Singer Calls Out AA for ‘Discrimination’
Jesse Tabit February 09, 2017
Singer Jason Derulo is calling out American Airlines after a dispute over baggage fees led to what he says was “racial discrimination.” On a recent flight from Miami to Los Angeles, a member of Derulo’s posse attempted to check 19 bags, which prompted an additional charge. Though the airline grants elite passengers the option to check three pieces of luggage for free, Derulo got a call from his friend while on the plane saying he would be charged $4,000 for the bags.
“We’d never paid for our bags because of our status—with all of our miles—so we’d never paid for bags,” Derulo said.
“So $4,000 is obviously a huge sum. We were like, ‘No, we’re not paying that. We’ve got to turn the plane around.’”
The aircraft returned to the gate and the singer said, as he and his friends were deplaning, the captain began yelling at them.
Derulo claims he “felt like he was trying to make it seem like we were delinquents, and he was kicking us off the plane, when it was us that asked to get off the plane.”
Shortly thereafter, the group was met by 15 police officers.
“As you can imagine, I’m surrounded by 15 police officers, I’m not going to curse back because I know what’s going to happen,” Derulo said.
No charges were filed, though a police report said an airline employee told authorities Derulo and his crew “smelled of marijuana and were getting aggressive.”
For more information on this story, visit People.
[Photo: Shutterstock]
According to American Airlines' baggage policy, the first domestic checked bag is $25, second is $35, third is $150 (waived if you're elite), and any more are $200 each. This, 16 extra bags at $200 each is $3200 if the friend is elite, or $3410 if he isn't. If you're the exaggerating type, I could see that being "about $4000). So far, no discrimination. Now, from the article, it appears the "celebrity" was already on board and the flight departing when the "friend" messaged him about his bag fees, to which the celebrity responded by demanding the plane return to the gate. If you caused a diversion over a dispute over fees, I imagine you'd get a stern lecture from the captain (and probably criminal charges as well). So apparently now "discrimination" is being treated the same as anyone else would have been.
Yeah, play the old race card. What a tool.
I do not care who you are, 19 bags is excessive and you also ruined the flight for everyone else. Shame
Shuffle that card back into the deck there Jason, it's been overplayed.