Someone on Facebook claims to have been on the flight and wrote this message:

I was on was that flight from JFK to LAX yesterday. Initially I was seated in premium class, 3F.

I saw those two gents board the plane. I remember them because they were among the last passengers to board.

A gate agent came onboard the plane and upgraded me to 1D (I had been at the top of that list already).

After I moved to first class, I started hearing snippets of conversation from the purser and his two assistants about something going on with these gents. One of the things I heard was something about alcohol. Either one of the gents had been angry about not being served alcohol or misrepresented himself as being in first class. I just heard tidbits so that’s the best I could understand.

Also another thing I heard was that while sitting in an emergency row seat, one of the gents would not verbally respond to the flight attendant.

The purser talked to the captain. I didn’t hear what was said, but the next thing I know, we push back from the gate.

A few minutes later, another flight attendant comes up to the purser and they have a conversation. Shortly after that, the plane pulls back up to the gate. The captain comes out and talks to the purser. And it’s decided to remove the two gentlemen from the plane.

Once the door opens, the gate agent boards and talks to the purser and the captain. The gate agent then goes to remove the two passengers.

Once they deplaned, the rest of trip went forward without a hitch, although we arrived a little late.

I don’t know fully know what all happened but I doubt it was discrimination because they were gay. Why? Because I believe the purser himself was a gay man. And he couldn’t have been any nicer. The service on that trip provided by the purser was nothing short of fantastic.

Alaska is an excellent airline. I hope both parties can resolve this and move forward.

Of course anyone can claim to have been on the flight, so take it with a grain of salt.