“They sold our seats while the gate was still open.”
Iggy Azalea took aim at American Airlines on social media after she and her 1-year-old son, Onyx, were apparently left “stranded” in Miami International Airport without their luggage over the weekend.
The rapper put AA on blast in a series of tweets shared soon after the incident, and said she hoped to warn other families about using the airline to travel with young children.
“I wanted to tell any families booking travel be careful flying with young kids on @AmericanAir,” she wrote in the first of several messages posted on Twitter. “I was flying with my son and they sold our seats while the gate was still open then refused to take our bags off the plane although every other flight was sold out for that night.”
I wanted to tell any families booking travel be careful flying with young kids on @AmericanAir I was flying with my son & they sold our seats while the gate was still open then refused to take our bags off the plane although every other flight was sold out for that night. 1/2
@IGGYAZALEA / Via Twitter: @IGGYAZALEA
“I explained why stranding me is one thing but taking a [baby’s] luggage is pretty shit,” Iggy continued. “There’s stuff he really needs. They do not care. Lucky I booked a different airline but the average person would’ve been ass out and fucked [so I] just wanted to warn other moms … Be careful!”
I explained why stranding me is one thing but taking a babies luggage is pretty shit. There’s stuff he really needs. They do not care. lucky I booked a different airline but the average person would’ve been ass out and fucked i so just wanted to warn other moms… Be careful!
@IGGYAZALEA / Via Twitter: @IGGYAZALEA
A handful of Iggy’s followers replied to her tweet with similar stories about traveling with kids on major US airlines, including American. “They stranded me and my son in Texas with our bags sent to our final destination,” one person said. “I feel you I was pissed.”
Denise Truscello / WireImage via Getty Images
A comment from American Airlines’ official Twitter account was among the replies to Iggy’s original thread. “We love having families travel with us and would like to dig a little more into what happened,” the company said. “Please DM us to verify your record locator.”
Denise Truscello / WireImage via Getty Images
As it turned out, Iggy had contacted American Airlines via DM already. “No need to dig into anything,” she wrote back. “Me and other families have shared our apparently very common experiences.” The artist then shared a screenshot of two direct messages that she sent to American Airlines on Sunday afternoon, explaining the situation.
No need to dig into anything Me & other families have shared our apparently VERY common experiences of your airline selling kids seats after check in, leaving families stranded, refusing to give back luggage etc. just peep the thread – it’s very on brand for you apparently! 🤷️ https://t.co/8gGGNaG0Ca
@IGGYAZALEA / Via Twitter: @IGGYAZALEA
“I’m stranded with an infant and no luggage in another city,” one of the messages read. “I’m extremely annoyed and feel this was handled very unprofessionally and without any care or compassion. I would like someone to please be in contact ASAP to discuss further and rectify the event. Thank you.”
@IGGYAZALEA / Via Twitter: @IGGYAZALEA
The airline hasn’t yet responded publicly to this tweet.
Losing seats on a scheduled flight, plus access to most personal items, while traveling with small children sounds like a nightmare. But it’s actually a long-held practice, called “bumping,” that most major airlines use to manage aircraft capacity.
Chicago Tribune / TNS via Getty Images
Bumping — when passengers are denied boarding involuntarily — is legal. It happens because airlines often overbook flights to avoid missed revenues in case some passengers don’t show up as planned.
Daniel Slim / AFP via Getty Images
While the Department of Transportation technically stipulates that bumped passengers receive written notice of their itinerary switch, it doesn’t require airlines to remove those passengers’ checked luggage from the plane.
You can read more about overbooking, involuntary boarding denials, and which airlines do it most here.
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