Awkward Jetstar pregnancy bungle

[haydensydney]

Awkward Jetstar Pregnancy Bungle | flymefunky.com

Kelsey Hughes, a 21 year old from Christchurch, was bitterly humiliated in front of other passengers whilst boarding her flight to Christchurch when a crew member accused her of being pregnant.

As the unwitting passenger approached the aircraft, a male flight attendant yelled “Excuse me, ma’am, do you have a medical certificate to fly?” . Apparently the passenger then said “No, why?” to which he replied “You need a medical certificate to fly with your pregnancy”.

How embarrassing!

 

[lovestotravel]

It was a mistake I assume and "yelled" I doubt it....

If she was so embarrassed why make it public ?

1 second of fame wanted no doubt

 

[anat0l]

I thought etiquette dictates that one should never ask a woman if she is pregnant. You either know, find out or say nothing.

Certainly if a man assumes incorrectly that a woman is pregnant, then the woman has the reserved right to slap him.

OTOH what due diligence would JQ need to clear by ensuring certain pregnant women have a medical certificate for air travel?

Sent from my GT-I9300 using AustFreqFly

 

[Katie]

I was fairly discretely asked at the SATS J checkin desk in SIN if I was pregnant when we returned to Aus from our "babymoon" a few years ago. When I confirmed I was, I was asked for a doctor's certificate/note confirming that I could fly. I told him I was only 22 or whatever weeks it was, and didn't need a doctor's note until later in the pregnancy.

I agree that it would be much better to first enquire as to whether a woman is perhaps pregnant, rather than assuming.

I guess pregnant women in Singapore have smaller bellies than what I had at that stage ...

 

[mannej]

This article has made it to nonews, however there are no mentions of the fact that the flight attendant yelled at her, merely stating he asked her.

If she is so embarrassed about it, why has she chosen to go public about it?

The point that really sticks out at me, is that perhaps check-in is the best place for these questions to be asked, so perhaps a review of the policy and training from JQ?

 

[whatmeworry]

The flight attendant muttered “Oh. Really? Oops. Sorry!” and then pranced away as if it was anything. Charming. And if that wasn’t enough, poor Ms Hughes had to sit on an aircraft with the crass Flight Attendant for the rest of the flight – apparently he didn’t make eye contact. “I was not impressed” she said.

Mmmm he then pranced away. lol Quite hard to prance about on a plane!

From the little photo, she looks like she might be a little over weight, but of course we can't see her lower half.

 

[haydensydney]

If it happened to me, I would've been pissed and also sent it out to the media outlets.It's rude, crass and could've been handled more discreetly (e.g. Pulling her aside an having a quiet word with her). Actually, the entire policy needs a review - afterall, going off a hunch that someone might be pregnant is doomed to fail. And end up a PR disaster perhaps?

 

[whatmeworry]

Wait just found a full length photo of her. Not sure what the FA was smoking, but there is no way she could be mistaken for being pregnant.

 

[samh004]

What is the cutoff at which you need a note from a doctor? Not that I'm planning on getting pregnant, but I've never seen this mentioned, and I guess, wouldn't be looking for it, but didn't even realise there'd be an issue.

 

[mannej]

If it happened to me, I would've been pissed and also sent it out to the media outlets.It's rude, crass and could've been handled more discreetly (e.g. Pulling her aside an having a quiet word with her). Actually, the entire policy needs a review - afterall, going off a hunch that someone might be pregnant is doomed to fail. And end up a PR disaster perhaps?

I don't think that the policy is doomed to fail. If there are risks to flying whilst pregnant, then JQ should have policies in place on it. As I have mentioned before, it seems that a tweak is in needed.

My other question is, what do you gain by sending it to the media. Surely if you were so embarrassed by it, wouldn't a letter to JQ management would be much more appropriate?

 

[mannej]

What is the cutoff at which you need a note from a doctor? Not that I'm planning on getting pregnant, but I've never seen this mentioned, and I guess, wouldn't be looking for it, but didn't even realise there'd be an issue.

I believe it is 28 Weeks.

 

[whatmeworry]

What is the cutoff at which you need a note from a doctor? Not that I'm planning on getting pregnant, but I've never seen this mentioned, and I guess, wouldn't be looking for it, but didn't even realise there'd be an issue.

From another article.

Under Jetstar policy, passengers who are more than 28 weeks pregnant are required to carry a letter from a doctor or midwife declaring them fit to fly.

Read more: Passenger 'absolutely humiliated' by Jetstar pregnancy query
​

 

[whatmeworry]

I don't think that the policy is doomed to fail. If there are risks to flying whilst pregnant, then JQ should have policies in place on it. As I have mentioned before, it seems that a tweak is in needed.

My other question is, what do you gain by sending it to the media. Surely if you were so embarrassed by it, wouldn't a letter to JQ management would be much more appropriate?

These days it seems if you want some resolution from a company you need to use media/social media, especially in the case of the low cost carriers.

However in this case, I feel she is probably fishing for more then an apology, whether it be compensation or her 15 minutes of fame.

 

[samh004]

I believe it is 28 Weeks.

From another article.

Is this a standard length of time across many airlines, or does it vary a lot?

Agree with other posters, FA should have been more discrete, though I can see why she went to the media, as I doubt JQ would have offered anything in compensation anyway, based on past performances we've all read about. Easier to smear in this case.

[-]Though she clearly let her anger cloud her judgement by suggesting he pranced, which calls into question everything else[/-]

 

[haydensydney]

Sam - prancing was added by me for dramatic effect in the article, not Ms Hughes

 

[samh004]

Sam - prancing was added by me for dramatic effect in the article, not Ms Hughes

Ahh, good to know

 

[mannej]

Honestly, is it worth compensation?

 

[samh004]

Honestly, is it worth compensation?

It's worth an apology, but hasn't really impacted her I don't think, though I'm sure she could find a psychologist/psychiatrist who will testify differently

Completely different to say, being told you can't sit next to a child because they're implying you're a child molester, which could require more than "sorry".

 

[lovestotravel]

Sam - prancing was added by me for dramatic effect in the article, not Ms Hughes

Are you suggesting the cabin crew member was... You know....not that there is anything wrong with that*

*Seinfeld reference

 

[mannej]

It's worth an apology, but hasn't really impacted her I don't think, though I'm sure she could find a psychologist/psychiatrist who will testify differently

Completely different to say, being told you can't sit next to a child because they're implying you're a child molester, which could require more than "sorry".

Totally agreed.