First-class American Airlines passenger complains of racial discrimination, saying she was made to use economy bathroom

Pete Syme
·2 min read
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First-class American Airlines passenger complains of racial discrimination, saying she was made to use economy bathroom

  • Pamela Hill-Veal was flying first class from Chicago to Phoenix in February.

  • The retired judge told NPR a flight attendant made her use the bathroom in economy.

  • She alleged he also falsely accused her of hitting him and threatened her with arrest.

A retired judge has alleged that she was subject to racial discrimination while flying first class with American Airlines.

Pamela Hill-Veal was traveling with her family from Chicago to Phoenix back in February. In a complaint seen by NPR, she said that after she visited the bathroom, a flight attendant stopped her and accused her of slamming the door.

"He began to berate me by pointing his finger at me towards my face and saying, 'I told you not to slam the door ... so from now on, you are to use the restroom in the back of the plane' while he pointed in the direction of the restroom in coach," she told NPR.

Hill-Veal, who is Black, told NPR she believes the incident was racially motivated because white passengers used the same first-class bathroom without incident.

The most shocking allegation is said to have occurred when Hill-Veal used the bathroom for a third time, about half an hour before landing.

She told the outlet the same flight attendant followed her back to her seat, began to touch her, and said she would be arrested upon landing.

The complaint seen by NPR says the flight attendant told her she would be arrested because he "didn't like the way [she] talked to him." It also reportedly adds that he accused Hill-Veal of hitting him.

"This was a complete fabrication as I told him that I never hit him," she told NPR.

Hill-Veal's case is notable given that she was flying in first class, a step above even business class. It isn't clear how much she paid for her ticket — but looking at prices on the same route for next month, first class costs $670 compared to $100 in coach.

American Airlines did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

It told NPR: "We strive to ensure that every customer has a positive travel experience, and we take all claims of discrimination very seriously."

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