An Indian doctor has reported a distressing experience involving alleged mockery from Vietnam Airlines staff while travelling with his family in business class. Dr Abhay Daga narrated his ordeal in a post on X, detailing the encounter on May 11 as his family boarded flight VN981 from Hanoi to Delhi. Daga described feeling humiliated when questioned about their presence in the business class section.

According to Dr Daga, a member of the ground staff at the aerobridge stopped him, his wife, and their child, casting a disparaging look while saying, “This is Business Class.” He interpreted this remark as insinuating that his family did not belong in that section of the aircraft.

The doctor claimed that, upon acknowledging this, he was met with a dismissive response. The staff member reportedly asked, “Really?” and “Are you sure?” which Dr Daga found shocking and disrespectful, particularly in front of his child.

Claims of Racial Profiling and Humiliation

Dr Daga described the encounter as an instance of racial profiling and public humiliation, suggesting that the airline employee’s responsibilities were meant to involve simple checks of boarding passes. Instead, he felt the situation escalated into an unnecessary confrontation, which he found particularly remarkable given his extensive travel history.

Having visited 36 countries previously, Daga expressed disbelief that he faced such treatment on what he referred to as his 37th trip. He reiterated his frustration, noting that he had never encountered such disparaging behaviour from any airline in the past.

When confronted about the staff member’s comments, Daga reported that the employee did not issue an apology, instead asserting the need to verify which passengers belonged in which class. This further added to Daga’s sense of embarrassment and disrespect.

Widespread Public Reaction to the Incident

In light of these allegations, numerous individuals shared their own experiences of feeling judged by airline staff based on their appearance, clothing, or nationality. Such behaviours, they noted, often go unchecked until someone brings them into the public domain.

Additionally, many users commended Dr Daga for his willingness to speak out, highlighting the importance of addressing such issues rather than dismissing them as minor misunderstandings. Commenters pointed out that while verification of boarding passes is standard, it should never come at the expense of a passenger’s dignity. Such situations should be handled with care to ensure that all passengers feel welcome and respected throughout the process.

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