Between ticket prices, miserable TSA agents, and unruly passengers, we love to joke that air travel is homophobic. But for Erin Wright — who was forbidden from boarding an American Airlines flight in June — it actually was.
Though not in the way you’d expect.
In a recent TikTok, the 24-year-old queer content creator explained how she came to learn she was “banned” by the airline for life while trying to board a flight to New Orleans for her sister’s bachelorette party.
How about we take this to the next level?
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The video — fittingly titled, “How I got permanently banned from flying American Airlines for having sexual relations with a man on a plane even though I’m a lesbian” — has received over 2.7 million views.
Trust us, it’s just as crazy as it sounds!
Watch.
@erin_wright_ Thanks for being the worst @American Airlines #storytime #funnystory #funnyvideos #airlinetiktok #airplanestory #funny #fyp ♬ original sound – Erin Wright
It all started when Wright went to check into her flight via phone, and “it didn’t work,” then she received a similar error at an airport kiosk. Finally, she visited an American Airlines help desk, where the attendant also could not process the ticket and made a phone call.
Fast-forward 10 minutes, and Wright learned that she was “banned from flying American Airlines” due to “an issue of internal security.” The representative explained, “I can’t tell you [why], but the person on the phone told me that you should know why.”
WTF!
Ultimately, Wright missed her original flight and spent an additional $1000 on a roundtrip ticket through another airline. Still, it took days of back-and-forth emails with American before she received a wild explanation.
“Finally, [I got an email] telling me that I have been banned because I was having sexual relations with a man on a flight while intoxicated,” Wright said.
Addressing the camera in a ballcap and comfy tee, she added, “I am a 24-year-old lesbian. Do you see me? Am I having sexual relations with any man? No.”
Wright was not presented any evidence or further explanation. Furthermore, the airline instructed her to send an “official appeal” explaining “exactly why [she] didn’t do it” before removing her from the no-fly list.
What were they expecting — a copy of her Gay Card or something?!
The New Mexico-based creator then sent a “serious” but “somewhat funny” email trying to plead her case.
“I’m like, ‘I don’t really know how to prove that it wasn’t me except for the fact that I’m literally a lesbian, and I can get you letters from other people telling you that’s the truth,” she explained. LOL.
Still, it wasn’t until her mother contacted their legal department in August—two months later—that she received a response.
The airline admitted “that it most likely was not you,” and removed her from the no-fly list “until we either figure out whether it was actually you or someone else.”
What’s worse — she was only refunded for her initial $400 ticket, with no additional funds for inconvenience. This is why Pete Buttigieg goes so hard on those airlines!
@erin_wright_ Update!!! @American Airlines #storytime #airlinetiktok #airportlife #funnystory #funny ♬ original sound – Erin Wright
Still, there’s a happy ending!
As Wright explained in a follow-up, her original storytime clip went viral on TikTok, allowing her to recoup “the exact amount” she lost purchasing a new ticket. That being said, American Airlines had not “reached out” or “commented on the video to make things right on their end” at the time of posting.
Perhaps now is a good time to start traveling by Amtrak?
Kangol2
Truly insane story. American
needs to compensate her fully
for their gross error.
inbama
They did.
storm45701
@inbama : Did they give her the extra $1000 she had to pay for another ticket? Any baggage or other fees? If not, pony up American Airlines!
Jim
I’d sue American Airlines for defamation.
still_onthemark
Amtrak to New Orleans is fun if you have the time!
Curtispsf
Well, when she came out as Lesbian I’m sure she was given a toaster and her “Gay Card”. All she needed to do was show the toaster and her “Gay Card”. Problem fixed. American Airlines, are you listening? Oh yeah, reimburse her an additional $600 bucks for the difference between what she actually was refunded and tH $1,000 she spent. It’s called Consequential Damages suffered as a result of THEIR error.
inbama
Sorry, you’re right, they didn’t.
Hits on her video did.
Raybee
I’m missing something here. Was she even a passenger on the flight where the incident allegedly took place? Any video of it?
Man About Town
Raybee: I was wondering about that too. A lawsuit would include a request for details, or evidence, or even just…what flight did this allegedly take place on?
Also, she doesn’t mention if she was able to actually make it to her sister’s bachelorette party, which I guess didn’t happen, but she might have if she’d tried a different airline.