Family Says American Airlines Denied First Class Flight
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - A family alleges they weren't allowed to fly first class on American Airlines because their son has Down Syndrome.
Robert Vanderhorst, his wife and 16-year-old son Bede, who has Down Syndrome, were due to fly first class from Newark to Los Angeles on Sunday but they never made the flight because the pilot felt that Vanderhost's son presented a security risk, something Vanderhorst says he's never heard before.
"This is what I get out of it: How dare I try to fly first class with my 16 year old Down Syndrome son because God forbid he might try to fart in front of one of those first class passengers," he says.
PLAY: KRLD's Joe Gomez talks with Robert Vanderhorst
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In a statement the Airline says the reason the pilot felt that Vanderhorst's son presented a security risk is because he was "agitated and running around the gate," but Vanderhorst disagrees and says his son was very quiet and playing with his hat while they were waiting to board.
"He might pick his nose he might slap his hat and hum to himself... is that going to interfere with the comfort and enjoyment of those gentle people in first class?"
The Vanderhorsts were subsequently put on another flight, on a different carrier, though it wasn't in first class. Vanderhorst says they were put in the back of the plane, "We were sitting right next to the galley… What have we got?! Is Down Syndrome contagious?"
American Airlines has reimbursed the family for their first class upgrade, but the Vanderhorsts say they would like to see much more than that. They're hoping to get the entire trip reimbursed, as Robert Vanderhorst says the whole situation has caused a lot of emotional trauma.
"The first feeling is hurt, it stings, it makes your eyes water and makes your stomach knot up... the second feeling as a parent and an advocate is anger. I want to rip them a new orifice."
The corporate headquarters for AMR, the parent company of American Airlines, Inc., is located in Fort Worth.
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