people like this and I, for one, would be cheering when she was being removed from the aircraft...
joelwiley
joel wiley 7
Reasonable accommodation does not mean "be reasonable, accommodate me in my every whim"
crayanderson
Ray Anderson 7
Kerfuffle indeed. LOL
outward
Jimmy Robinson 21
Here we go again, another passenger who went a little psycho and raved and ranted and fought with enforcement. What particularly struck me was that she didn't have proof of her allergies and seemed fine even though the dogs were on board, yet demanded they accommodate her, not that she ever gave any consideration to the people with their [service] dogs who already were on board with their dogs. Also, I noticed she had that 'I'm such and such so that means you have to leave me alone' attitude. I'm not taking the side of law enforcement or Southwest (well, maybe a little), I just happen to notice these things about her. It all seemed completely unnecessary to me. I'm sure Southwest could have found her a different flight if she really had a life-threatening allergy. Instead, it was all about her. I want what I want and you should do as I say.
AdrienneErtukel
Yes I also detected this “Do you know who I am?!?” attitude coming from this passenger and I had to laugh. When was “professor “ added to the list of sacred professions? I agree with those who say she was most likely looking for a payday from Southwest.
Highflyer1950
Highflyer1950 20
I'll bet the service animals behaved better than this human!
TorstenHoff
Torsten Hoff 8
They obey commands, too.
f4ucorsair
Sull Ivan 1
Sometimes
joelwiley
joel wiley 5
"I have been studying the traits and dispositions of the "lower animals" (so called) and contrasting them with the traits and dispositions of man. I find the result humiliating to me."

Mark Twain
AWAAlum
AWAAlum 1
"Man who fly upside down have crack-up."

Confucius

You, Joel Wiley, crack me up - lolololol.
fitz6720
Officers....feel free to use your tasers.
briandubey
brian dubey 5
What funny about all the comments below is that there stories are all wrong....
1.first the flight was from Baltimore to LA
2.the dogs where service dogs and not pets
3.The lady did not have the doctors order letter saying she had this problem
I am glad she was forced off
fedexman2
Eric Schmaltz 1
Sad that I had to scroll half way down the page to get to the gist of the story. Thanks!
ADXbear
ADXbear 9
Boo hoo.. faker.. no documentation of allergy.. find another flight.. gee? Wouldn't you check with airline before you purchased tix about pets on bosrd?
rndsm1
Brent Vegors 8
If one is TRULY deathly allergic to something, especially if you know you will be in a confined space where that allergen likely will be present, the conversation should begin at BOOKING, carry proof of the allergy, and then the discussion should continue with each point of contact with the airline. Anyone with a true life threatening allergy knows it, notifies people AHEAD of time, and carries an Epi-Pen auto injector with them at all times. Clearly it was a ploy, as many have already mentioned, to get some kind of "benefit" from the airline. I think her "allergy" is actually to the lack of the world revolving around her.
wscline
William Cline 8
Typical Jerk...too many of these self-centered types around.
glenkrc
glen krc 7
I liked the "I'm a professor" part.
SmokedChops
SmokedChops 7
Life threatening allergy? (Show us your epi-pen, as it will have prescription date, prescriber,etc. Perhaps a med-alert bracelet. Hmmm. Didn't think so.)
alsise2
i was wondering how this would play out as I've often thought of the situation - which would take president - an allergy to an animal or the "service animal" (aka - not paying for your pet to fly). If the woman produced a certificate saying she had an allergy to certain animals - how would the situation have been solved? Too many people (snowflakes) with too many "issues". We've been flying for years and only recently started having problems like this. What went wrong and why?
Bernie20910
Bernie20910 6
It would be solved by the airline rebooking her on a different flight as, under Federal law, they cannot refuse service to the person with the animal.
Highflyer1950
Highflyer1950 6
I think you mean " precedent" Don!
garritt
garritt 3
first she should not fly in public .....probably should not leave her house....there are dogs everywhere..........or charter her own dogless plane...

....but to disobey a lawful order , should get her a trip to jail.....

[This comment has been downvoted. Show anyway.]

[This comment has been downvoted. Show anyway.]

linbb
linbb 11
The person in the video if she really has such a problem would at every step of her day would make sure there were no dogs where she went. That includes an airline, an eating establishment, many other places where one may be encountered.

Why and how should an airline or bus company be responsible for her health condition?
It is HER responsibility to do so by asking the airline if any would be on the flight.
Also when asked, she should have complied not hold onto the seat shoving her leg out to prevent them from removing her among others making the cops seem to be the bad people.

In other words she felt entitled to do WHAT ever she chose to do without a medical note.
dee9bee
dee9bee 10
I'm with you, linbb. I'm also thinking that this girl has bigger problems than an allergy to canines.
alsise2
so do the "service animal" people.....took a flight out of Palm Springs last year on a regional jet and there were FIVE people with service animals! The flight attendant said it was pretty typical for Palm Springs flights, hardly get any service animals on other flights.
alexa320
alex hidveghy 1
I doubt very much this as anything to do with liberalism! There are jerks on both sides of the divide. Why interject with politics? There really is no need and no., we don't wish to know which way you lean, thank you very much!
TiredTom
Tom Bruce 0
agree agree agree,,,
sparkie624
sparkie624 11
No Compassion... She did not listen to lawful commands given, she fought the police, and then complains... BOO HOO... She should be in jail right now!
garritt
garritt 3
yes....yes....and also yes
dyoungmd
David Young 3
This woman clearly has some serious psychiatric issues. People like this live according to this pattern and thrive on the caos they bring upon themselves.
dalehill800
Dale Hill 1
Nailed it!!
x77001
x77001 2
She just wanted a big payday like Dr. Dao. I'm surprised there haven't been more copy cats.
dalehill800
Dale Hill 2
Usually I side with the passengers and I despise Southwest and the way their employees are allowed to treat customers, but in this case I completely agree the woman was out of line. While she was trying to get other customers kicked off the plane, her bluff was called and she deserved it. If she really had a "life threatening allergy" to animals, she should have had no problem getting off the plane if the capt would not remove the pets. Her bad attitude toward authority and disobeying the captains command is pretty strong evidence she was bluffing. I completely understand the captains reasoning for not wanting her on the plane for her claim of "Life threatening allergy " to the animals. If she in fact DID have that reaction in flight, the plane would be forced to divert and not only inconvenience everyone else but who knows what lawsuits from this fruit-loop might follow. As always, if you hate Southwest as much as me, DON'T fly on them!!
chotiwala
Austin Deppe 2
I like how the headline deliberately uses the word "dragged."
AWAAlum
AWAAlum 5
As they say, history repeats itself. Hopefully that holds true and this woman receives a bill for the costs incurred by delaying the flight through her childish behavior.
AdrienneErtukel
That would be wonderful —
kenoraeagle
DAVID MCKIE 4
Enough already. Time for these idiots to realize the world does not involve them. If you have a legitimate problem and can prove it, then fine.
This waste of skin needs jail time and psychiatric treatment.
fortunadeborah
Just another brat crying for attention. She's too lazy to build a life so just runs around causing chaos for everybody who comes in contact with her. I hope she's made to pay for the delay she caused.
dc3orbust
dc3orbust 3
Darnedest thing, something like this happened to me. A woman sitting next to me had some sort of exotic perfume that made me sweat and stare at her knees. The flight attendant told me to sit down and be quiet. Terrific flight home, but I didn't get YouTube time.
kaptkane
Ken Bittner 1
No one on this thread has addressed the core of the issue. She is a "professor of islamic studies". If you're not aware, the muslims absolutly detest dogs and cannot stand to be in their presence. Think about it.
rndsm1
Brent Vegors 4
While some Islamic teachings consider a dog to be "Ritually unclean" Islamic fatāwā, or rulings, enjoin that dogs be treated kindly or else be freed. As a "Professor of Islamic Studies" it does not necessarily mean she practices that religion. If she does practice that religion, being a "Professor" should provide her with an even better understanding of the ancient teachings versus the newer teachings. You did mention a point of her JOB which COULD contribute to her belief system, we do not know what her religious practices are, and she NEVER mentioned, "It is against my religion to travel with dogs.", however she DID say she had an ALLERGY. let's not jump to assumption of what her religious practice is, let's stay with what she STATED was the reason.
TiredTom
Tom Bruce 2
may not be a religious practice... but there's a cultural aspect... in Afghanistan dogs considered unclean and one of the worst insults you can make is to call someone a dog...
rndsm1
Brent Vegors 2
Very true, Tom.

[This poster has been suspended.]

AWAAlum
AWAAlum 1
I can't believe you actually posted that. Nor can I believe someone actually gave you an up vote.
outward
Well, she got her wish. She didn't have to be in their presence anymore. I doubt there were many dogs in jail.
dalehill800
Dale Hill 1
LOL! Unless she was put in the K-9 unit. Which they probably should have done.
bobhirst
Robert Hirst 7
Exactly where did you hear that " the muslims absolutly detest dogs and cannot stand to be in their presence"? Aside from the fact that you can't seem so spell, you don't seem to have any facts behind your assertion. Muslim bashing is dumb. The rest is obvious.
TiredTom
Tom Bruce 0
many mid east people see dogs as "unclean" like pigs. (because they will eat other animals feces).. and avoid them... in those countries calling someone a dog is highly offensive...
f4ucorsair
Sull Ivan -2
Muslims and dogs
https://pjmedia.com/homeland-security/2017/03/14/why-do-so-many-muslims-hate-dogs/
AdrienneErtukel
PJMedia, the source of this “story” is a right- leaning conservative outlet. I’m not saying that every Conservative dislikes Muslims, but as a Muslim American, I can say that most of the people who dislike Muslims and who seem to disseminate erroneous information about us, are conservatives. That article was bia-squared!
Scjemail44
Sam Johnson 3
If she has such aversion to dogs she should have requested a flight without any dogs on board. If this is a religious thing then that is her problem, not everyone's problem on the flight. We are so multinational it is impossible to comply with every religion's beliefs. It is time for all of us to roll with the punches and approach it that after this flight it will be over. If you are unable to do that then you will have to have less contact with others. Those "others" have every bit as much right to do what they are doing.
AdrienneErtukel
I am a Muslim and the owner of two dogs. I am careful to keep them away from the area in which I pray, but other than this they wander around the house. In Turkey, where my family is from, dogs are greatly loved.
kaptkane
Ken Bittner 1
so...
tsilver473
I mean people behaving like nuts.
1rhuff
Robert Huff 1
A deathly allergy? or a wish to control? She had no proof of any allergy. end of story!
What story? Is this another snowflake moment?
JayDeet
Jay Deet 1
I think you just decided that people with disabilities needing a dog have a stronger claim to THE RIGHT TO TRAVEL, compared to those with strong allergies, which might result in DEATH.
tyketto
Okay, fair enough. How about this. For my wife in particular since she is blind, we will give up her guide dog so those with allergies can feel safe enough to fly again...

If you give her your eyes. I mean, all's fair; You take away her eyes, she gets yours in return.

In short, you're damned right they do, because those dogs, especially guide dogs are serving a purpose: BEING THE EYES FOR SOMEONE WHO CAN NOT SEE. They have every right to travel with their partners as much as you do with your own two eyes and two feet. And before 1990, there were no codified laws allowing them to travel as anything else but storage in the luggage compartment underneath the aircraft, and treated as such. Then came the ADA, which is supposed to allow for those with disabilities to be treated fairly, and reinforces the Air Carrier Access Act of 1986, which allows them access onboard the flight.

Those with allergies can choose another flight. Those with disabilities can't go without their guide or partner.

So do you want to pick this fight? If so, Go ahead. You're 30 years too late, and a sense of entitlement way too short.
JayDeet
Jay Deet 0
Again, you are choosing YOUR WIFE's "right to travel" conveniently over the allergy person's "right to travel" without fear for her life. I sympathize with your wife, but blind is not the same category as dead.

Those with allergies CANNOT choose another flight, since your dog has left behind hair (not the DOG's fault!); it's the hair contaminants that are the allergy problem. And, oh-by-the-way, how was the allergic person to know that your dog was to be on that flight when she booked it? Duh.

I think our readers will easily pick out which of us has "a sense of entitlement way too short."

Signed,
A dog lover.
tyketto
You forget. One has their right codified into law. the other has theirs as a privilege that can be revoked at the airline's convenience. Again, reference the ADA and the ACAA.

And if you think that someone with a disability is entitled, you are clearly mistaken, especially if you have ever been around or worked with a service animal. And seeing your post and responses, you ignorantly have not. Again, learn about what you are talking about before spouting off drivel like this.
clarify
clarify 1
Many people in this thread seem to think the airline asked her for medical documentation of her allergy. According to the linked report, they were asking her for medical documentation that she could safely fly after reporting that she had life-threatening dog allergy. Apparently once she made the claim she either had to get off the flight or produce documentation that she could fly safely. Her behavior makes no sense, and I trust the judicial system to handle it from here.

The report also states that one of the dogs onboard was not a trained service dog but rather an emotion support animal. This raises a separate issue. I'd love to bring my 65 lbs dog with me in the cabin (I'll never put him in the cargo hold), but I cannot with any US carrier, and I'm unwilling to lie and claim he's a service dog or an emotional support animal. Sadly too many Americans are willing to make such false claims (there is a small industry devoted to creating false documentation) and the airlines currently have very little recourse. I'd like this to change.
tomtreutlein
tom treutlein 1
I wonder who the fraud was.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/05/fake-service-dog-certificates_n_3709720.html
I know several people who have done this, generally to have their "companion" pets in rental housing where it is otherwise not permitted, or to travel with their pets.
My understanding is that airlines are not permitted under federal law to ask to see any certification for service animals.
Undoubtedly many unfortunate people need true service animals, but the odds are in this case both parties were not fully truthful.
patpylot
patrick baker 1
she does not get to dictate the fur and dander composition inside any southwest airliner in flight. She must disclose her condition as she reserves her seat and pays her fare, and then if she cannot receive her special conditions, she gets a refund and gives up here reservation. Sorry, but she really ought to consider a private jet flight. Or none at all.
tsilver473
And i am allergic to nuts onboard flights, next allergic to coffe,food,wine.........
paultrubits
paul trubits 1
If you call SWA and tell them that you have a peanut allergy, they will not serve them on your flight.

[This poster has been suspended.]

joelwiley
joel wiley 1
Thank you for your insightful, well considered contribution to the topic.
I do hope your attitudes toward your dog(s) are less misogynistic than towards the star of this squawk.
AWAAlum
AWAAlum 0
Oh ugh you nasty schnook.
jpg366
john gay 0
Woof!!! Grrrrrrr...
serdyfsx12
JOE SERDYNSKI -1
Howling cats and barking dogs, just what we cattle need . . .
Bernie20910
Bernie20910 8
Don't worry, you can hardly hear them over the screaming babies.
sparkie624
sparkie624 4
No Kidding.. Ugh... I would rather hear them barking than the babies crying!
watkinssusan
I am guessing many of the people commenting here do not know nor understand the rules and regulations of travelling with a service animal,nor a carry on pet..pets can only be carried n if they are small enough to fit in a small carrier that will fit under the seat in front of them..this can only be a cat or a dog..these pets are not allowed per regulations to be taken out of the carrier during a flight, and if that occurs, the flight attendant is supposed to tell the passenger to put the animal back in the carry on..service animals are larger as a rule, and do not require a carrier, but for the convenience of the passenger,that person and their animal who must remain at their feet,,are accommodated on the bulkhead of the aircraft..i mentioned here before i have worked many flights with both service animals and carry on pets, and have not had problems nor heard complaints because most people do follow the rules!!!
alexa320
alex hidveghy 1
I, for one, do know. Since I have 30+ years experience in multiple airlines including overseas and as crew. And currently, I'm the one that solves other people's problems and issues and am sought by others for guidance.....
AWAAlum
AWAAlum 0
And ?
vdi74
James T -1
(Duplicate Squawk Submitted)

Southwest apologizes after passenger is removed from flight, arrested

Southwest Airlines has publicly apologized to a passenger who was physically pulled off a Boeing 737 by law enforcement officers at Baltimore/Washington International Airport over a pet-allergy dispute.

http://atwonline.com/airlines/southwest-apologizes-after-passenger-removed-flight-arrested
smburke56
sheila burke -5
Seriously? She’s the villain? Regardless of her “allergies” the BEHAVIOR of the attendants and the Police was DISGUSTINGLY inappropriate. Attitude all wrong here.
bobmyersco
Bob Myers 8
You have nothing to base that on; the video doesn't show any of the events leading up to the behavior to which you are objecting. But based on the other information we have - yes, she was ultimately the cause of all this. You don't just take an absolute, uncompromising position, especially after apparently missing MANY opportunities to ensure that this situation didn't come up in the first place. E.g., if you're really that allergic to ANYTHING, don't you think you should take some steps to (a) make sure the airline is aware of that fact, (b)be able to provide at least SOME documentation/evidence that your condition is real, and (c)checked to see how likely it was going to be that you'd be exposed to the particular allergen in question? And do all of this BEFORE you got on a plane? There's simply no excuse for boarding a flight without doing at least some of this first. She simply got on board and THEN decided to demand that the rest of the passengers and crew submit to her wishes. So yes, she's the villain. Seriously.
dalehill800
Dale Hill 1
BINGO!! You nailed it!!
AWAAlum
AWAAlum 7
Had she simply done what authorities asked of her, she wouldn't have been the "villain". She was totally inappropriate in her reaction. If I felt I was facing a life-threatening situation, trust me, I wouldn't wait to be told I should leave. I'd be outta there...ya know, that ole' self-preservation thingy? Yes, seriously, she's the villain.
sky335363366
sky335363366 -2
I've always had good service with Southwest airlines. I can understand this lady being upset over this. All she expected and was entitled to was a pleasant and peaceful flight. She is a paying passenger. Since when do you need to carry a doctors statement that you have alllergies?
TorstenHoff
Torsten Hoff 2
>> Since when do you need to carry a doctors statement that you have alllergies?

Maybe when you have (or claim to have) a deadly allergy and use that to try to get other passengers kicked off your flight? In addition to the doctor's statement, you should also have an Epi-pen or other lifesaving drug on you at all times.

Special accommodation requires documentation.
AWAAlum
AWAAlum 3
Really?

[This comment has been downvoted. Show anyway.]

bobmyersco
Bob Myers 10
So how would you suggest such situations - in which someone is refusing to cooperate and through their actions are affecting over a hundred other people, not to mention forcing the airline to incur additional costs? Just sit there and try to reason with this nut for hours?
outward
She was causing a scene and disrupting flight operations. Law enforcement can ask and try and be polite but there are individuals such as this one and others that have been in the news (doesn’t that woman ever read the news and see what happens when people act like she did?) that don't care and are only interested in acting in their own self-interests to the exclusion of everybody else. At what point does the airline or law enforcement throw up their hands and just give in? What kind of precedent would this set?

Unfortunately, sometimes force has to be used, which can grow more forceful as the individual resists and throws a fit such as this woman with the attitude. There were over the a hundred people on that plane and one of her, but she was the one that the flight crew needed to serve, and not everybody else. Law enforcement may have been a little rough, but it may have been necessary. As has been pointed out, there will probably be no follow-up stories. Unless it's still big news, the media doesn't care.

[This poster has been suspended.]

AWAAlum
AWAAlum 0
I'm not sure I understand. At least I hope I don't.

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