MANILA, Philippines – A pregnant woman named Richelle L. Elisan-Gerong was offloaded from her flight after a ground crew’s wrong ‘Google diagnosis’.
Despite explanations from her own doctor and her pleas about missing her 8AM appointment, the airline refused to let her ride without a medical certificate. What’s worse, she was ignored and not even given a proper seat while she waited for them to clear her for the next flight that they wanted to put her in!
The pregnant Gerong was set to fly to Manila with her 3-year-old daughter aboard an AirAsia flight from Laguindingan airport in Misamis Oriental at 6AM on Friday, February 21. She and her daughter already had their boarding passes, she accused the flight crew of later ‘cunningly’ taking these from her.
Asking for help
While they already had their boarding passes ready, Gerong thought it would be a good idea to chat with the ground crew and ask whether someone on the plane could assist her in placing their luggage on the overhead bin. The crew asked so many questions that led to her explaining to them that they were going to Manila for her Lymphocytes Antibody Test (LAT).
Geron angrily wrote a lengthy post on Facebook to share her bad experience with the airline.
“Your ground crew "researched" it and found out daw that they're T-Cells and Cancer Cells. I asked what about it? Then, she said that I was required to present medical cert bcz of my LYMPHOCYTES. Whhhaaattt? 😒
I explained numerous times that lymphocytes are blood component and the LAT is the name of the test. But you insisted it's a MEDICAL CONDITION that warrants med cert for flying. I was telling you that Lymphocytes are INSIDE my body and NOT outside that can harm other passengers.
The term "Cancer", "Killing", "Virus" from what your ground crew has researched might have scared her. YET, you can't decide without proper medical diagnosis. I told you I am NOT infectious and I am NOT dangerous to other passengers. Having LYMPHOCYTES is NORMAL. YOU DID NOT LISTEN. I felt discriminated because I have lymphocytes! I felt alienated for having a medical condition which does not have any proper medical diagnosis.
What's worse is that you declared that I have LYMPHOCITIS (no term like this tho). But you assumed that it's some sort of inflammation. The supervisor said it in the midst of other passengers coming in for their boarding procedures. It was even worse than being a PUI of Corona Virus. I cried when I told you, "How dare you tell me I have" LYMPHOCITIS", Doctor ka ba?" Bastos ka!" Yet, you are more concerned of my Lymphocytes than my pregnancy!”
She was told that she could get on the 2PM flight, but only if she could present a medical certificate for her lymphocytes.
“My Doctor in Manila talked to you and explained that it's NOT a medical condition--much more infectious! You dropped her call and my doctor was compelled to send me a med cert via Viber.
I gave it to you BUT I have been telling you prior to that, that I NEED to be in my 8am appointment at a laboratory in Manila. The lab tests are only run every Friday and that's the primary reason for the flight and my absence from work. The results are important for my next day's (Saturday) doctor's appointment.
YOU STILL IGNORED it! You still placed me in the 2pm flight despite my plea. I cried and was really stressed as how can I possibly get my Lab tests done at 4pm and results before my doctor's appt. I told you this! YOU NEVER LISTENED.”
Stressed out over the experience, Gerong continually tried to talk to the ground crew to let her board the 6AM flight, but her pleas fell on deaf ears. Later, the crew got angry at her and allegedly threatened to call the guards to bring her out. They also, allegedly, threatened to not let her ride the 2PM flight.
What’s worse, she was at the airport for 9 hours but the airline never offered her anything, despite her incurring addition expenses by being there with her daughter over something that was not even her fault.
“It's traumatic for me to remember this event and as of this writing, I am trembling and shaking uncontrollably. 😭😭😭
Wala kayong awa sa buntis na may dalang 3 yo na bata!!!! 😭
Pupunta ako ng Manila para magpa doctor, inistress nyo ako ng bongga!
#Justice #Discrimination #BacktoScience #FalseMedicalDiagnosis”
Gerong’s post went viral, with many netizens urging her to file a formal case against AirAsia over the incident.
— Joy Adalia, The Summit Express
Despite explanations from her own doctor and her pleas about missing her 8AM appointment, the airline refused to let her ride without a medical certificate. What’s worse, she was ignored and not even given a proper seat while she waited for them to clear her for the next flight that they wanted to put her in!
The pregnant Gerong was set to fly to Manila with her 3-year-old daughter aboard an AirAsia flight from Laguindingan airport in Misamis Oriental at 6AM on Friday, February 21. She and her daughter already had their boarding passes, she accused the flight crew of later ‘cunningly’ taking these from her.
Asking for help
While they already had their boarding passes ready, Gerong thought it would be a good idea to chat with the ground crew and ask whether someone on the plane could assist her in placing their luggage on the overhead bin. The crew asked so many questions that led to her explaining to them that they were going to Manila for her Lymphocytes Antibody Test (LAT).
Geron angrily wrote a lengthy post on Facebook to share her bad experience with the airline.
“Your ground crew "researched" it and found out daw that they're T-Cells and Cancer Cells. I asked what about it? Then, she said that I was required to present medical cert bcz of my LYMPHOCYTES. Whhhaaattt? 😒
I explained numerous times that lymphocytes are blood component and the LAT is the name of the test. But you insisted it's a MEDICAL CONDITION that warrants med cert for flying. I was telling you that Lymphocytes are INSIDE my body and NOT outside that can harm other passengers.
The term "Cancer", "Killing", "Virus" from what your ground crew has researched might have scared her. YET, you can't decide without proper medical diagnosis. I told you I am NOT infectious and I am NOT dangerous to other passengers. Having LYMPHOCYTES is NORMAL. YOU DID NOT LISTEN. I felt discriminated because I have lymphocytes! I felt alienated for having a medical condition which does not have any proper medical diagnosis.
What's worse is that you declared that I have LYMPHOCITIS (no term like this tho). But you assumed that it's some sort of inflammation. The supervisor said it in the midst of other passengers coming in for their boarding procedures. It was even worse than being a PUI of Corona Virus. I cried when I told you, "How dare you tell me I have" LYMPHOCITIS", Doctor ka ba?" Bastos ka!" Yet, you are more concerned of my Lymphocytes than my pregnancy!”
She was told that she could get on the 2PM flight, but only if she could present a medical certificate for her lymphocytes.
“My Doctor in Manila talked to you and explained that it's NOT a medical condition--much more infectious! You dropped her call and my doctor was compelled to send me a med cert via Viber.
I gave it to you BUT I have been telling you prior to that, that I NEED to be in my 8am appointment at a laboratory in Manila. The lab tests are only run every Friday and that's the primary reason for the flight and my absence from work. The results are important for my next day's (Saturday) doctor's appointment.
YOU STILL IGNORED it! You still placed me in the 2pm flight despite my plea. I cried and was really stressed as how can I possibly get my Lab tests done at 4pm and results before my doctor's appt. I told you this! YOU NEVER LISTENED.”
Stressed out over the experience, Gerong continually tried to talk to the ground crew to let her board the 6AM flight, but her pleas fell on deaf ears. Later, the crew got angry at her and allegedly threatened to call the guards to bring her out. They also, allegedly, threatened to not let her ride the 2PM flight.
What’s worse, she was at the airport for 9 hours but the airline never offered her anything, despite her incurring addition expenses by being there with her daughter over something that was not even her fault.
“It's traumatic for me to remember this event and as of this writing, I am trembling and shaking uncontrollably. 😭😭😭
Wala kayong awa sa buntis na may dalang 3 yo na bata!!!! 😭
Pupunta ako ng Manila para magpa doctor, inistress nyo ako ng bongga!
#Justice #Discrimination #BacktoScience #FalseMedicalDiagnosis”
Gerong’s post went viral, with many netizens urging her to file a formal case against AirAsia over the incident.
— Joy Adalia, The Summit Express
