Discrimination? Australian men can’t sit next to unaccompanied minors on Qantas flights

[n2doc]

Australian men are up in arms over airline policies that prevent male passengers from sitting in the seat next to unaccompanied minors.
A male nurse, Daniel McCluskie, 31, said last week he was humiliated after Qantas made him switch seats with a woman to get him away from a 10-year-old girl, The Age reports.

“After the plane had taken off, the air hostess thanked the woman that had moved but not me, which kind of hurt me or pissed me off a bit more because it appeared I was in the wrong, because it seemed I had this sign I couldn’t see above my head that said ‘child molester’ or ‘kiddie fiddler’ whereas she did the gracious thing and moved to protect the greater good of the child.”

A similar incident occurred at Virgin Australia, where fireman Johnny McGirr, 33, sitting next to two boys, ages 8 and 10, was forced to move as part of company policy, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

“The attitude of the airline is ‘we respect you but as soon as you board a Virgin airline you are a potential pedophile’, and that strips away all the good that any male does regardless of his standing in society, his profession or his moral attitudes,” he said.

Virgin Australia has announced it was rethinking its policy. British Airways changed a similar policy in 2010 after a lawsuit, agreeing to seat unaccompanied minors in a “safe but non-discriminatory manner.”

more
http://blog.sfgate.com/hottopics/2012/08/13/discrimination-australian-men-can’t-sit-next-to-unaccompanied-minors/

[Justice wanted]

1. I think it was wrong of Qantas and just remember- - before you slam me-- A woman can harm a

child just as much as a man

AND THIS IS A WOMAN POSTING THIS.

[MADem]

3. No slam from me--anyone can be a predator.

Perhaps the unaccompanied minors need to be placed within "eagle eye" view of the flight attendant's galley.

It used to be, back in the day, if you wanted your kid to be safe, you'd put them next to that priest, nun, minister or rabbi! Boy have times changed!

I'll be honest with you--I would prefer to not be seated next to an unaccompanied minor. I'd feel bad for the kid and worry about them.

Years ago (back before airline deregulation), such children on flights were very rare--now they are all too common as parents often don't get, never mind stay, together, and they live far from one another.

I really think the parents should be forced to do the commuting--let the kids stay where they're at and not have to be bounced around like a beach ball.

[justice1]

4. I have worked for the largest, as well as small airlines in the US, we didn't have that policy.

At our station, it was standard practice to put young UM's, by the flight attendant. Older UM's, were given a choice to move.

[TransitJohn]

2. Sexism. eom

n/t

[MadrasT]

5. That is just wrong. n/t