Woman Banned by American Airlines for Being Lesbian

Erin Wright, a 24-year-old TikTok user known as @erin_wright_, has gone viral after alleging that American Airlines permanently banned her from flying due to a misunderstanding involving her sexual orientation. In a video that has garnered over 2.6 million views, Wright recounted her experience of being denied boarding for a flight to New Orleans for her sister's bachelorette party, where a gate agent informed her of the ban without providing specific details. Wright revealed that she was forced to pay $1,000 for a new flight while awaiting a $400 refund from her original ticket. After 12 days of waiting, she learned that the ban stemmed from accusations of engaging in sexual activities with a man in the aircraft bathroom. In a humorous yet serious email to the airline, she pointed out that her sexual orientation as a lesbian should serve as evidence against the allegations. Following the public outcry from her TikTok video, Wright announced that she was removed from the no-fly list and received her $400 refund, although she remains out of pocket for the new flight. She expressed frustration over the airline's lack of communication and the inconvenience caused, which included involving her lawyer and reaching out to multiple directors at American Airlines. In a subsequent update, Wright mentioned that the viral nature of her story helped her recover the lost funds, but she noted that American Airlines has not reached out to her since the incident. She plans to take further action against the airline for the ordeal.