An Arkansas woman says Spirit Airlines kicked her son and husband off a flight Monday because the four year old, who’s non-verbal with autism, wasn’t wearing a mask.
Callie Kimball told CBS Little Rock affiliate KTVH-TV Carter Kimball “had a medical note from his physician stating that he’s exempt from wearing masks because whenever he wears a mask he holds his breath or he starts freaking out and he will harm himself.”
Callie said her family flew on Spirit to visit family in Las Vegas Friday without a problem. But Spirit wouldn’t them stay on the return flight, which had a stopover in Dallas, even though her husband showed the plane’s crew members the note.
“He has a disability. It’s protected under the American Disability Act and they go, ‘No no no. Autism’s not a disability. He has to wear a mask or he has to get off the plane.'”
Spirit told KTVH it issued a refund but the hang-up appeared to be the time it takes credit card issuers to credit the funds.
Spirit also said, “Our existing policy does not provide for medical exemptions, regardless of diagnosis. Our team members explained this to a family traveling today, but never questioned anyone’s medical status in the process.
“Starting March 19, 2021, guests with a medical disability who are traveling on or after March 22, 2021 can apply for an exemption as provided for in the federal mandate requiring masks in airports and on planes.”
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16 Responses
Wait a minute, these people aren’t Jewish
I thought the narrative was the airlines are being anti Semitic
Coffee Addict: Seems like they (Spirit) are Anti-Semites, Anti-Autism, Anti-Everything
Maybe the only thing they love is their own inflated ego, but soon will come their demise.
They are an airline possessed by some evil spirit: who would wish to fly with the devil! I guess for a cheap ticket people fly with the devil!
Anti-autistic
So theyre not ALWAYS anti semitic.
Sometimes theyre just plain evil.
No, they are being arrogant and stupid. Sadly, this cheapo airline has an extensive track record for poor service and nasty staff. I would push for a boycott, but as a penny airline, they will get customers. But I would advocate for lawsuits against them, and push for major money. Bankruptcy for this lousy organization would be a public service.
I agree that in this case (a 4 YO with Autism) an exception may have been OK but otherwise, it makes no sense to simply exempt those with a “doctor’s note” from the mask requirement. For adults, it would expose other passengers not yet vaccinated to an infection risk the mask requirement is meant to reduce. Those who cannot wear masks should simply not fly or be required to get a rapid Covid test prior to boarding to show they are not infected.
Call 1800DISCRIMINATION
I heard it was a set up so they don’t look Anti-Semitic
They’re pretty horrible also cheap, pick your poison
Clearly the airline mistakenly thought these people were Jewish. Why else would they harass them and kick them off the plane?! It’s obvious.
For all those people advocating to boycott Spirit or to litigate them into bankruptcy:
Spirit literally saves me and many, many, other Yidden, thousands of dollars every year on air travel.
For example, I have tickets to spend Pesach with family for only about $35 each round trip. BH, we have to buy a large number of tickets. Over the past decade, we have flown probably around 40 round trips as a family, all on Spirit.
As I posted elsewhere on YWN, I’ve never had a problem with any of their staff. I’ve actually only witnessed one instance of someone who did, and that person was clearly wrong, and clearly not Jewish.
Were it not for Spirit’s cheap fares, I would almost never get to see most of my family, and my children would almost never get to see their grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins. Many Yidden would see their business expenses rise exponentially, and some would have to either relocate or close their businesses.
Seen from this perspective, Spirit is a huge supporter of the Frum community. In your thoughtless reactionary arrogance, you are trying to hurt the finances of hundreds (perhaps thousands) of Yidden.
@gadolhadorah, it is very discriminatory to suggest that someone who cannot wear a mask because of his medical condition, shouldn’t fly. and yes, most airlines require people with exemptions to test or have antibodies, i dont know whether thats the policy on spirit
catch yourself – so let me understand you, if a Nazi owned appliance store with fantastic prices is saving Yidden thousands of dollars – we should consider this store a friend and throw our support; if a clothing manufacturer supports radical muslim terrorist attacks but sells their clothes very cheap and saves large families a fortune in clothing, we should consider them ” a huge supporter of the Frum community”! That is exactly your point about Spirit and it makes no sense.
@catch yourself, I think you need to calm down a bit and actually catch yourself.