Northwest Airlines Denies Gay Winner of Free Airfare

[Newsjock]

http://web.morons.org/article.jsp?sectionid=9&id=6781

LOS ANGELES - Northwest Airlines violated California's anti-discrimination laws when it refused to allow a gay couple to use tickets an employee won at a holiday party, the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California said today in a letter urging the company to change its policies.

The ACLU sent the letter on behalf of La Mirada resident Rob Anders, a longtime airline industry employee, who won round-trip domestic airfare on Northwest Airlines for him and a companion at his company holiday party last December. But when he tried to redeem the tickets for himself and his registered domestic partner, Northwest refused.

"What happened to Mr. Anders and his partner violates California law and is clearly discriminatory," said Christine P. Sun, ACLU of Southern California staff attorney. "We are asking that the company not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or marital status and honor Mr. Anders' ticket for him and a companion."

... A representative from Northwest Airlines told Anders that the airline would only recognize a spouse, another airline employee, or a dependent child as a companion. The representative specifically stated Northwest Airlines would not recognize a registered domestic partner as a "spouse" for the tickets.

[Ian David]

1. Because civilization would collapse if gay couples fly together...

The next thing you know, they'll be letting them sit in the emergency exit isle.

And that would damage passenger-cohesion.

[sakabatou]

10. Or putting on those masks when cabin pressure drops

We can't let their germs get on the masks! :sarcasm:

[Ian David]

11. The masks aren't re-usable. I can't believe the arlines is spending money

to take this to court and raising fairs for everyone to pay their legal fees.

Are they afraid that people will get civil-unioned before a vacation just so they can get someone on a discount ticket?

[sui generis]

15. western civilization will collapse too, don't forget

What a sorry way to treat your employees. But their union needs to take up the charge on this too -

[realisticphish]

20. In the words of Drawn Together

The apocalypse will reign, and nazis will ride dinosaurs and conquer the world!

[benburch]

2. We need to stage a boycott. nt

[Kerrytravelers]

3. Note to self: Don't bother with Northwest Airlines.

[wtmusic]

4. Ooh how primitive

Me fly Northwest. Me like.

[MuseRider]

5. This has to stop and

it has to stop very soon. I can't imagine the kind of people who would do this.

Not a spouse? Well go figure. :eyes:

[foreigncorrespondent]

6. I'm sorry...

...but when you LIVE with someone and have INTIMATE relations with that person that automatically makes you a spouse with your partner. They are discriminating by saying they would not recognize registered domestic partners as spouses.

It would be interesting to see how many fucking heterosexual couples who are in a spousal relationship had the same thing happen. I bet the answer will be a big fat NONE!

[SushiFan]

7. Babe, you got NOTHING to be sorry about!!! nt

[foreigncorrespondent]

9. Oh I know!!!!

I do tend to use "I'm sorry" a lot in general. :)

[Obamarama]

8. I've flown NWA almost exclusively for 18 yrs. I sent them this:

I'll let you know if I recieve a reply:

To whom it may concern:

My partner and I have been loyal Northwest customers for nearly 18 years. We have chosen Northwest almost exclusively for both our domestic and international travel. Unfortunately, we may have already flown the last of our miles on NWA.

Today I read a disturbing Internet news item which alleges that Northwest will not allow a California man to designate his same-sex partner of 15 years as his travel companion as part of a promotional prize he recently won. Instead, Northwest is apparently refusing to honor the companion travel to anyone but a spouse or a dependent child.

If this is how Northwest views and treats men and women in long-term, committed same-sex relationships, then one must assume that is how you view mine and my partner's relationship as well. The flight attendants and captains are correct when they give their post-flight commentary - we DO have a choice as to which carrier we fly. Until now we have been more than happy to choose Northwest. It appears we will have to shop for friendlier skies. One would think Northwest would do whatever it takes to retain loyal passengers as you struggle to stave off financial troubles.

I have included a link below to the news item. I would like a response from Northwest confirming or denying the accuracy of this report. In addition, if the report is indeed accurate, I would like to know why Northwest thinks I should continue to fly with them when they are likely to discriminate against me and my partner.

[Ian David]

12. You should have given them your frequent flier number, too. Excellent! n/t

[xchrom]

13. all righty then -- back to the dark ages.

[moose65]

14. This is ridiculous

They should just remove the restrictions, and let the winner pick ANYONE he wants as his companion... whether it's his partner, grandmother, niece, or a stranger who just happened to walk in the door. What possible reason could they have for limiting the companion to a "spouse" or a child? Whenever I've seen prizes like this that say "We'll fly you and a companion to wherever" I just assumed that you could pick whoever you want to fly with you. Color me naive, I guess.

Oh, and BTW, if every gay male flight attendant boycotted this, Northwest wouldn't have any male flight attendants left! I know, I know, it's a stereotype, but my gaydar is really good and I have yet to see a straight male flight attendant. But, I digress...... :-)

[BeeBee]

16. I'm confused...

If any non-married, childless person (regardless of sexual orientation) won this prize, their only choice for a travel companion would be another airline employee?

[triakis36]

24. Exactly...

That person couldn't even take a friend? What kind of employer gives away tickets then imposes so many restrictions that they can't actually be usable?! That's just cheap, and lame.

[Skinner]

17. Here's a direct link to the ACLU press release

http://www.aclu.org/lgbt/discrim/24127prs20060209.html

My wife's family lives in Detroit, and I have thousands of Northwest frequent flier miles. I think this is an outrage.

[Skinner]

18. I just called Northwest

1-800-225-2525

They directed me to Corporate Communications.

612-726-2331

I explained that I was a northwest frequent flier with hundreds of thousands of frequent flyer miles, and I wanted them to please provide an explanation. They told me that I needed to contact customer relations, at this email address:

[e-mail]

They promise that I will get a response.

[Skinner]

19. I just sent an email

I let them know that I am a member of their frequent flyer program, and I would like them to either explain their policy or change it. I will let you know if I hear back.

[terrya]

21. Thank you, Skinner.

This is gross, blatant homophobia on Northwest's part. It's inexcusible.

[Ian David]

22. You're a big-time blogger.They should let you speak to Media Relations n/t

[kevinbgoode]

23. What bullsh*t . . .this is outrageous

And what if you are SINGLE. . .? Is the airlines going to tell you that you can't USE their prize? We should write this airline and demand they recognize the winner of that prize and the companion of his own damned choice!

[terrya]

25. It's blatant homophobia

And Northwest doesn't appear to be the least bit apologetic to them. Fuck em.

It's boycott time. Not in my opinion, it IS time for us as a whole to do this. I suspect John Aravosis at AmericaBlog has already started action against NWA. I'm going over there and see what I can do.

[moose65]

26. and a bad business decision as well...

One wonders what goes through their heads on something like this! As someone noted above, what if the winner was single, regardless of orientation? Would they tell him that he couldn't take his MOTHER with him? Sheesh. That kind of policy is so ridiculous on so many levels! Oh well, I haven't flown Northwest in ages, and probably won't, any time soon.

[closeupready]

27. This is outrageous.

n/t

[cboy4]

28. I can see why Northwest would have a strict policy regarding this,

I mean the airlines are all thriving, nobody is going into bankruptcy -- why would Northwest worry about pissing off future customers who found out about this prejudicial policy? :sarcasm: Dumb fucks.