A plus-size model from Brazil said that Qatar Airways denied her the right to fly due to her appearance. In a video posted on Instagram, the model, who goes by the name Juliana Nehme, accused the airline of discriminating against her.
She said that she, her sister, nephew, and mother were on their way to Brazil after visiting Lebanon when a staff member told her that she would have to buy a more expensive seat in order to board the flight. According to the Daily Mail, the airline said that one of her relatives did not have the necessary documents to board the plane.
According to the airline, the passenger became very aggressive when she was told that she didn’t have the necessary documents to board the plane.
The airport security was then called in to help the passenger. In her video, which has since gone viral, the model said that she didn’t have any problems boarding the plane despite the incident.
The model said that upon reaching the airport to check in for her flight to Brazil, a staff member of Qatar Airways called her mother and told her that she was not allowed to board the plane due to her appearance. She added that her family had spent around $4,000 on economy seats, and she was informed that she would have to pay more for a first-class ticket if she wanted to travel with the airline.
According to the model, while she was at the airport to check in, a staff member of Qatar Airways called her mother and told her that she was not allowed to board the plane due to her appearance. She said that she was discriminated against because she’s fat. The airline explained that in order to ensure the safety and comfort of its passengers, it requires customers to purchase additional seats.
The airline noted that this practice is standard practice within the industry. The frustrated tourist, who was at the Beirut-based airport to try and get a refund or a new ticket, added that she was denied her right to travel even though she had bought a ticket through AirFrance.
She added that she was informed that she would have to buy an executive ticket in order to return home to her native country. She noted that she was desperate to board the plane and was not able to find the money to purchase a business ticket.
In a post on Instagram, the model noted that she was denied the right to board the plane due to her appearance. She said that she spent over two hours trying to get the airline to allow her to travel. A spokesperson for Qatar Airways confirmed that the passenger had been rebooked on a flight to her native country.
Obesity policies vary depending on the airline. According to Smarter Travel, customers who don’t fit into a seat that has an extension seatbelt or the armrests down may be asked to get off the plane or be charged for two seats.