Qantas business class passenger accuses airline of ‘blatant homophobia’

[david1]

Sounds like the only real problem was a lack of communication between the lounge and the plane.

 

[samh004]

The bottom line I guess is that as we all know, seat changes happen every day on most flights so it is hardly discriminatory, but if the story is correct QF should have handled it very differently.

That's what I am thinking too, it was handled badly and that has lead to the beat up as it stands now.

But it's interesting reading the comments here, the number of members who would advocate for splitting the (non-traditional) family up over the (traditional) elderly couple.

 

[RooFlyer]

That's what I am thinking too, it was handled badly and that has lead to the beat up as it stands now.

But it's interesting reading the comments here, the number of members who would advocate for splitting the (non-traditional) family up over the (traditional) elderly couple.

Maybe it's more about greater courtesy for seniors rather than the 'traditional' / 'non traditional' nature of the relationships?

 

[drron]

And why didn't the elderly couple check-in online or select their seats together days, weeks or months before the flight?

But you don't know that they didn't.We always have seats allocated together but at check in we have been separated more than once.So we will ask to be together at check in,the lounge and if needs be a polite request on the plane.On one occasion when we were separated at the time of seating the pax besides me recognised we were a couple and volunteered to swap before we asked.

 

[under the radar]

My final comment on this (I can hear the cheers already)
As a 'card carrying homosexual', I am embarrassed by how these ladies, (I won't say girls, as I will be accused of 'womanism' ), have diminished the true/legal meaning of homophobia. Sadly there are so many 'obias'/'isms' which some people 'pull out of the bag' when they don't get what they want. They have actually singlehandedly contributed to desensitizing society to the REAL causes of homophobia...and this applies to the misuse all the obias/isms. I could say them them...'grow some *****', but I would then be accused of sexism:shock: This is now the world we have created
I will now return to my hole

 

[Dr Ralph]

My final comment on this (I can hear the cheers already)
As a 'card carrying homosexual', I am embarrassed by how these ladies, (I won't say girls, as I will be accused of 'womanism' ), have diminished the true/legal meaning of homophobia. Sadly there are so many 'obias'/'isms' which some people 'pull out of the bag' when they don't get what they want. They have actually singlehandedly contributed to desensitizing society to the REAL causes of homophobia...and this applies to the misuse all the obias/isms. I could say them them...'grow some *****', but I would then be accused of sexism:shock: This is now the world we have created
I will now return to my hole

Indeed, their behaviour is embarrassing. Clearly the issue had been dealt with yet they sought to try to promote their own agenda.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Indeed, their behaviour is embarrassing. Clearly the issue had been dealt with yet they sought to try to promote their own agenda.

They really do creat their own problems don't they!
If only they would just be quiet and discreet and not flaunt their sexuality in public then no-one would discriminate against them or bash them to death.
Just like straight people keep their sexuality to themselves rather than constantly shoving it in our faces down our throats and onto our television screens.

 

[TheRealTMA]

They really do creat their own problems don't they!
If only they would just be quiet and discreet and not flaunt their sexuality in public then no-one would discriminate against them or bash them to death.
Just like straight people keep their sexuality to themselves rather than constantly shoving it in our faces down our throats and onto our television screens.

I don't think it's really their sexuality that's the issue. That's the headline grabbing leader but seems to be it's their parental DIKWIA status and simple lack of civility and humility that's the real issue. After all they were not separated, AND they got rewarded with a whole bunch of FF points (apparently) for their rant. Wonder if the 'old' folk also got FF points?

 

[mannej]

Whilst the situation wasn't handled particularly well, am I the only one who thinks by throwing terms around such as Homophobic and discrimination, it dilutes the publics perception for when actual cases do occur?

 

[esseeeayeenn]

I don't think it's really their sexuality that's the issue. That's the headline grabbing leader but seems to be it's their parental DIKWIA status and simple lack of civility and humility that's the real issue. After all they were not separated, AND they got rewarded with a whole bunch of FF points (apparently) for their rant. Wonder if the 'old' folk also got FF points?

No, discrimination is precisely the issue.
The crew clearly acted on the assumption that two women and a child were not a "real" family whereas a straight couple without children were.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

You will be far from the only one.
There are lots of straight people in this forum.

 

[incumbent]

There are lots of straight people in this forum.

And also plenty of gay people who don't necessarily agree with everything every single gay person does or says.

 

[JohnK]

That's what I am thinking too, it was handled badly and that has lead to the beat up as it stands now.

But it's interesting reading the comments here, the number of members who would advocate for splitting the (non-traditional) family up over the (traditional) elderly couple.

Which comments? I don't think anyone said the family of 3 were not entitled to sit together across an aisle.

I don't think it's right to expect someone to move from their pre-aĺlocated seat because someone wants to sit together. Most excuses are poor excuses including families wanting to sit together (yes you should have paid $20 / person per flight to secure a seat instead of waiting for check-in), op-ups (be thankful and take what you can can get), missed connection (you missed original flight and you have been given last 2 seats on next flight, you seriously want to sit together at last minute as well?), delayed flights etc. You will still survive if you don't sit together.

And remember when asking to be seated together ask for the worst possible seats out of the seats you have been allocated as there is a much better chance of someone wanting to go forward in cabin not backwards.

 

[RooFlyer]

You will be far from the only one.
There are lots of straight people in this forum.

Sounds 'straightist' to me . (Just kidd'n)

 

[under the radar]

They really do creat their own problems don't they!
If only they would just be quiet and discreet and not flaunt their sexuality in public then no-one would discriminate against them or bash them to death.
Just like straight people keep their sexuality to themselves rather than constantly shoving it in our faces down our throats and onto our television screens.

I apologize I said I wouldn't post on this topic again....BUT YOU ARE MAKING AN ILL THOUGHT CONNECTION BETWEEN THIS TOPIC AND GAY BASHING...AND I AM SPEAKING AS A GUY WHO HAS BEEN BASHED JUST WALKING TO MY CAR AFTER A NIGHT OUT ...WHILST THE PERPETRATORS TOLD ME THEY WHERE BASHING ME BECAUSE I WAS A fa_GOT...FOR ****S SAKE...IT IS JUST A SEAT CHANGE REQUEST GONE AWRY!!! AND TO CALL IT A HOMOPHOBIC ATTACK JUST INSULTS ME AND OTHERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE LEGAL DEFINITION OF HOMOPHOBIC ATTACKS...AND YES I AM SHOUTING!!

 

[esseeeayeenn]

I made no such direct connection.
I am sorry if my wry humour was too subtle or obscure.

 

[TheRealTMA]

I apologize I said I wouldn't post on this topic again....BUT YOU ARE MAKING AN ILL THOUGHT CONNECTION BETWEEN THIS TOPIC AND GAY BASHING...AND I AM SPEAKING AS A GUY WHO HAS BEEN BASHED JUST WALKING TO MY CAR AFTER A NIGHT OUT ...WHILST THE PERPETRATORS TOLD ME THEY WHERE BASHING ME BECAUSE I WAS A fa_GOT...FOR ****S SAKE...IT IS JUST A SEAT CHANGE REQUEST GONE AWRY!!! AND TO CALL IT A HOMOPHOBIC ATTACK JUST INSULTS ME AND OTHERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE LEGAL DEFINITION OF HOMOPHOBIC ATTACKS...AND YES I AM SHOUTING!!

There's no need to shout. Calm and rational argument will get you further than trying to over talk others.

 

[samh004]

I apologize I said I wouldn't post on this topic again....

Personal experience aside, and removing all homophobic, heterophobic and ageist issues from the argument, I think the point is they were told one seat had been changed (not asked to move, mind you) in the lounge. They argued their point and received their original seat back. After takeoff, the CSM then set in and asked why they had taken the elderly ladies seat, demanding (allegedly) to see their boarding passes, and when confronted with irrefutable evidence (a boarding pass), instead of apologising for suggesting they had taken the wrong seat, turning and walking away.

If you stop, again remember that we're not even talking about sexual orientation here, just accusations of taking someones seat and then not apologising when your statement is found to be wrong... does that sound like the level of service you would expect on Qantas? Does that sound like the level of service you'd expect in Business Class? If your answer is yes, that you'd like to be accused of taking someone else's seat, then when you prove you haven't have the staff member just walk off, like they didn't accuse you of something in front of the rest of the cabin, that you want that level of service on board your flights... then we clearly have different standards. I'd prefer on my flights not to have rude staff, making me feel bad for doing nothing wrong. It's not like you can ask for them to replaced with someone else when you're trapped in a pressurised tube with them.

 

[TonyHancock]

Personal experience aside, and removing all homophobic, heterophobic and ageist issues from the argument,

..and let's not even get started on the DYKWIAism that is out there.

 

[burmans]

The thing is, why does the elderly couple need to seat together? By analogy, if someone asks me nicely to do something, should I feel guilty if I say no?

This is a good point, when we flew back from Thailand my wife and I were asked to move so a family could be together, my wife's attitude was somewhat similar that we had chosen our seats some time ago and why was their desire to be together worth more than our desire.

I would possibly have moved but she is right, you can ask but you shouldn't expect your preferences to trump someone else's. We declined and Thai did not push it (at least not with us).