我國籍航空公司「長榮航空」7月才拿下全球最佳航空第5名的殊榮,過了近2個月卻傳出疑似歧視同志的情況,美國旅遊部落格「The Points Guy」指出,旅客傑夫與同性伴侶帶著19個月大的女兒,1日搭乘長榮航空,從美國西岸城市舊金山飛往台灣台北,而地勤告知僅能1人帶小孩優先登機,只是當傑夫的先生登機後,發現異性戀夫妻都是一起帶小孩提前登機,引發歧視同志爭議。
同樣帶孩子優先登機 同志卻只限1人放行
傑夫(Jeff)2日推文敘述整起事件經過,表示自己與先生帶著女兒搭乘長榮航空27號航班前往台北,由於女兒只有19個月大,因此詢問全家提前登機,結果地勤人員告知規定只能1人帶小孩先上飛機,「我解釋我們都是小孩的父親......因為從沒搭過長榮航空,我接受規定,並讓先生先帶小孩登機,但當我上機後,我先生告訴我,其他(異性戀)家庭都是雙親一起帶孩子優先登機」。
@EVAAirUS 1/3 My husband and I were told only one of us could join our 19 month old in the family boarding group of EVA Air 27 from SFO on 9/1/18. I explained we were both the fathers of the child, and they said it was their policy that only one parent can board...
— Jeff (@jeffcobb415) 2 септември 2018 г.
@EVAAirUS 2/3 and the other has to wait in the normal line. Not having flown EVA before, I accepted it and let my husband and child go while I boarded later. When I met him on the plane, he said there were many other (straight) families all boarding together.
— Jeff (@jeffcobb415) 2 септември 2018 г.
@EVAAirUS 3/3 I’m very disappointed that the EVA ground staff at SFO thinks it’s ok to separate same-sex families during boarding. I will definitely not be flying this airline again after this incident.
— Jeff (@jeffcobb415) 2 септември 2018 г.
此外,傑夫與先生也詢問空服員,帶小孩的家長都是一起優先登機,還是被分開登機,結果得到的回應是絕大部分都是一起登機,對於地勤只讓傑夫和先生其中1人帶小孩登機,空服員也不清楚原因。傑夫推文寫道:「對於舊金山的長榮航空地勤人員,認為把同性伴侶分開帶孩子登機是合理的事情,我感到很失望,而在這起事件之後,我絕不會再搭乘這家航空。」
Airline separates gay parents at early boarding for flight - but straight families were allowed to board in pairs https://t.co/i9qnw7OJl7
— The Sun (@TheSun) 4 септември 2018 г.
Gay parents made to board flight separately despite airline allowing straight families to stay together https://t.co/ecOxeUeyjX
— The Independent (@Independent) 4 септември 2018 г.
長榮回應全是誤會 致歉並告知地勤規定
針對此事件,長榮航空回覆The Points Guy提問:「長榮航空與舊金山機場團隊對受此事件影響的人士致歉,根據規定,長榮航空提供陪同嬰幼兒的旅客優先登機服務,但不會限制陪同者人數及與嬰幼兒的關係。這起事件全因誤會產生,當旅客提出疑慮後,地勤代理公司主管隨即於登機口向旅客致意及說明,長榮航空已再次向地勤代理公司告知優先登機規定,並對造成旅客的不便深表歉意」
The Points Guy也稱,傑夫一家隨後從台北轉機前往泰國的旅遊目的地,同樣搭乘長榮航空,這次2人都能跟著女兒一起提前登機。The Points Guy提到,傑夫一家的案例發生在美國,而美國國務院有提供給同性伴侶出國旅遊的法律保障建議,且特別提醒部分國家不承認同性婚姻,而全球還有超過70個國家把同性戀視為犯罪行為。