Breastfeeding mother reimbursed by airline
I can’t even imagine being in this woman’s situation. Her baby was in coach with her partner while she was flying business class from Australia to San Francisco. Her baby was not allowed to enter business class to be breastfed. An international flight is hard enough when traveling with an infant without the added stress of not being able to feed your hungry baby.
Breast-feeding mum wins Qantas case
QANTAS has been ordered to pay a mother $1000 and refund half the cost of her flight after providing her and her baby with poor service on an international flight.
When breastfeeding mother Lauren Costello booked a business class seat to San Francisco, she was advised by airline booking staff to put her baby on her partner Paula Gerber’s ticket.
Ms Gerber was flying economy class.
However, Ms Costello told the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal that on the return trip, flight attendants told her that baby Alexandra, travelling in a bassinet in economy, would not be allowed to visit business class to be breastfed.
The staff told her that it was permissible for passengers to move down classes only; a business class passenger can visit economy, but a passenger in economy cannot visit business.
Ms Costello said the event was embarrassing and traumatic, and she was virtually ignored by the flight attendants after the confrontation.
VCAT member Gerry Butcher said he accepted that Qantas booking staff had told the Victorian mother that Alexandra would be able to move during the trip.
He also accepted that it was not unlikely Ms Costello would have received less than optimal service from the flight attendants after the confrontation.
Mr Butcher ordered the airline to refund Ms Costello 50,500 frequent flyer points she had used to book a business class seat instead of one in economy.
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January 10th, 2008 at 8:18 am
[...] Pincas Jawetz wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptI can’t even imagine being in this woman’s situation. Her baby was in coach with her partner while she was flying business class from Australia to San Francisco. Her baby was not allowed to enter business class to be breastfed. … [...]