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Pakistani passengers force women to change seats on domestic United Airlines flight
A woman on a United Airlines flight was allegedly made to move seats as two Pakistani men could not sit next to her. Mary Campos was boarding a flight from California to Houston when she said she was told her pre-booked seat had been changed. (www.aviationgazette.com) Altro...
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If special needs can be met without inconvenience on a public conveyance, then no issue. When it does inconvenience others, take a hike!
I found this comment on another news post of the story. If true, had the agent been on this particular flight, there would not have been a story.
"As a United Agent, if presented with the request, I would not involved Ms Campos except to ask her to volunteer her seat. Even though seat assignments are never guaranteed, their request does not involve a disability or security (yet). Her simple 'no' is enough. Then I check if there is even one female crew member onboard. If so, I ask the gentlemen a very specific question - "Are you willing to listen to and comply with instruction and from any of our crew members, even female?" If yes, then I might solicit for 2 people to trade their seats. If not, I would inform the gentlemen that they have willingly admitted to being a threat to the safety and security of everyone else on the flight and this would require a rebooking to an all male-staffed flight or at the least, to another flight where they would purchase all the seats in a row so they can control the seatmate situation."
Another commenter from Sri Lanka related this type of accommodation is normal in Sri Lanka.
On a US domestic flight, I think US customs and laws should prevail.
"As a United Agent, if presented with the request, I would not involved Ms Campos except to ask her to volunteer her seat. Even though seat assignments are never guaranteed, their request does not involve a disability or security (yet). Her simple 'no' is enough. Then I check if there is even one female crew member onboard. If so, I ask the gentlemen a very specific question - "Are you willing to listen to and comply with instruction and from any of our crew members, even female?" If yes, then I might solicit for 2 people to trade their seats. If not, I would inform the gentlemen that they have willingly admitted to being a threat to the safety and security of everyone else on the flight and this would require a rebooking to an all male-staffed flight or at the least, to another flight where they would purchase all the seats in a row so they can control the seatmate situation."
Another commenter from Sri Lanka related this type of accommodation is normal in Sri Lanka.
On a US domestic flight, I think US customs and laws should prevail.
we as assimilated americans- folks who know and live happily with numerous nationalites and religions , should never bend over to this kind of medieval coercion,.. If these two morons were not satisfied with the seating arrangements, then send them off the plane and let them try the next flight, or the one after that, or the one the next day. Shame on United airlines for this bad behavior.
I consider myself to be a pretty tolerant person. I've lived in too many foreign countries to be very parochial, but in this case, I think I have to agree with most commenters that this was an unreasonable accommodation to the men's wishes. Just as we are expected to respect their customs when in their country, they should be expected to respect our customs.
America means Freedom - time to evolve sir
Under no circumstances should a female passenger of any ethnic origin be inconvenienced in any way by a couple of 7th century savages (strong term deliberate). These are not necessarily Muslim but can be others who think their beliefs overrule community standards.