KLM's refusal to let Filipino woman board flight was 'a possible case of discrimination'
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An 18-year-old ethnic-minority Filipino woman who was en route to Rio de Janeiro for World Youth Day was stopped from boarding her onward flight on July 20 in Kuala Lumpur, because KLM Airlines personnel said she did not look "ready to travel". This was d
A report of the incident, involving Arjean Marie Belco of Bukidnon’s Talaandig tribe, was posted on Facebook in a letter of complaint from Goodxorg, the sponsor of her Brazil trip.
According to the post, Belco went through immigration in Malaysia without incident but was not allowed to board the flight to Rio de Janeiro by a KLM employee, who said she appeared “not ready to travel” and “that he was doubtful” about her trip “even if she had a folder full of documentation”.
“Arjean was denied her right to travel. This could also be perceived as a possible case of discrimination based on appearance, gender, ethnicity, nationality, age or social status,” Goodxorg said in its post.
Belco’s Brazil trip was shouldered by Goodxorg and its partner Cartwheel Foundation.org, which pooled donations from all over the world to send the BS Education student to the Catholic event. The airline employee allegedly barraged Belco with questions casting doubts on the legitimacy of her trip. She was asked: “Why is your passport so new?” “Your ticket is too cheap and purchased yesterday.” “Why [are you] flying through Malaysia if there are flights from the Philippines?” and “How much money [do] you have?”
The Brazil trip is Belco’s first outside the country, according to her sponsors, which explains her new passport. They also explained that the flight from Kuala Lumpur to Rio de Janeiro was approximately US$1,000 (Bt31,000) cheaper than KLM’s Manila to Rio flight.
Belco showed airline personnel a bank statement from Cartwheel Foundation showing sufficient funds. She was carrying $100 and 3,370 pesos (Bt2,400) for emergencies and meals before her connecting flights to Brazil.
She was also carrying clippings of media stories published in the Philippines about her trip.
But Goodxorg lamented that the papers and calls from the group were not enough for KLM.
The airline employee told the staff of Goodxorg over the phone that there was nothing he could do and that another ticket had to be bought. The group was required to get in touch with the Dutch Embassy in Malaysia, the Facebook post said.
“He was even laughing while listening to our side. We believe this is unacceptable,” the group said.
