Mother kicked off plane for breastfeeding sues airline

by J.D. Griffioen (Subscribe to J.D. Griffioen's posts) Nov 15th 2006 7:30AM

Categories: Pregnancy & Birth, Places To Go, Eating & Nutrition, Media

I've heard of breastfeeding mothers getting dirty looks from other passengers, and I've heard of moms who experience no problems breastfeeding on planes. But with the new security regulations that restrict liquids for babies on planes that are not purchased past the security checkpoints, I can't believe that a major airline would require a breastfeeding mother to cover up with a blanket, or that the airline would then demand that mother be removed from the flight for refusing to cover up.

But that's just what Emily Gillette says Delta airlines did to her. She was seated by the window on a flight between Burlington, Vermont and New York City with her husband in the center seat when the flight attendant observed her breastfeeding her 22-month-old daughter as the flight prepared to leave Burlington International Airport. The flight attendant handed her a blanket and told her to cover up, which she declined to do, telling the flight attendant she had a legal right to breastfeed her baby. According to Gillette, the attendant walked away and returned with a Delta ticket agent who said the flight attendant had asked that the family be removed from the flight. Gillette and her husband agreed, saying they didn't want to make a scene.

A spokesperson for Freedom Airlines (an affiliate of Delta) said Gillette was asked to leave the flight after she declined the blanket. "A breast-feeding mother is perfectly acceptable on an aircraft, providing she is feeding the child in a discreet way," that doesn't bother others, said Paul Skellon, spokesman airline. "She was asked to use a blanket just to provide a little more discretion, she was given a blanket, and she refused to use it, and that's all I know." Gillette has filed a complaint against the two airlines was filed with the Vermont Human Rights Commission. Vermont state law allows a mother to breast-feed in public.

Something tells me this had more to do with the baby being 22-months old than the visibility of Gillette's nipple. When the hell are people going to stop being such idiots about something so natural? If that had happened to me and my wife, there would have been a scene. There would have been a f%$#@ing scene alright.

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Comments (89)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)

Ann 11-15-2006 @ 8:09AM

Whatever. Who cares? So cover up with a blanket. Why is it such a big deal? She sounds like she's a money grubber out for a payday to me.

Ann 11-15-2006 @ 8:22AM

Also, to the author, if this had happened to you, and you had decided to make a 'f%$#@ing scene', you would have definitely been carried off the plane and rightly so. Who would ever be so stupid to make a 'f%$#@ing scene' in these post 9/11 days? Your big macho attitude wouldn't have gotten you anywhere, except booted off the plane and possibly even in more trouble.

Sandy 11-15-2006 @ 8:34AM

Well, I sure hope she gets a big payday.

Of course, if it were me, I wouldn't have done it for the payday, but I sure as heck would be going for one!

Ann, if you're ugly, should someone be able to force you to cover up with a blanket?

I'll be interested to see how this all plays out. You would think that the flight attendant would know better than to mess with some woman nursing a child that old...that type knows her rights and isn't likely to back down or be cowed. With all the recent public-breastfeeding cases, you'd think people would think twice before poking a stick into that nest!

Amanda. 11-15-2006 @ 8:35AM

My 16 month old won't nurse under a blanket and considering that my husband works for American Airlines, I know how friggin nasty those airline blankets are so it would be a cold day in h, e, double hockey sticks before I put a disease infested airline blanket over my kid's head.

I know people are squeamish over breastfeeding- especially extended breastfeeding- so I really limit my time outside of the house when I know my daughter will want to nurse because I can't cover her up. On an airplane, however, I wouldn't have a choice and probably like the mom in the story, if I were asked to leave I would because I wouldn't want to cause a fuss on an airplane but I certainly would file some complaints once on the ground.

Just putting a blanket over the kid's head is not the answer. Idiots who should just get the eff over breastfeeding already? Ding ding ding. There's your answer.

To those of you with a 22 month old who think she should have just put a blanket over her kid's head (putting the airline blanket ick factor on hold for a second), try putting a blanket over your almost two year old's head the next time they're eating lunch. How long does it stay there? That's what I thought.

sonyajanescarroll@gmail.com 11-15-2006 @ 8:35AM

Ok, so as a Mother I say get over it. I mean its the only time you have to cover up... just do it !!
Yeah u got the right to brest feed where ever but the people around u also have the right to a nice, peaceful flight. So it pisses u off... get over remember ur breast feeding the baby... Your not the BABY your self.
She seems like a whiny cry baby. After everything that has gone on with all the different flights you would think that anyone who wants or needs to fly would be willing to do what ever...
all I gotta say is suck it up buttercup...

Noelle 11-15-2006 @ 9:08AM

I just flew with dd, who turned 2 on the trip but looks 3. We nursed... and one woman did give me a dirty look. We don't normally nurse in public anymore because she is so big, but what can you do on a flght? No 2 yr old will stand for having a blanket over their head. Whoever says that has never nursed an older baby. What an awful story. I won't be flying delta anytime soon, and I plan to write a letter!

FYI, here is delta's customer service address:
Delta Air Lines, P.O. Box 20980, Atlanta, GA 30320-2980.

you can also email them through their website:
http://www.delta.com/emailus/servlet/EmailUs?cmd=go

I wish I was a frequent flyer on their airline (I am on continental)- because unfortunately they pay more attention to complaints from frequent flyers.

PS I just told my husband about this, and he said "I would have been in jail if that happened to us... there's no way I would do that airline the courtesy of "not wanting to make a scene"..."

I love having a bfing supportive husband!

momma2mingbu 11-15-2006 @ 9:09AM

You can bet that this would have been less of an issue if the baby was 2 mos old instead of 22 mos old.

I would have made quite a scene.....they'd have probably called the air marshalls on me!

Ann 11-15-2006 @ 9:13AM

Making a f%%%%%n scene on an airplane is a stupid idea post 9/11 no matter what you think of this. Remember that poor guy who was mentally ill who got shot for making a scene?

You might not just be in a jail for making a scene on a plane these days, you could get shot and killed just like that guy did.

Ann 11-15-2006 @ 9:15AM

Also, Delta is in bankruptcy protection, so she can sue all she wants for money, but she's just going to have to get in line with all the other creditors. I guess she picked the wrong airline.

Marcia 11-15-2006 @ 9:26AM

I breastfeed and bottle feed, but when I'm in the presence of others (such as my dad) I do the courtesy of covering myself BUT my daughter is only 7 weeks old. I really don't know what I would've done in this situation because I don't plan on breastfeeding after 1 year or so.

I'm sure if I were in a plane I would be covering myself anyways though because you never know what kind of perverts could be sitting around you staring. Of course WE know it's natural, but some people just don't get it. I think the woman should've had her own blanket for the kid and tried to cover up first and if the kid caused a fuss THEN worry about it. Why make a situation worse than it has to be?

Jenny 11-15-2006 @ 9:41AM

She didn't sue Delta. She filed a complaint against Delta and Freedom Airlines with the Vermont Human Rights Commission. She isn't looking for money, she is looking for this not to happen again. And I support that. I absolutely agree that airline blankets are nasty (I'm a former airline employee) and that trying to get a 22-month-old to cover up is futile. I think most moms know that using a blanket won't work, she didn't need to "try" to prove it.

Sandy 11-15-2006 @ 10:06AM

Who was actually looking at this woman? She's crammed into a window seat in coach with her husband sitting in the middle seat. The guy on the aisle didn't complain, nor did the people in the three seats across the aisle (most likely because it's really difficult to see what's happening from that angle that far away). The only other people who might have seen what she was doing would be the people in the row directly in front of her, if they squished their faces into the crack between the seats. So this is the flight attendant who didn't want to see it.

I'm all about discreet nursing and have done it in some rather interesting places. I'd guess that there were a few inches of breast showing, as toddlers tend to prefer Mom's shirt not tickling their lips. This would mean that a bit of areola would show, too.

It's not the breast visibility that bothers people, it's the idea that a child is sucking it that bothers them.

If this happened to me (maybe it has, but I was too dense to be insulted by it?), I would probably just smile, say thanks and tuck the blanket under my arm or on the floor. I tend not to challenge people who I know can make my life miserable. That's what this Gillette woman bought herself...a bunch of misery. She got kicked off the plane and now has mediation or a possible court case. Ugh, what a hassle. But maybe it will buy other babies an easier time. The world needs people willing to suffer to get some changes made.

Ann 11-15-2006 @ 10:00AM

We all have different opinions on the proper use of a blanket (or not) and that's fine. I can see some of your points.

However, the author of this blogpost should really do the responsible thing and edit his last paragraph where he says that he would start a 'f%%%%%%%n scene'.

Not sure if he is trying to sound cool or macho, but it is highly irresponsible writing, especially in these post 9.11 days.

Tara 11-15-2006 @ 10:04AM

My son also will not nurse under a blanket. You bet your binky that I nurse him on planes- it's the best way to keep those little ears happy.

Breasts are for nursing. That's what they are designed for. I don't think it is courteous to my baby to deny him my breast simply because the people around me are too close-minded to recognize that it is THEIR PROBLEM that they view my breasts as a peep show. It is not my problem and it is certainly not my baby's.

Jenna 11-15-2006 @ 10:04AM

This whole debate pisses me off. Women were given breasts for one reason, and that is to feed our young. It's funny how nobody sees a problem with bouncing boobies all over television and popping out of postage-stamp bikinis at the beach, but let a mother try to breastfeed and suddenly the sight of a woman's breast is just nasty and offensive!

I breastfed my daughter for over a year, and I did so in public. I was discreet about it, turning away from spectators' view and letting my body shield the worst of it. I refused to put a blanket over myself, because for one thing, I had nothing to be ashamed of. For another, it's not an altogether healthy practice. If you have large breasts, and most lactating women do, your baby's nose is already pressed against you in a way that somewhat restricts airflow. Throw a blanket over their head and it's downright stifling. If you don't believe me, try putting a blanket over your head for half an hour and see how well you breathe!

I think the reason people get so "uncomfortable" and offended when they see a breastfeeding mother is because suddenly the Almighty Titty is no longer a sex organ. Or worse, it still is and there's a baby sucking on it. Until people realize that breasts are not genitals, there's always going to be half-horny men and sanctimonious prudes feeling weird about seeing them used for their natural function.

9/11 be damned, had I been on that plane, the headlines would have told a different story. "Outraged Mother Arrested After Squirting Prudish Flight Attendant With Breast Milk." Thank God I don't fly!

Jenn 11-15-2006 @ 10:06AM

I just don't get it. Why does this continue to be an issue? I nursed my first son until he weaned at 26 months and my second son is now 26 months and still nursing. I (thankfully) have never had any comments or even any dirty looks (not that I've noticed anyway), however I don't nurse in public anymore just because by this age my kids are really only nursing to go to sleep, once or twice a day. In any case, nursing is a totally discreet act anyway. Unless you take off your whole shirt and bra to do it, I don't see what the big fuss is. Yeah, occasionally you might see a glimpse of nipple during attachment or disengagement, but come on! Is it THAT disruptive to other passengers' peace and quiet? I would bet that refusing to nurse a 22 month old when they ask, or putting a blanket over their head, *snort*, would be WAY more disruptive to the peace! I am sorry but I would love to know where these people who have a problem with public nursing come from and what motivates them. It is absolutely crazy to me!

Mona 11-15-2006 @ 10:08AM

If you read the actual article, you can find out that the mother was sitting in a window seat in the next to last row. So I really fail to see who is going to be offended by this (not that it matters) unless they were trying to see something. And I personally applaud the author for stating that he would make a scene. They were removed anyway so he had nothing to lose and their rights were being violated. The AAP and WHO support breastfeeding until at least age two and I personally find the consensus of a large part of the world's medical community more convincing than the "squeamishness" of one flight attendant. Even if you don't plan on nursing or plan on going that long, shouldn't we support a parent's right to feed their baby with appropriate food?

Ann 11-15-2006 @ 10:09AM

Ok, now let's see. So you don't agree with the fact that she was asked to cover up. Fine.

But here's the thing. On a plane, during these scary times post 9/11, when everyone on a plane is jittery as it is including the passengers and staff, you are not doing your family any good by starting a 'f%%%%%n scene' squirting a flight attendant with breastmilk, (which is an infectious substance), or getting the air marshalls called on you, or making such a scene that you end up in jail, or worse, possibly getting shot.

Anyone who suggests these things are ok, including the writer of the original post, is wrong. You're endangering your families, the other people on the plane, the staff of the airlines and yourselves by suggesting that any of these actions are justified.

You're also not doing the breastfeeding advocacy cause any good with actions like that.

mamaloo, the doula 11-15-2006 @ 10:13AM

Dutch, if you were kicked off a flight for refusing to cover up while breastfeeding your child, well, that would be a whole 'nother kind of scene!

On a serious note: a right is a right is a right. The law does not say a woman has a right to breastfeed her child anywhere that she is legally allowed to be ONLY IF SHE COVERS UP or ONLY IF PEOPLE CAN"T SEE HER BREAST or ONLY IF THE BABY IS LESS THAN A YEAR OLD. Nope, it just says that she has a right to feed her baby in any place she is allowed to be. No caveats.

Besides, she was in a window seat? Her husband was in the aisle seat? Who can see EXCEPT the attendant?!

Sandy 11-15-2006 @ 10:14AM

Jenna, you could get arrested for "assault with a milky weapon"!

Both parties could have handled it better. I don't think a major scene would have been necessary. What, exactly, are the rules for throwing someone off the plane? Does there need to be a warning? Does a reason have to be given? Does it have to be linked to violence or suspicion of terrorism or violence? Does anyone really know? Does anyone know where I can go to find out (without reading through all of the legal documents...I haven't got time for that!)?

I think the couple should have requested more information, perhaps asking, "How, exactly do you perceive my child's behavior to be threatening?"

Any of you airport-related people know the answers to any of these questions?

Thanks!