A woman in her 30s, a Brazilian influencer and plus-size model, was refused a flight because she was overweight.
According to the New York Post on the 25th (local time), Juliana Neme (38) planned to return to Brazil via Doha after going on holiday in Lebanon with her mother, sister and niece.
However, Juliana was refused a flight to Qatar when checking in at Beirut International Airport in Lebanon on the 22nd. He claimed, “Qatar Airways said I was too fat to sit in economy class and denied me boarding.”
Regarding this, Juliana pointed out that she used Air France from Brazil to Lebanon and said, “I rode economy class without any problems, but why is Qatar Airways only preventing me from boarding because of my condition physical?”
Qatar Airways then advised that “passengers who obstruct the space of other passengers and are unable to fasten their seat belts or lower their arms may need to purchase additional seats for the comfort and safety of other passengers, as well as safety precautions.” He added that this is industry practice and that other airlines do the same.
Juliana said, “I already booked economy class for $1,000 (about 1,340,000 won), but the airline told me to buy first class a little more for $3,000 (about 4,010,000 won) to return to Brazil.”
In the end, he could not get on the plane, and only his sister and niece returned to Brazil. The mother said she could not leave her daughter alone in a strange place, so they stayed together in Lebanon.
Afterwards, Juliana, who stayed in a hotel in Lebanon, said, “I spend unexpectedly on hotels and taxis. My money is almost gone. I don’t know what to do,” he complained.
(Screen capture from Juliana Neme’s Instagram)“Qatar Airways does not even allow me to board the flight and does not even give me a refund,” he said.
At the same time, “Qatar Airways should be ashamed of such discrimination. I’m fat, but I’m like everyone else,” she pointed out.
As the controversy escalated, the airline said, “One in favor of Juliana was rejected because she could not present the PCR Corona 19 documents required for entry into Brazil, and was very rude and aggressive to the staff, so security officers intervened.”
Later, on the 24th, the airline announced that “Juliana has been rebooked for a flight leaving Lebanon tonight.”
(Seoul = News 1)
