Jetstar has apologised after one of their staff asked a woman to provide a medical certificate to fly because he thought she was pregnant. Apparently, any pregnant woman flying while more than 28 weeks (7 months) pregnant is required to provide medical proof that she is ‘safe’ to fly.
Which is fine. If you’re pregnant. Which she wasn’t. At all.
Awkward.
This from the News Ltd:
Kelsey Hughes, 21, of Rangiora in New Zealand, says she was queuing to board her flight to Christchurch from Wellington when she was approached by the flight attendant after her ticket was scanned.
“He stopped and came over to me, holding up the whole queue, and said: Excuse me, ma’am, do you have a medical certificate to fly?’.
“I said: A medical certificate? No, why?’, and he said: You need a medical certificate to fly with your pregnancy.'”
Shocked, Ms Hughes explained she wasn’t expecting.
Ms Hughes told the Dominion Post she was “absolutely humiliated at the gate in front of god knows how many people”.
Jetstar’s flight policy mandates that passengers who are more than 28 weeks’ pregnant carry a doctor’s certificate declaring them able to fly.
A Jetstar spokesman apologised for any embarrassment caused to Ms Hughes.
If you’ve ever been asked if you were pregnant when you weren’t, you will feel Kelsey’s pain. If you’ve ever been the person asking, you’ll know it’s a hole that’s impossible to dig yourself out of. Journalist and broadcaster Kellie Connolly has been there and wrote about it for us here at Mamamia. She wrote….
I jumped in a taxi the other day after a TV appearance in the city. I thought I’d scrubbed up pretty well until the cabbie said, “You’re having a girl!”
“Sorry?’ I said with confusion.
“You’re having a girl, “he said with a huge confident grin.
“Actually I have three boys,” I said, still not understanding where he was going.
And then he dropped the clanger. “You’re pregnant, right?”
“Uh.. no.”
He suddenly looked panic stricken and turned a shade of violet before being saved by a call on his mobile phone.
I was more amused than upset, as I have never been fitter. So what little bump or shadow gave him the confidence to go THERE? To the place of no return. To the place that could easily land you with a slap on the face?