A recent United Airlines flight from San Francisco to Austin turned into a nightmare for Jenna Longoria, a Texas mom, and her 16-month-old toddler. According to Jenna, a simple mistake involving pronouns led to her and her child being removed from the plane, leaving her feeling singled out and humiliated.
The Texas incident, which Jenna shared with her 20,000 Instagram followers, has quickly gone viral and sparked widespread discussions about pronoun usage. Jenna explained that she was preoccupied with managing her toddler and their carry-on luggage when she accidentally used the wrong pronoun for a flight attendant. Despite apologizing for the mistake, the situation escalated rapidly.
Mother and 16 month old baby DENIED entry to United Flight for using the wrong PRONOUNS for flight attendant.
“The flight attendant has denied access to us because he said I made a derogatory comment about one of the flight attendants because I didn’t use the right pronoun” pic.twitter.com/SyvqNJzdmF
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) June 26, 2024
United Airlines stated that Jenna and her family were denied boarding due to exceeding the carry-on baggage limit, a claim Jenna strongly disputes. In her Instagram post, Jenna recounted how Gabriella, a member of the flight staff, informed them that they needed more time to investigate but that the captain had already decided to remove them from the flight. Jenna described the incident as absurd, emphasizing that she was focused on her son and not familiar with pronouns.
The situation began when Jenna accidentally misgendered a flight attendant who identifies as a woman. After thanking the attendant with “thank you, sir,” the attendant became upset, leading to a confrontation. Despite Jenna’s attempts to clarify the misunderstanding and manage her crying son, she, her son, and her mother were ultimately denied boarding, leaving their luggage and medications on the plane.
Gabriella, the flight staff member, reportedly told Jenna that due to the verbal altercation, she was being removed from the flight. Jenna was informed that comments made during the incident were considered derogatory and offensive.
The incident has sparked a heated debate on social media, with many expressing outrage over the handling of the situation. Some users suggested legal action against the airline, while others criticized the emphasis on pronoun usage.
Jenna and her family eventually took an alternate flight, but the ordeal has left a lasting impact. The controversy highlights ongoing discussions about the importance of pronouns and the challenges faced by those unfamiliar with current practices.
