Two African-American passengers are claiming a U.S. Airways airline employee refused to let them into first class unless they changed out of their hoodies and jeans.
Miles and MacCraig Warren were flying home from Denver to Los Angeles after a relative’s funeral last August. The brothers say an airline employee stopped them at the gate, asking MacCraig to remove his baseball cap and telling Miles to change into a button-up shirt, nicer shoes and slacks.
“They were told that this was the policy if you wanted to ride in first class,” lawyer Rodney Diggs told the New York Daily News.
Not wanting any trouble, the brothers decided to follow the dress code. But once onboard the flight, they were shocked to see Michael Heffernan, a white passenger, and Edward DeLeon, his Filipino friend, wearing the same clothing the black men weren’t allowed to wear--jeans and hoodies.
“They were very upset when they saw the other two gentlemen sitting right across from them,” Diggs said. “This is definitely racial discrimination and a violation of their civil rights.”
The brothers filed a lawsuit in federal court this week, seeking punitive damages for discrimination and emotional distress.
Todd Lehmacher, a spokesperson for U.S. Airways, told the New York Daily News that the company is currently reviewing the complaint.
“We welcome customers of all ethnicities and backgrounds and do not tolerate discrimination of any kind. We take these allegations seriously,” Lehmacher said in a statement.
The Warrens were traveling first-class through a discounted “buddy pass,” Diggs said. They got their tickets through a family friend who is an U.S. Airways employee.
“Employees are aware of the travel policy and required to understand the expectations when utilizing their pass privileges,” Lehmacher said.
Diggs said his clients were never informed that different policies applied to reduced fare and regular fare passengers.
“If this is a policy, it has to be practiced at all times and not just selectively implemented when they want it to be implemented,” said Diggs.
Miles and MacCraig Warren were flying home from Denver to Los Angeles after a relative’s funeral last August. The brothers say an airline employee stopped them at the gate, asking MacCraig to remove his baseball cap and telling Miles to change into a button-up shirt, nicer shoes and slacks.
“They were told that this was the policy if you wanted to ride in first class,” lawyer Rodney Diggs told the New York Daily News.
Not wanting any trouble, the brothers decided to follow the dress code. But once onboard the flight, they were shocked to see Michael Heffernan, a white passenger, and Edward DeLeon, his Filipino friend, wearing the same clothing the black men weren’t allowed to wear--jeans and hoodies.
“They were very upset when they saw the other two gentlemen sitting right across from them,” Diggs said. “This is definitely racial discrimination and a violation of their civil rights.”
The brothers filed a lawsuit in federal court this week, seeking punitive damages for discrimination and emotional distress.
Todd Lehmacher, a spokesperson for U.S. Airways, told the New York Daily News that the company is currently reviewing the complaint.
“We welcome customers of all ethnicities and backgrounds and do not tolerate discrimination of any kind. We take these allegations seriously,” Lehmacher said in a statement.
The Warrens were traveling first-class through a discounted “buddy pass,” Diggs said. They got their tickets through a family friend who is an U.S. Airways employee.
“Employees are aware of the travel policy and required to understand the expectations when utilizing their pass privileges,” Lehmacher said.
Diggs said his clients were never informed that different policies applied to reduced fare and regular fare passengers.
“If this is a policy, it has to be practiced at all times and not just selectively implemented when they want it to be implemented,” said Diggs.
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