Pastor: Youth Group Barred From Flight Over Check-in Delays
A Kentucky pastor says his youth group was barred from an American Airlines flight for their mission trip over a check-in delay.
William Davis, the youth pastor at Clays Mill Road Baptist Church in Lexington, posted a detailed recap to the American Airlines Facebook page.
Davis says that American Airlines handled the situation poorly from start to finish, including check-in and ticketing. The gate agent reportedly sealed the airplane doors with the 40 passengers missing. Davis says they were only three minutes late to the gate.
Davis lays the blame on the airlines.
“I want them to admit that it was their fault,” Davis says. “We were just trying to get there to do something for the Lord. Their mistake hindered our trip.”
Davis says the group spent years saving and fundraising for the trip only to shell out more money because they airline has thus far refused to accept responsibility.
“We are aware of the issue, and our customer relations team has reached out to Mr. Davis to obtain additional details of what transpired at the airport. Our [Cincinnati airport] team is also reviewing these allegations. We never want to disrupt our customers’ travel plans, and we are sorry for the trouble this caused. The group was rebooked on a flight the next day,” American Airlines says in a statement to Fox News.
Davis says he is awaiting the airline’s response.