Erin Wright, a 24-year-old TikToker, shares her bewildering experience of being banned from American Airlines for a claim related to misconduct she did not commit.
Erin Wright, a 24-year-old TikToker, recently faced an unsettling experience while attempting to travel with American Airlines. Arriving at the airport to catch a flight to New Orleans for her sister’s bachelorette party, Wright encountered significant confusion at the check-in process. Initially believing there was a technical glitch, her concern escalated when, after seeking assistance, she was informed by an employee that she had been permanently banned from flying with the airline.
In a conversation with “MotorBiscuit,” Wright recounted the moment she was told, “Ma’am, I’m really sorry to tell you this, but you’ve actually been banned from flying American Airlines.” The agent explained that it was a matter related to internal security, but added, “the person on the phone told me that you should know why.” Wright expressed her bewilderment, stating, “I was like, what? I’ve never done anything.”
With her original plans thwarted, Wright found herself needing to book a last-minute ticket with another airline, which cost her $1,000. “So I quickly booked myself another $1,000 round-trip flight day-of,” she recalled, as she waited eight hours for the next flight. The incident left Wright frustrated, prompting her to contact customer service to find clarity on her ban.
The situation escalated when, twelve days later, American Airlines communicated the reason for her ban: “having sexual relations with a man on a flight while intoxicated.” Wright, who identifies as a lesbian, found the accusation amusing yet deeply perplexing. She expressed her disbelief, stating, “Let me tell you, I am a 24-year-old lesbian… Do you see me? Am I having sexual relations with any man? No.”
In an attempt to rectify the situation, she crafted a tongue-in-cheek email to the airline, humourously suggesting she could provide letters from acquaintances affirming her sexual orientation. Wright suspected a case of mistaken identity, as there appeared to be another individual with her name embroiled in a separate airline incident.
After several weeks of uncertainty, the airline eventually informed Wright that they believed the ban likely pertained to the wrong person. While the ban was eventually lifted, she was left with the $1,000 expense of her emergency flight. Wright noted, “They did refund me the $400 flight that I booked,” but expressed her frustration that they would not reimburse her for the higher amount, despite the circumstances being out of her control.
In a bid to address the financial hardship created by the airline’s actions, Wright took to TikTok to share her story, which gained significant traction and went viral, accumulating millions of views. “I made pretty much the exact amount that I lost, so American Airlines doesn’t even have to make it right,” she remarked.
Despite finding some financial relief through social media, Wright remains undeterred in pursuing potential complaints with the Department of Transportation or even considering small claims court against American Airlines. Her followers have encouraged her to persist in seeking additional recourse. In sharing her saga, Wright expressed gratitude to her audience, noting, “I’m just really grateful for all your help and for blowing that video up.” This unexpected turn of events illustrates the complex intersections of travel, identity, and corporate accountability in the digital age.
Source: Noah Wire Services
Image: Tik Tok @erin_wright