Imagine this: you’re just trying to get through your flight, but your allergy kicks in, and instead of help, you get booted off the plane. That’s what happened to Ellie Brelis.
According to Independent UK on Monday (14/10), the 29-year-old was flying from Boston to Los Angeles with Delta Airlines last week. Everything was going fine until her peanut allergy flared up mid-flight. But instead of getting the assistance she needed, Ellie got the boot. Yep, you read that right.
Brelis started experiencing anaphylactic shock—a serious allergic reaction. Luckily, this time it was a lighter version, but it still wasn’t exactly a walk in the park.
Yep, they straight-up asked her to deplane. Fortunately, a flight attendant helped her rebook another flight for that night, but still—talk about a rough day.
Even after being shown the door, her troubles weren’t over. She had to wait for five hours for another flight, and to make things worse? She couldn’t eat during that time either—kind of a big deal for someone managing an allergy like hers.
On the next flight, though, Ellie wised up. She upgraded her seat and told the cabin crew about her allergy before takeoff. Smart move, Ellie.
Airlines usually ask passengers to let them know about any food allergies before flying by filling out a form or contacting their accessibility services team. After all, under the Americans with Disabilities Act, food allergies are classified as a disability, and airlines are legally required to accommodate passengers with disabilities. So technically, Ellie had every right to ask for help.