Breastfeeding Mom Barred from Plane Prompts Policy Change for US Airways

A new mother’s flap with US Airways over bringing a breast pump onboard a flight out of Orlando International Airport Monday has resulted in a policy change for the commercial carrier.

It seems Carolyn Bonaventura was told there wasn’t enough room in overhead containers for her to bring the carry-on that contained the pump, CBS reported.

Bonaventura, a mother of a 10-month-old, was traveling alone on business, but said the pump was needed for her layover in Charlotte. She maintained the pump was like any other medical device and questioned what would have happened if it had been a cane or oxygen tank, CBS noted.

As Bonaventura objected to checking the pump she uses every four hours, an airline attendant let a person on standby take her seat, Click Orlando reported.

“He shut the door to the airplane and the door to the terminal was also shut so I was locked inside the jetway,” Bonaventura told the station.

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While she was able to board a different flight, Bonaventura didn’t let the issue drop and opted to reach out to media for a resolution.

She got one.

US Airways has apologized to Bonaventura, WFTV reported. It is also changing its policy in regard to breast pumps, the station reported.

The airline has requested approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to revise its policy to not count pumps against a passenger’s allotment of one carry-on and one personal item, Click Orlando reported.

As for Bonaventura, she’s pleased with the outcome.

“I am impressed with how quickly they handled the situation,” Click Orlando quoted her as saying.

Image via Shutterstock

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