I was kicked off a flight â because I have food allergies
A woman recently went viral on TikTok sharing her distressing experience after being removed from a Delta flight from Los Angeles to Boston due to her food allergy.
In a tearful video, Ellie Brelis, 29, actor and playwright explained that she was returning home to see a doctor to address serious medical concerns.
However, she claimed that when she alerted the flight crew to her shellfish allergy and where she kept her EpiPens — as she always does — to guarantee her safety on the flight, she was forced to deplane.
“Somehow it kind of all just evolved really quickly to where there were so many different people involved. And I was really embarrassed and didn’t understand how it had gotten to be such a an ordeal because I’ve flown many, many times in my life and I’ve always done the exact same thing,” she told The Post.
Despite her efforts to advocate for herself, Brelis felt dismissed by the airline staff when she disclosed her allergy. She claims she was escorted off the plane, while her luggage continued to travel without her.
The TikTokker then turned the camera over to show a plane taking off at the airport, claiming she was supposed to be on the flight.
In the video, she shared her disbelief and frustration, through tears. “Somehow I just got kicked off the plane for having an allergy” — an issue that falls under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
“I don’t want to be this person, I don’t want to be crying, I just want to be on my flight home so I could see my doctor and figure out why this is happening,” she said.
Brelis stressed that she carried several EpiPens on her person and has traveled on Delta flights for years always alerting staff to her allergy before and during boarding. She had never has an issue until her last trip.
“Am I the a–hole? Is this my fault? Should I not have said I have an allergy?” she asked viewers.
She also expressed a sense of helplessness. “I don’t know how I’m supposed to be safe,” Brelis stated.
In a follow-up video, she revealed that she had been onboard the plane before being removed by the crew. After her removal, Delta officials informed her that they would need to contact Medair, a medical consultation service, to determine if she was “fit to fly,” which added to her confusion.
After confirming that she had EpiPens on her she was approved to fly but rebooked onto a redeye flight. Bevause the flight was already full, she was given a seat without any guarantees for her safety.
She explained to The Post that she is typically seated in the back or in a section where those nearby her are warned of her allergy and asked not to eat any kind of shellfish during the trip.
“I’ve flown my whole life, I’ve always been fit to fly,” she said, questioning the airline’s handling of her situation.
In the end, Brelis canceled the Delta flight and flew home on a JetBlue flight without any issue.
Since posting the videos several day ago, Brelis said plenty of people have shared the struggles and confusion they’ve endured traveling while having allergies.
Delta’s website advises passengers with allergies to fill out a form or contact the Accessibility Services team before flying.
The airline emphasizes that while the team strives to accommodate passengers’ needs, they cannot guarantee an allergen-free environment or prohibit other customers from carrying allergenic products onboard.
“I understand. I always have a risk when I fly,” she told The Post, “but flying is a part of life and I think we should all have the ability to do it, whether or not we can eat shellfish or peanuts.”
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