Southwest Airlines seems to have affection for making headlines by removing Muslim passengers from their flights, this time it involves a woman who asked her male seatmates to change seats due to her religion.
The lady was seated in a middle seat between two male passengers and she inquired directly with them short after which the flight attendant instructed her to leave the aircraft.
What’s up with all these muslim related incidents on Southwest? Compared to other airlines they really have an above average rate of booting passengers off their airplanes based on their faith or related appearance.
New York Daily News (access here) wrote about it earlier today.
A Muslim Maryland woman claims she was kicked off a Southwest flight after she asked to switch seats because of her religious beliefs.
Hakima Abdulle of Takoma Park was flying from Washington, D.C., to Seattle Wednesday when she was seated between two men after a layover in Chicago, her husband, Abukar Fidaw, told WJLA.
The devout Muslim, who is from Somalian descent and was wearing a hijab, felt uncomfortable sitting between two people of the opposite sex, so she asked another passenger to trade seats. The other flyer agreed, but a flight attendant confronted Abdulle before she could move to the new spot, Fidaw said.
“She tried to sit but (the flight attendant) said, ‘You are not going to sit. You have to leave the airplane,’” Abukar Fidaw said. Humiliated, Abdulle left the plane as instructed. She was booked onto another flight later that day. …
Southwest told local media that the staffer followed proper procedures but did not elaborate on what led the flight attendant to ask Abdulle to leave.
Except there was something going on the multiple news outlets haven’t figured out yet I’d be seriously interested what ‘procedure’ Southwest is referring to when they say their crew member acted correctly.
Unless it’s indeed modus operandi for the airline to go after Muslim Passengers as The Economist reported in November last year (see here).
Conclusion
Again, there might be something missing but as far as the reports go the lady asked her seatmates directly and they appeared to be ok with the change. Even though I can’t imagine anyone being happy about flying cross country from D.C. to Seattle in a middle seat but that’s an entirely different matter.
Not sure what the flight attendant has to do with this or what brought this matter to her attention in the first place. Seems to be just another ‘out of control’ flight attendant who would better be reassigned to clean the gate area of some airport or even better anywhere without direct customer contact.
your last sentence was spot on. she should not be allowed to interact with humans – in general (let alone passengers).
your last sentence was far from ‘spot on’. in fact, for someone who professes airline understanding, it was a ridiculous summation, before the facts are known. there is so much more here to be known.
Agreed. Yet another example of juvenile “journalism” from a supposed travel blog that seems to be more interested in political statements than actually providing anything useful to travelers.
Yet another example of juvenile “criticism” from someone who complains to boost their sense of self worth.
Don’t like the blog – don’t read it.
Seems that there is a lot of that type of journalism that interjects personal feelings (with nothing said to back it up) on this blog.
You’re right about that. The blog’s stated mission is “Making sense of travel loyalty programs”. I’m not exactly sure how this article helps anyone to “make sense of travel loyalty programs”.
It lets you know SWA isn’t too PC. Good. Sick of Mus lims dictating to us. I don’t want to sit by them either, but I do if assigned. Get on with it.
Unfortunately, I don’t have much sympathy with the passenger. Aircraft are a mode of public transport and surely she knew there would be a likelihood of being sat next to someone that she did not wish to.
I just feel there is more to the story than what is being told.
Imagine the outrage if we suggested designating seats for ‘Christians only’ or ‘women only areas, but it seems that Muslim passengers are wanting such a policy.
Sorry……..take your designated seat or get off.
Wow there really aren’t designated seats on SW
1. Southwest is 100% open seating and F/As don’t really have authority to intervene with passengers switching seats and for frequent WN passengers, seat swaps are nothing unusual! The only situation that the F/A can intervene is exit row seating!
2. Since the passenger was not arrested or being charged, she has not committed any crime!
3. Too many airline staffs are on power trips and use air safety to disguise their Islamphobia and other forms of discrimination! There is not enough done to protect the passengers’ rights too!
Since you were NOT there and you do NOT have ALL the FACTS, how do you know why she was asked to leave the aircraft? Or, are you just accepting what was written here as the who truth and nothing but the truth without pertinent facts being presented?
Just a simple fact: if the female passenger, who complained about the incident was asked to leave, this would be in the news. It was obvious that she went to Oakland on that flight.
Sometimes do you need all the facts to make a judgement call? In this situation, everyone was obviously never going to be able to see the whole pictures, but I still think we have enough facts to make a judgement call. Obviously we both did. I stood by my statements based on what I have read. Southwest Airlines released a statement today and I am sure you can read it. Ultimately both passengers spoke Arabic, but the crews, who did not speak the language, chose to side with the female passenger. Most importantly FBI has cleared the “victim” in this case of any wrongdoing. FBI basically said that we cleared the passenger and had no more comment. But Southwest still refused to carry the “victim” to Oakland.
I am still waiting for Southwest to issue an apology. Plus FAA and DOT need to begin looking into how cockpit crews with no law enforcement training are able to make such a strong judgement call with no consequence.
Something more to the story. When was the last time you were “seated” on a SW Flight? She chose the seat. Already a slanted story as it sounds like she was forced to sit in that seat. Only if it were the last one on the plane.
With open seating, how can you even expect to “get to pick your seatmate”? I am just happy each time it is not someone that spills over or forgot to take a shower at the gym.
I am tired of the expectation for a higher level of service than paid. Middle seat on SW means you bought the cheapest ticket and were one of the last to board. You get what you get. Next time pay for early boarding and get aisle/window.
But, she did not want to sit next to a male passenger. On an airline such as Southwest, that is hard to get as you only get one seat out of three. Or, pay for three seats and not have to worry!
Even flying with other airlines with reserved seating, one does not know in advance who his/her seatmates will be, do they (unless two or three of you are traveling together)?
Simply unacceptable behavior of that muslim passenger. I’m getting allergic on muslims selfish behavior. Who of us is so pushy and presents publicly his/her religion? No one just muslims. They treat themselves as bellybutton of the world, no kne just them. Good they kick her out. Next time she will shut her mouth up, though I doubt it.
Bingo! I’m sick of them too.
Anyone wanting to switch seats does it after the plane takes off not during the chaos of boarding and it has been like that for Muslims and non Muslims for eons. Yes the FA gets testy when people clog the aisles. She obviously refused to take her seat.
So you blame the airline because she didn’t work out her seating before she boarded ? Just because she is Muslim is no excuse.
Most of these Muslim stories are crap – like the woman with the pop can on the u tied flight – there is not one other passenger who told the story like she did – it is mostly crap same here because if I did what she did I would be told the same – and if I refused to sit down I too would be kicked off.
So why make this a story ?
They make it a story because imagined victimhood and faux “outrage” create great click-bait for bloggers.
Excellent summation Dave. These muslims now are complaining and complaining about their religious crap. Hey don’t fly or buy the row. This blogger has really gotten off track of his post. I am sure this “devout ” muslim was disrespectful and confrontational. Only more of this crap to follow. Our illustrious President wants to bring 100,000 of them to our country before he leaves.
Yeah, I too due to my own highly held beliefs for comfort as a male man do not want to sit in the middle seat between two large slobs in tank tops, shorts and flip flops. Sorry, if this is important to you buy early boarding, prepare properly or choose another airline. Ignorance or poor planning or cheapness on your part is no excuse.
If one has such strongly held religious beliefs, they need to buy an additional ticket (plus “Early Bird Checkin” for Southwest flights) like some overweight passengers do. That way they don’t have to worry about anyone sitting next to them or inconveniencing other passengers to satisfy their personal discomfort.
Excellent idea. Next they will want male or female passengers only flights. 🙁
I like how the story says she is a “devout” Muslim. As if they have a clue what type of Muslim she is. Many Muslims believe a “devout” female Muslim doesn’t’ leave the house unless covered head to toe, much less travel alone on an airplane.
“Unless there was something going on the multiple news outlets haven’t figured out yet…” You mean the multiple news outlets that did the same thing you did, just essentially copy and paste from the original source with no attempt whatsoever to gather additional information, yet blather on about what you think happened? Clown shoes bro. You’re wearing a giant pair of clown shoes. You are for CAIR what is commonly referred to as a “useful idiot.”
I needed a goof laugh today! Thanks.
Just pandering on the part of this blogger. Nobody really cares about their crap. Stick to real travel stories. Good post Dave.
I’m afraid John and Sebastian see a new opportunity here, hence these recent posts about Muslim discrimination laying the groundwork. In their obsessive quest to wring a few extra compensation points out of every single hotel or flight booking, I fully expect them to start donning burqas in the hopes of being discriminated against so they can use that angle to extract more undeserved points.
All you all should take your Klan meeting elsewhere.
The only meetings you need to worry about are the Weight Watchers meetings you’ve been missing the last few months.
Good! Nice job SWA!
I have traded seats a number of times. If two passengers agreed to change seats, the Cabin Crew should not do anything at all. This Southwest Cabin Crew’s involvement is a complete failure to service their customers correctly. She should be reprimanded and retrained. Terrible Customer Service!