A friend was banned for life on United for giving a thumbs up on a flight.
She had lifetime status, millions of miles, and has a low celebrity status (hgtv/diy networks.) She boarded the flight in her first class seat and while boarding, she asked the flight attendant if she could use the lavatory. The flight attendant asked if she'd wait until they taxied out to the runway. Once she finished doing her business she gave the flight attendant a wave and thumbs up to say thank you all done.
A couple min later there is an announcement they have to return to the gate for a security issue. The airport police arrive on the flight and approach her to get off the flight for her inappropriate and rude gesture to the flight attendant. She said they must have the wrong person she had no idea what they were talking about. They ensured her it was her. She gets off the flight to head to the counter to figure out what's going on and to rebook but learns she's has now been banned from flying United.
She finally gets word on what she did that was wrong and is informed it was the thumbs up. The flight attendant was offended because she's African.
To this day she's still fighting a legal battle over the issue because of all the investment she has with her miles. United in part of the fight threatened to go after her foe the fine for the plane turning around.
Insane!
She had lifetime status, millions of miles, and has a low celebrity status (hgtv/diy networks.) She boarded the flight in her first class seat and while boarding, she asked the flight attendant if she could use the lavatory. The flight attendant asked if she'd wait until they taxied out to the runway. Once she finished doing her business she gave the flight attendant a wave and thumbs up to say thank you all done.
A couple min later there is an announcement they have to return to the gate for a security issue. The airport police arrive on the flight and approach her to get off the flight for her inappropriate and rude gesture to the flight attendant. She said they must have the wrong person she had no idea what they were talking about. They ensured her it was her. She gets off the flight to head to the counter to figure out what's going on and to rebook but learns she's has now been banned from flying United.
She finally gets word on what she did that was wrong and is informed it was the thumbs up. The flight attendant was offended because she's African.
To this day she's still fighting a legal battle over the issue because of all the investment she has with her miles. United in part of the fight threatened to go after her foe the fine for the plane turning around.
Insane!