United Airlines forced a California woman to change her plane seat in deference to the “cultural beliefs” of two men from Pakistan, CBS News reported.
Mary Campos said United gave away her pre-booked ticket because the two Pakistani men did not want to sit next to a female.
Campos, a frequent flier who’s a senior consultant in the oil and gas industry, told CBS that a gate agent gave her a new boarding pass before she went on the flight to Houston last Monday.
“He said, ‘This is your new seat,’” Campos said, “and I said, ‘Excuse me?’ And he said, ‘I don’t know how to tell you this.’”
She said she replied, “Yes?”
The agent responded, “The two gentlemen seated next to you have cultural beliefs that prevent them for sitting next to, talking to or communicating with females.”
Shocked, Campos said, “I thought I lived in a culture where females were equal to men.”
A company spokesperson wrote to CBS Los Angeles, in part: “We regret that Ms. Campos was unhappy with the handling of the seat assignments on her flight. United holds our employees to the highest standards of professionalism and has zero tolerance for discrimination.”
Campos was told the men were Pakistani monks who were wearing long orange shirts. Additionally, Campos said the female flight crew was not allowed to serve the men.