Published 3 days ago • loading... • Updated 3 days ago

Man says he was 'humiliated' by flight attendant over use of hearing aids

Last month, Jonathan Van Gieson said an Alaska Airlines flight attendant asked him to cover his hearing aids with headphones during taxi at JFK en route to Seattle, leaving him `humiliated` and astonished.
Citing comfort and safety, Alaska Airlines said the crew advised an alternative audio option because the Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids' sound was loud enough to impact nearby passengers.
Technical concerns about feedback and device function emerged from the passenger's account as Van Gieson said placing headphones over Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids could cause malfunction, noting his 8 or 10 years as a frequent flier without complaints.
Alaska Airlines said it is reviewing the incident, expressed regret that Van Gieson felt the interaction lacked care, and confirmed there were no further issues during the flight, KING 5 reported.
Van Gieson urged Alaska Airlines to clarify policy and comply with federal regulations on air travel accessibility, highlighting technical risks like audio feedback and device proximity.

Insights by Ground AI