MrsSpringsteen
Blue Crack Addict
Sounds to me like they are in clear violation of the law, I don't know the CA law but just based on what is stated here. How could the airline not know that is discrimination?
PlanetOut Network Sat Feb 11, 8:01 PM ET
Northwest Airlines took heat from the ACLU on Thursday for refusing to honor award tickets that a gay couple in Los Angeles tried to use for a trip to Florida.
In a letter to Northwest, the legal advocacy group said the airline's action violated California's nondiscrimination laws.
Rob Anders, a longtime airline industry employee, won the tickets at a holiday party in December. When he tried to redeem the tickets for a trip with his registered domestic partner, the airline refused, saying it would only recognize a spouse, another airline employee or a dependent child as a suitable "companion" for the award ticket.
"What happened to Mr. Anders and his partner violates California law and is clearly discriminatory," said Christine P. Sun, ACLU of Southern California staff attorney. "We are asking that the company not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or marital status and honor Mr. Anders' ticket for him and a companion."
The ACLU cited the Unruh Civil Rights Act, which mandates "full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities, privileges or services in all business establishments of every kind whatsoever" without regard to sexual orientation or marital status.
Anders, 60, said he had been planning to use the tickets to see his 89-year-old mother in Florida until Northwest's refusal.
"I felt terrible," he said. "I thought what they were doing was unfair."
PlanetOut Network Sat Feb 11, 8:01 PM ET
Northwest Airlines took heat from the ACLU on Thursday for refusing to honor award tickets that a gay couple in Los Angeles tried to use for a trip to Florida.
In a letter to Northwest, the legal advocacy group said the airline's action violated California's nondiscrimination laws.
Rob Anders, a longtime airline industry employee, won the tickets at a holiday party in December. When he tried to redeem the tickets for a trip with his registered domestic partner, the airline refused, saying it would only recognize a spouse, another airline employee or a dependent child as a suitable "companion" for the award ticket.
"What happened to Mr. Anders and his partner violates California law and is clearly discriminatory," said Christine P. Sun, ACLU of Southern California staff attorney. "We are asking that the company not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or marital status and honor Mr. Anders' ticket for him and a companion."
The ACLU cited the Unruh Civil Rights Act, which mandates "full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities, privileges or services in all business establishments of every kind whatsoever" without regard to sexual orientation or marital status.
Anders, 60, said he had been planning to use the tickets to see his 89-year-old mother in Florida until Northwest's refusal.
"I felt terrible," he said. "I thought what they were doing was unfair."