Breastfeeding At 35,000 Feet = High-Flying Controversyby Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger 15 Nov 2006 02:52 PM I've breastfed my child on numerous flights-have you? One woman did recently and claims she was kicked off her flight as a result. Now the mom from New Mexico has secured an attorney and has filed complaints against two airlines. According to news reports, Emily Gillette, a 27-year-old mother from Santa Fe, New Meixco, filed the complaint with the Vermont Human Rights Commission late last week against Delta Air Lines and Freedom Airlines. Freedom was operating the Delta flight Gillette was flying between Burlington and New York City. According to the complaint, last month, Gillette was discreetly breastfeeding her 22-month-old daughter as their flight prepared to leave Burlington International Airport. She said she was seated by the window in the next-to-last row, her husband was seated between her and the aisle and no part of her breast was showing. According to Gillette, a flight attendant tried to hand her a blanket and told her to cover up. She declined, telling the flight attendant she had a legal right to breastfeed her baby. Gillette's complaint goes on to say that moments later, a Delta ticket agent approached and said the flight attendant had asked that the family be removed from the flight. Gillette said she didn't want to make a scene so she disembarked from the plane. "It embarrassed me. That was my first reaction, which is a weird reaction for doing something so good for a child," Gillette told local news reporters. A Freedom spokesman said Gillette was asked to leave the flight after she declined the blanket. "A breast-feeding mother is perfectly acceptable on an aircraft, providing she is feeding the child in a discreet way," that doesn't bother others, said a spokesman for Phoenix-based Freedom. "She was asked to use a blanket just to provide a little more discretion, she was given a blanket, and she refused to use it, and that's all I know." Vermont state law allows a mother to breast-feed in public. Gillette's complaint was filed with the Vermont Human Rights Commission because it is responsible for investigating complaints and determining whether discrimination may have occurred. Personally, I'm not sure what to make of this case. It doesn't sound to me that Gillette made a scene. I have breastfed my child while sitting on an aisle seat (Gillette was breastfeeding in a window seat next to her husband who sat on the aisle seat) and not one person blinked an eye (at least not that I am aware of). I started breastfeeding under a blanket, but my daughter (who was not used to nursing under cover) quickly ripped it off. Then again, my flights were on average 9 hours or longer, so perhaps, the passengers who may have been offended by my breastfeeding deduced it was better for them to look away than to listen to my child wail for 9 hours. What do you think? Does it sound as though the flight attendant was a bit overzealous? Related Articles: Breastfeeding Mom vs. Toys R Us Flying with Children: Layover or Not? Traveling With Children-Learn From My Mistakes Tips To Remember When Traveling With Children A Place For Your Kids To Play Between Flights Learn more about Michele Cheplic  Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism. Relevanttravel tags User Comments  Valorie Delp (49340) 15 Nov 2006 05:03 PMYou beat me to this blog! ;-) I have had an issue once on an airline for a 4 hour flight. I do not accept blankets because, like you mentioned, my darling children would prefer to rip them off thus exposing more breast than if I just nurse! In my case I refused, pointed out that the law allowed for me to nurse (I don't know about Burlington but in NYC the law explicitly states "nipples may be showing" for the purpose of breastfeeding. (LOL--I always giggle at the thought of legistlators talking about nipples showing. ;-) As far as what to make of it--I think for me, it depends on what she is suing for. Is it an apology, her money back or what? They would have to reseat her on another plane since they paid for the ticket--would they not? I have to admit though I am curious. I have been breastfeeding for almost 8 years straight. (My oldest will be 8 in march). I've had 2 problems in which someone has actually approached me and told me to move. In both cases I've simply and calmly stated the law--and they've backed off. I am wondering why I've never gotten kicked out of anything? It seems to be happening all over the place!  Pattie Hughes (7652) 15 Nov 2006 06:58 PMI just read about this case. Making her get off the plane is clearly discrimination and in violation of the breastfeeding laws. Stories like this really bother me because I'm afraid they may discourage some new moms from breastfeeding. I breastfed my first daughter on airplanes, but not with this airline. The pediatrician told me to do it on take off and landing to protect her ears. I've never had anyone say anything to me at all. I'm not a huge fan of lawsuits, but I think she should sue. It may make them think twice and train their employees better in the future. People need to realize that feeding a child at the breast is the most natural thing in the world. It really sounds like she was discreet; she wasn't topless and her husband was between her and the aisle.  Michele Cheplic |
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