Mom told she could pump milk in pet relief area
Oct 7, 2015, 4:44 pm
#16
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AA EXP, HH Diamond, MR Gold, Avis PC, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,255
There is quite a bit more information about this incident in the Washington Post.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...ulles-airport/
In my opinion there's really nothing else the UA employee could've done.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...ulles-airport/
In my opinion there's really nothing else the UA employee could've done.
Oct 7, 2015, 9:11 pm
#19
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: NRT/HND, IWK, SAT, BWI, NAP, OKA, AUS, DEN, COS and PUB
Programs: UA 1K.. 1MM
Posts: 995
Curious, as I thought that this article/thread was going to be from the other side... that the woman was told that she couldn't pump (or theoretically, breastfeed) in public and was being told she had to do it in the restroom or pet-relief room.
Women are legally allowed to pump or breastfeed in any area which they themselves are legally allowed to be, so privacy above and beyond that (outside of one's place of employment) is completely on the mother. Any complaint that she has should be directed to IAD and not United... They are just tenants. And even such, providing a "private" space is a courtesy, not a requirement.
Women are legally allowed to pump or breastfeed in any area which they themselves are legally allowed to be, so privacy above and beyond that (outside of one's place of employment) is completely on the mother. Any complaint that she has should be directed to IAD and not United... They are just tenants. And even such, providing a "private" space is a courtesy, not a requirement.
Oct 8, 2015, 3:43 am
#20
Formerly known as Stephenk19
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Munich, Germany
Programs: Free Agent
Posts: 409
I think it comes down to the discretion. I am not offended by the sight of a woman breastfeeding or pumping - but have seen very different attitudes from some who are discreet and some who (IMO) almost try to make it more of a spectacle then it should be.
Oct 9, 2015, 2:11 am
#22
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Wonderful Weald of kent
Programs: BAEC Bronze
Posts: 989
What a precious woman!
If the milk wasn't going to be consumed by her baby what was the issue with using the restrooms? Also - why travel with an electric pump? A manual one would make more sense - no need to find an outlet before use.
And as for the desperate need to pump before flying (was it really so necessary??) if you are breastfeeding - most mums would be travelling equipped with those absorbent pads which can deal with leaks and can be discreetly changed.
And before I get flamed - I have been that mother with exploding breasts...... I retired to the nappy change room to clean myself up and make temporary pads. It was my problem and I dealt with it without making a scene!
If the milk wasn't going to be consumed by her baby what was the issue with using the restrooms? Also - why travel with an electric pump? A manual one would make more sense - no need to find an outlet before use.
And as for the desperate need to pump before flying (was it really so necessary??) if you are breastfeeding - most mums would be travelling equipped with those absorbent pads which can deal with leaks and can be discreetly changed.
And before I get flamed - I have been that mother with exploding breasts...... I retired to the nappy change room to clean myself up and make temporary pads. It was my problem and I dealt with it without making a scene!
Oct 9, 2015, 2:27 am
#23
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: WAS-ish
Programs: UA 1K-MM + UC, Marriott Plat, National Exec
Posts: 1,341
There is quite a bit more information about this incident in the Washington Post.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...ulles-airport/
In my opinion there's really nothing else the UA employee could've done.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...ulles-airport/
In my opinion there's really nothing else the UA employee could've done.
According to the article, UA does seem to have done about all they can. First, the original employee[s] responded to "Where can I pump privately?" by saying "Well, there's the family restroom or the pet relief area. Those are the only private spaces." Which is reasonable (although in hindsight they probably should have said "Nowhere" instead).
And then UA followed up by offering to find her a private space on her next connection through Dulles, which I think is (a) more than required, but (b) a very smart PR gesture.
Seems to me like Twitter-shaming UA on this one was uncalled-for.
Oct 9, 2015, 4:42 am
#24
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: ORD
Programs: United Plat 2MM, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,727
I agree with those who say it was IAD who dropped the ball here. Blaming the tenant doesn't make any sense, but it will get national coverage as opposed to local, and Ms. Meagher-Cooper, being a media professional, should know that.
But the thing that doesn't make sense to me is why she thinks the UC would be any better. I have seen more dogs in the UCs than I have ever seen in the pet relief areas.
But the thing that doesn't make sense to me is why she thinks the UC would be any better. I have seen more dogs in the UCs than I have ever seen in the pet relief areas.
Oct 9, 2015, 7:14 am
#25
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: SEA
Programs: UA SP, DL SM MM, AS 75K, SPG Platinum, Hyatt Diamond.
Posts: 2,596
Do you really want to pump in a restroom with so much airborne fecal and other bacterial matter?
The bigger issue is that why is it such a big deal in the land of the free for a woman to express milk in an an attempted discreet manner in a public area? If an offended person sees this, that is the teachable moment.
Unless and until we get over this nonsense, it is not unreasonable for someplace such as an airport to provide a private room for this purpose. And to the extent that an airport or other public facility finds it acceptable for a woman to express milk in a public area (i.e., no arrest, shaming, asking to move), she needs to get over finding a private room.
The bigger issue is that why is it such a big deal in the land of the free for a woman to express milk in an an attempted discreet manner in a public area? If an offended person sees this, that is the teachable moment.
Unless and until we get over this nonsense, it is not unreasonable for someplace such as an airport to provide a private room for this purpose. And to the extent that an airport or other public facility finds it acceptable for a woman to express milk in a public area (i.e., no arrest, shaming, asking to move), she needs to get over finding a private room.
But, this is an issue for an uptight society to deal with, not an issue for corporate America to deal with.
Oct 9, 2015, 9:05 am
#26
Join Date: Feb 2014
Programs: UA Plat, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 677
UA did more than could reasonably be expected here. The fault lies with plenty of others before you get to UA.