prejudice continues unabated on the airlines...

[acroyear]

The airline was U.S. Airways, acting only on a "note from a passenger"...

Afarensis: Six Muslim Imams Put Off Plane:

Sad thing was they were attending the North American Imams Federation conference in Minnesota. You'd think that since there was a conference the airlines would, you know, be cognizant of it...Apparently a note was passed by a passanger to a stewardess, who notified the pilot who asked the Imams to get off the plane. The Imams refused - they were trying to return home to Phoenix - so they were taken off the plane in handcuffs. To add insult to injury US Airways refused to put the six on another flight...Story here.

If U.S. Airways doesn't get off their ass and get a LOUD public apology for blunt racism and prejudice in action out there soon, they're going to have a LOT of stockholder resentment at their planned Delta purchase, as well as loud CUSTOMER resentment from a long-time Delta customer who may cash out his 2 free frequent flyer flights and move on to another regular airline...

Yo ms. or mister "anonymous passenger" - if you are so nervous about who you're flying with, YOU get off the fucking plane.

Of course, this is also reflective of how little faith or trust the average nutball, and the average airline worker, has in the work that TSA goes through for screening...

Comments

[thatliardiego.livejournal.com]

Nothing a good lawsuit couldn't cure...

[acroyear70.livejournal.com]

naturally. one also hopes that it might get Delta execs and shareholders a little more nervous about the supposed buyout (not that, under bankruptcy, they have as much say about it as they normally would). Delta's already got a bad history in this regard if i recall correctly, and compounding insult to insult would hurt both companies even more after the merger.

[thatwasjen]

this is also reflective of how little faith or trust the average nutball, and the average airline worker, has in the work that TSA goes through for screening...

Well I certainly don't. But I also don't think it matters much -- I believe no terrorist plot has been stopped by a security screener. If someone with evil intent actually makes it to the airport, it's pretty much too late.

My email to US Airways:

[jocelyncs.livejournal.com]

(With my frequent flier number added):

I am deeply disappointed by US Airways' handling of the 6 Muslim Imams, in that the gentlemen's presence on the plane was deemed a security threat by the crew. The behavior of your employees in ejecting the gentlemen, who were not engaging in any unlawful or threatening behavior, was ignorant, intolerant, and unAmerican, not to mention illegal. You claim that you do "not tolerate discrimination of any kind" and that you are investigating the matter, but no apology has been forthcoming, and it is clear that your employees are not being trained to handle unreasonable customer demands.

Had these gentlemen being saying Christian prayers on the plane or in the terminal, they would not have been ejected, even if customers had complained. The personnel who made the choice to eject these gentlemen should be summarily fired. There is no excuse for this behavior.

I have long considered US Airways to be one of the highest-quality airlines and am a Dividend Miles member. I had recently intended to obtain a Dividend Miles Visa card to take further advantage of your business, but this event has caused me to reconsider. I will not spend my money on a company that promotes racism or one that caters to the demands of flagrantly racist passengers.

If you wish to continue receiving my business and the business of other decent Americans, I suggest you make a formal and public apology to the men who were humiliated and highly inconvenienced by your employees' foolishness and bigotry.

(I told them the truth; I have always like US Airways as an airline and had been planning on getting my frequent flier credit card with them. But if the public and those poor men don't get a BIG apology in the near-future, I'll cancel my frequent flier account altogether!)

[kowari.livejournal.com]

Wow, that is one of the more crap things I have read recently.

*boggles*