AAExecPlatFlier

No video. No proof. :-)

UAPremierGuy

I love how people automatically scream discrimination based on a bad experience. Bad customer service happens regardless of race, gender, etc. As others have pointed out, there are bad apples on ALL airlines.

SvenAge

Certain races have been historically discriminated against and until very recently were treated like second class citizens in many parts of the world. Some people may have a nonchalant attitude about this discrimination when they do not experience 'everyday racism' for themselves. In these cases, I can understand how people may be sensitive to unsuitable behaviour and assume the worst, while others could not fathom such a conclusion. I should add that frustration doesn't always exist due to one experience but sometimes from a build up. I am not saying that discrimination is what had taken place here, but companies should consider behaviour that does not lead customers to believe that they are operating in a 'racism prevails' environment.

That being said, I don't believe in people claiming racism without some kind of proof.

AA100k

For some reason AA flight attendants have a thing about the lavs in premium cabin - they don’t like you standing in line waiting and I’ve been sent to economy before on long haul flights when I was seated in premium cabin.

sukn

Discrimination is like pornography, not easily definable but you know it when it's happening to you.

Now just as there are racists in the world, there are also those who will play the race card for their own gain.

But I would not cast aspersions on the OP or her story, rather as others have said, it's impossible to weigh in on the specifics since we were not there.

But if you believe this was just a case of bad customer service, why not offer the OP a suggestion on how to best report it to AA?

FWAAA

To the OP:

Ignore the numerous Flyertalkers who are discounting your experience.

Here's what you need to do: Summarize what happened - by editing out at least 2/3 of the extraneous info in your OP and send it to AA as a complaint. And here's the part you need to add:

"The FA (name them if you have their name) ordered me to violate the FAA/TSA rule on remaining in one's ticketed cabin when they ordered me to leave the business class cabin and use a lav in the rear of the main cabin."

On inbound international flights, it is a violation of the FAA/TSA regulations for a passenger to leave their ticketed cabin. When ignorant FAs order passengers to violate those safety/security rules, something is seriously wrong at AA and AA owes you an explanation. The FA needs remedial training as they demonstrated on your flight that they are not capable of understanding or enforcing the FAA/TSA rules.

Good luck.

djphilly

I understand that you are just doing your job, but no, AA is in no way, shape, or form a "wonderful" airline. It is one of th worst airlines in the world, that people are forced to fly, simply because regulators have allowed the industry to become an oligopoly.

enviroian

Sorry, I smell a service failure, not a discrimination issue.

djphilly

And here's what will happen. Zero. Why? Because AA couldn't care less about its customers, unless you force them to "care".

djphilly

Agreed. Most likely just the lousy customer service that American provides equitably to its customers every day, than any deliberate form of discrimination.

QueenOfCoach

What exactly did the AA Customer Relations say? Was there any kind of apology? Did they offer you frequent flyer miles as some measure of compensation?

What kind of compensation would you find satisfactory?

The FA might already have been questioned about the incident and might have been in some way disciplined. You don't know nor will you ever know about internal personnel actions.

In the meantime, you might be happier flying on some other airline, just for your own peace of mind.

bse118

No-one can know what happened, unless they were there. What we have is one view of what took place - a view that because it is human is undoubtedly biased. We can't know what happened, therefore we can't discount it.

What we can do is ask, philosophically, what is more likely: Misunderstanding? FA Incompetence? Discrimination?

Occam's Razor.

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swingaling

You lost me when you accused the FA of reverse discrimination. That really is not a thing.

Nice.

Anyway, I'm not really sure what you expect to accomplish. Do you want AA will fire that FA? They won't. Do you think AA owes you monetary compensation?

On a recent long haul flight to Tokyo I was flying AA business class. When I went to the forward lav, there was a FA sitting in the galley jump seat reading. She told me a couple times I should use another lav instead. The others were occupied so I declined and used the forward lav, but she clearly didn't want pax invading her private time I guess. It was unrelated to race, so this type of thing happens.

C17PSGR

Agreed.

I don't discount Ms. Perry's description of the facts. On the other hand, her interpretation of the facts may be a matter of opinion.

skylady

I think it might be better if airline personnel just don't speak at all.