AMERICAN AIRLINES: FIRST CLASS ASSHOLES!

When you want to fly the friendly skies, sometimes it's hard to find the right airline. We usually fly US Airways, and have had a terrible experience every single time. They keep getting us with these 'buy one ticket and get the other ticket for $99' promotions, though! I guess the word "sucker" hasn't been erased from my forehead yet. We've heard stories about Southwest Airlines and their weight restrictions, and I haven't really had much of a problem with American Airlines until now. It turns out; a family from California was recently kicked off a cross-country American Airlines flight because their 16-year-old son has Down syndrome. Um, what? So, now airlines are discriminating? What's next? No blacks, Hispanics, or Asians allowed on the plane either?

Joan and Robert Vanderhorst of Bakersfield, California say that they intend to sue American Airlines over the humiliating incident that took place at Newark Airport this past Sunday, in which they were told that their special needs son posed a "flight risk." Are you kidding me? At one point, Joan actually pulled out her cell phone and started recording the incident in which her son, Bede is seen quietly playing with his hat and an American Airlines official warns that she was prohibited from filming 'in a security-controlled area.' Port Authority Police were even called on the confused family.

 Bede and his parents had been in Jackson, NJ visiting family and were eager to make the long return flight home. They were even lucky enough to upgrade their seats to first-class, and even shelled out $625 for the upgrade. Joan even said before the flight, "Bede's never flown first-class, he'll be so excited!" Bede, a freshman in high school, has flown at least 30 times in his life and has never caused any trouble. This past Sunday was no different. Bede stuck close to his parents and was not acting unruly nor was he upset about this whole incident, but as the family waited to board, a flight official pulled them aside and said that the pilot had observed Bede and didn't feel safe allowing him on the plane. This was without even coming over to interact with Bede. Unbelievable! 

American Airlines is standing behind their decision to remove Bede from the flight saying that the boy was 'agitated' in the waiting area, though the airline didn't receive any other complaints from other passengers observing Bede's alleged 'agitation'. The Vanderhorsts have already spoken to an attorney about a lawsuit accusing the airline of violating Bede's civil rights and the Americans with Disabilities Act. The family's trip home deteriorated even further when they were loaded into a full United Airlines flight and placed in the back row. Since when was having Down syndrome discriminated against when it came to flying? This is nuts! All I can think about this whole situation was, "New Jersey.....You never let us down!"