WATCH: A Burnaby mom just got an apology from United Airlines after sharing the story of her humiliation on a recent flight. The woman was breastfeeding and says a male flight attendant made her feel so uncomfortable, she shared the experience on social media. John Hua explains what happened next.
VANCOUVER – A B.C. mom took to Twitter on Monday to share her experience on a recent United Airlines flight from Houston to Vancouver.
Kristen Hilderman was on the flight on March 8 and was breastfeeding her five-month-old son. In an online post she says she was breastfeeding while the plane taxied on the runway. That is when she says a male flight attendant walked up and asked her husband if the two of them were together.
“My husband replied, “Yes…” And then the male flight attendant tossed a blanket at him (didn’t even hand it TO him, but tossed it AT him) and said tersely, “Then HERE, help her out.”
Hilderman says the plane was hot and stuffy and she already had a blanket under her baby and draped across her knees.
As the flight attendant was walking away, Hilderman says she asked him twice what her husband was supposed to help her out with. The flight attendant did not answer her however.
“A man a couple of rows back called out ‘Because you’re breastfeeding… he wants you to cover up. That is so offensive. I have a 7-month-old baby and if that happened… I would be so offended’,” writes Hilderman.
She did not use the blanket and did not want to make a scene and get into trouble, but she says she felt “embarrassed, uncomfortable and self-conscious” for the rest of the flight. A few passengers approached her to let her know they thought the flight attendant’s behaviour was completely out of line.
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Hilderman says the “kicker” to the whole experience was that their flight could not land in Vancouver, due to fog, and they were diverted to Seattle. When they were able to reboard the plane to continue to Vancouver, she says the same flight attendant had placed a blanket on her seat.
“Not a single other seat. Just mine.”
United Airlines did send a tweet to Hilderman saying they were disappointed to hear about this incident.
Speaking on CKNW, she says someone from United did call her on Tuesday and say she was sorry for Hilderman’s frustration. “I know some people are suggesting he should be fired,” she says. “I don’t think anyone should be fired. United can deal with this however they see fit, but I think that he should be educated and I would like to know what that entails and how they are going to follow up with the public.”
“It’s 2015, I think people are pretty progressive. I think most people understand that if a baby needs to be fed, the mother is just doing what she needs to do.”
Speaking to Global News on Wednesday, Hilderman says she does not understand the negative comments around breastfeeding. “It’s kind of backwards when what you’re doing is just feeding your baby and other people are projecting this sexualization of breasts on you. It’s not a sexual thing, it’s a normal, natural thing. Feeding your baby. They’re hungry, you’re feeding them. That’s what breasts are for.”
In a statement to Global News, United Airlines says:
United welcomes nursing mothers on board and we ask that crew members do their best to ensure their comfort and safety as they do with all customers.
After we learned of Ms. Hilderman’s experience we spoke with her and offered an apology.
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