TUI is conducting an urgent internal investigation and retraining staff after a mum was banned from breastfeeding her baby on a flight ‘because it would make other passengers uncomfortable’.
Chelsea Williams was preparing to breastfeed her six-week-old baby ahead of the take-off of her flight to Almeria in Spain when a member of the cabin crew told her that feeding wasn’t allowed at that time.
She was told her baby had to be seated on her lap facing forward for take-off and landing.
Before boarding their return flight, her husband Thomas messaged TUI via its app to request clarification of its breastfeeding policy.
He was told in a message that even though there were no official restrictions on breastfeeding on flights, it was not recommended ‘because it could make other people uncomfortable’.
When Chelsea posted the message on Facebook, hundreds of other users called the policy ‘disgusting’ and ‘discriminatory’.
TUI has since apologised to the young mum and said it will retrain staff.
In a statement issued to Travel Gossip, TUI said: “We are really sorry for the distress caused to Ms Williams and her infant.
“As a family-friendly travel company we support breastfeeding on our flights at any time.
“We are currently conducting an urgent internal investigation and will be making sure that all colleagues are retrained on our breastfeeding-friendly policy.”
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Chelsea Williams was preparing to breastfeed her six-week-old baby ahead of the take-off of her flight to Almeria in Spain when a member of the cabin crew told her that feeding wasn’t allowed at that time.
She was told her baby had to be seated on her lap facing forward for take-off and landing.
Before boarding their return flight, her husband Thomas messaged TUI via its app to request clarification of its breastfeeding policy.
He was told in a message that even though there were no official restrictions on breastfeeding on flights, it was not recommended ‘because it could make other people uncomfortable’.
When Chelsea posted the message on Facebook, hundreds of other users called the policy ‘disgusting’ and ‘discriminatory’.
TUI has since apologised to the young mum and said it will retrain staff.
In a statement issued to Travel Gossip, TUI said: “We are really sorry for the distress caused to Ms Williams and her infant.
“As a family-friendly travel company we support breastfeeding on our flights at any time.
“We are currently conducting an urgent internal investigation and will be making sure that all colleagues are retrained on our breastfeeding-friendly policy.”
The post TUI conducts urgent investigation after mum banned from breastfeeding on flight appeared first on Travel Gossip.
Continue reading...
