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Local man sues American Airlines, claims racial discrimination
kwtx10 ^ | Aug. 29, 2019 | Brandon Hamilton

Posted on 09/02/2019 12:06:54 PM PDT by bgill

Holcomb was on his way back in April to Austin from Las Vegas after celebrating his birthday, but had a connecting flight in Phoenix.

He says he had an allergic reaction to a support dog belonging to another passenger.

American Airlines, in a statement, says it makes accommodations for dogs

“American makes every effort to accommodate all passengers, including those traveling with and seated near service or support animals,” a statement read.

Holcomb says the passenger offered to switch seats but after no one volunteered, a flight attendant and a pilot got involved.

Holcomb says he questioned why he had to move to the back of the plane.

“At that point (workers) told him you’re going to go to the rear of the plane or get off the plane,”McKamie said.

Holcomb was taken off the plane after employees say he was confrontational, a claim he denies.

(Excerpt) Read more at kwtx.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; US: Arizona; US: Nevada; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: airline; allergy; americanairlines; arizona; austin; brandonhamilton; danaholcomb; discrimination; lasvegas; nevada; phoenix; reginaldmckamie; reginaldmckamiesr; texas
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To: Oldexpat

I think this is ridiculous. Im a pet lover but I can tell you when does it all stop. Heard now added to the list of service animals are miniature horses, yes miniature horses! The friggin world has gone nuts with this emotional idiocy and anything goes crap.


41 posted on 09/02/2019 12:52:10 PM PDT by ronnie raygun (nicdip.com)
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To: libstripper

Same thing with the 200-lb Cheetah I travel with.


42 posted on 09/02/2019 12:53:11 PM PDT by Carriage Hill (A society grows great when old men plant trees, in whose shade they know they will never sit.)
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To: bgill

Bad news for him. Whatever your color, if you complain about a “support animal,” you get moved to the back of the plane and the creep with the large smelly dog that is occupying half of your space ... even in first... gets to keep her seat. It’s almost always a woman. She ends up taking two seats and doesn’t have to pay for them.

But it’s not racial. I saw it happen on a flight to a young white woman who was moved because her seat mate’s dog was overflowing the seat (as did the seatmate) and complained. A dog lover came up and said she didn’t care and got a much higher priced seat.

Move the person with the dog, not the person who has paid for the seat.


43 posted on 09/02/2019 12:54:29 PM PDT by livius
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To: Ruy Dias de Bivar
My support animal:


44 posted on 09/02/2019 12:55:23 PM PDT by MarvinStinson
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To: bgill

Years ago (many, many) when leaving Las Vegas, I always wanted to take a certain dancer at the Flamingo on flights home as a support creature...
However, the wife always objected because she always had an allergic reaction to support creatures,,,


45 posted on 09/02/2019 12:56:22 PM PDT by SuperLuminal (Where is Sam Adams now that we desperately need him)
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To: CondoleezzaProtege

Not LAX; Sacramento from Atlanta, originating in Knoxville, TN. If the distance were 1,000 miles or less, or it was summer, I’d drive.


46 posted on 09/02/2019 12:57:59 PM PDT by libstripper
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To: MarvinStinson

Ah, what’s up Doc?


47 posted on 09/02/2019 1:05:26 PM PDT by Dr. Ursus
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To: bgill

Let’s pretend the story reflects reality, and doesn’t omit to mention the offended party’s behavior that got him deplaned. “The passenger” (presumably the one with the pet) offered to switch seats. For Holcomb to be told to take a seat in the back implies there WAS A SEAT. Why didn’t the airline simply put willing pet passenger in it, and leave Mr. Holcomb in the seat he had paid for? Absent good reason for not doing so, the winged bus company deserves this hassle.


48 posted on 09/02/2019 1:08:49 PM PDT by Chewbarkah
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To: Reno89519
Stupid airlines. And they all need to ban support animals except the traditional ones for the blind.

I am going to have to agree with this. Provided that they improve the way they house/store pets (support ones or otherwise) elsewhere on the plane.

49 posted on 09/02/2019 1:09:30 PM PDT by CondoleezzaProtege
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To: CondoleezzaProtege

Lol, you got me completely wrong. I was dumping on the clown that needs a “support animal.”


50 posted on 09/02/2019 1:12:15 PM PDT by Trailerpark Badass (There should be a whole lot more going no than throwing bleach, said one woman.)
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To: bgill

He’s a modern-day Rosa Parks, refusing to move to the back of the plane. He’ll be a civil rights icon before the month is out.


51 posted on 09/02/2019 1:13:14 PM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom
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To: libstripper
My emotional support miniature horse is going to squish your emotional support snake like a bug!


52 posted on 09/02/2019 1:14:48 PM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom
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To: eyeamok

There is a difference between a service animal and a support animal. Service animals can be trained to guide the blind, support a disabled person in walking (requiring a large dog for adults), opening doors and picking up items for those who have difficulty, and to detect an imminent seizure. They may also be trained to bark and gather the attention of others if their Human seizes or collapses.

Support animals for an individual may alleviate anxiety, depression, and PTSD. They are not trained to the same caliber as service animals. In IL, they are required to pass a state exam (”Good Citizen”) in order to be allowed in public spaces.

Therapy animals fit the requirements and functions of a support animal, but may also be brought to hospitals and nursing homes to alleviate those who are admitted to those facilities. They improve morale and provide much needed socialization for those residents and patients.

My dog is certified for therapy and is in the process of being trained for service. I have numerous health conditions, including arthritis, spinal fusion, and osteoporosis, alongside nerve damage in my left arm which causes immense pain. I frequently need help picking up items I’ve dropped and help opening doors.

However, I would not bring her on a plane. I refuse to fly, for starters. It is all road or rail for me, mostly because I’m not putti g up with security going through my stuff and having to explain my drugs, which include opioids. No thanks.


53 posted on 09/02/2019 1:15:28 PM PDT by Tacrolimus1mg (Do no harm, but take no sh!t.)
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To: CondoleezzaProtege

Since the courts and government force airlines to accomodate, dont you think that the government WANTS to end public air travel for the peons?


54 posted on 09/02/2019 1:17:23 PM PDT by Chickensoup (Voter ID for 2020!! Leftists totalitarian fascists appear to be planning to eradicate conservatives)
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To: Chewbarkah

The story doesn’t say but perhaps the pet owner had bought a seat for the animal in a three seat row. Perhaps the pet owner had bought a ticket in first class because of the wider seats to accommodate the animal. Perhaps the pet owner had specified the need to be assigned business in the first row behind the bulkhead for extra room. Could be the pet owner had also requested a seat near a door if they had a physical disability. Of course, there’s always the ADA on their side. The back of the plane doesn’t have the room as the above seats have. With any of those reasons, Holcomb just lost the case.

Of course, he had the right to sit in the seat he’d paid for but apparently he failed to request a seat away from dogs. If he didn’t, he lost there, too.


55 posted on 09/02/2019 1:18:42 PM PDT by bgill
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To: bgill

I am a short person but still feel squeezed into airline coach seats. I do NOT want to share what little space there is with so-called support animals.


56 posted on 09/02/2019 1:21:24 PM PDT by colorado tanker
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To: MarvinStinson

I'm suing because my furbaby wouldn't fit inside.

57 posted on 09/02/2019 1:22:55 PM PDT by bgill
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To: monkeyshine

Well Heck,

It says American Airlines.

“American” - - That’s trouble right there.


58 posted on 09/02/2019 1:28:21 PM PDT by Scrambler Bob (This is not /s. It is just as viable as any MSM, maybe more so!)
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To: Skywise

I think he was already in First Class.

But, I think he’s barking up the wrong tree with the “racism” lawsuit. He should be suing because the airline treated him worse than a dog. The dog got to fly...he didn’t.

I’m looking forward to lawsuits that deal with irate passengers getting booted off a flight because they didn’t want to share their paid-for space with an animal.

“If you’re not going to eat your peanuts, do you mind if my dog finishes them for you? He just loves peanuts!”


59 posted on 09/02/2019 1:30:27 PM PDT by moovova
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To: bgill
Why should everyone accommodate every medical condition of one other person.

And the exact same thing can be said for the *support* animals.

Why should everyone accommodate some person's claim of needing a support animal?

The only ones I can see as being legitimate are Seeing Eye Dogs, similar dogs for the Deaf, and something like seizure dogs or dogs for people with out of control diabetes that signal a diabetic emergency.

Yes, there are legitimate reasons for a support animal, but it's gotten beyond ridiculous the claims that people make.

That said, if the animal fell into one of those categories, I could see where the only available seat might be in the back of the plane cause no one wants to sit back there.

But *racism* Pffttt..... Give me a break.

60 posted on 09/02/2019 1:36:58 PM PDT by metmom ( ...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith..)
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