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Last Sunday, day 9, the actress Ingrid Guimarães used his social media to report an “abusive” incident. The incident occurred during a flight American Airlines, from New York to Rio de Janeiro. In it, the actress was asked to give up her seat in class Economy for a first class enger due to a broken seat. When she refused to change, she faced threats and public humiliation from the crew. The incident sparked several debates about legislation and gender discrimination. Understand:
Understand the case
Second Ingrid, in day March 07, when she was already seated and with her seatbelt fastened, an airline employee asked her to leave her seat and go to economy class. The reason given was that there was a broken seat in business class, which would require the person in business class to take Ingrid's seat. The actress refused the request, stating that she was unaware of such a rule and that she had paid for the seat.
After her refusal, Ingrid reported being subjected to coercion and threats by the crew. Officials stated that she would never be able to fly with the company again. American Airlines and that the flight would not leave the ground until she left her seat. Ingrid said that, during this moment, there were no detailed explanations or attempts at negotiation on the part of the crew, only threats for her to get out of her seat.
“Now I ask you; what do I have to do with someone else’s broken executive chair? Shouldn’t they offer other people a bonus as well, or someone who wants to go for a discount. A negotiation, not an imposition?”
Ingrid Guimarães on her X profile.
The situation worsened when an employee, apparently irritated, announced over the microphone that all engers on the plane would have to disembark because of Ingrid's refusal. In addition, the same employee pointed at the actress, exposing her publicly and causing embarrassment among the engers, who began to shout at her. Ingrid reported that, under public pressure, she ended up giving in and going up to economy class.
Ingrid reported that during the incident, her sister and brother-in-law tried to intervene and explain the situation to the crew. However, the response they received was harsh and disrespectful: the employee told them to shut up. According to her, the only Brazilian flight attendant present even made a direct threat, saying: “Honey, it’s better for you to leave, whether you like it or not.”
Ingrid also pointed out that, in exchange, she only received a $300 discount voucher for her next flight, without any further explanation. She questioned why she had been chosen to give up her seat and mentioned that the justification given was that she was traveling alone. The actress concluded her story by highlighting the need for better treatment of Brazilians by airlines, especially considering the financial effort required to purchase international tickets.
"Coercion, moral abuse, disrespect and threats. In exchange they gave me a voucher without explaining anything to me, just a piece of paper in my hand (which I thought was the new ticket) saying that I had a discount of US$300 on the next ticket. Unbelievable!"
Ingrid Guimarães on her X profile.
Impact on social networks
The repercussion of the report of Ingrid Guimarães The backlash on social media was immediate and intense. Brazilian internet s quickly mobilized, expressing outrage and solidarity with the actress. Many s shared their own negative experiences with airlines, expanding the debate about the treatment given to engers.
A clear example of the Brazilians' outrage was the flood of negative comments, so far there are around 101 thousand comments, that American Airlines received in a publication about International Women's Day in Instagram. The post, which was intended to celebrate the date, was flooded with criticism and messages of for the actress. s pointed out the company's hypocrisy in wishing a happy Women's Day while treating a enger disrespectfully. The actress even commented on the post, thanking Brazilians for their and emphasizing the importance of fighting for dignified treatment for everyone.
“It's really nice to wish a happy women's day and humiliate a Brazilian woman on the same day on your flight! I hope they pay in court!”
Tales Yamaguchi commenting on American Airlines' Instagram post.
Can the company force the enger to change seats? What does the law say on the subject?
The issue of an airline forcing a enger to change seats is complex and involves different laws. In Brazil, National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) establishes that seat changes are not mandatory, except in specific cases of safety or airline regulations. For example, engers under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult, but this does not guarantee a specific seat. Seat changes must be done in a reasonable and non-arbitrary manner, respecting the rights of engers.
In the United States, airlines follow the Contract of Carriage, which sets out the rules for rebookings, cancellations and other operational guidelines. This contract may provide for exceptional situations in which a enger may be rebooked to another class or seat, especially due to operational issues such as a damaged seat. However, the rebooking must be done in a reasonable manner, without being arbitrary or discriminatory. If the airline violates this contract, the enger may seek redress from U.S. consumer protection agencies, such as the Department of Transportation (DOT).
In both countries, the airline has the authority to request seat changes whenever necessary to ensure flight safety. However, the enger must be informed of the reason for the seat change, especially when he or she has purchased a specific seat. In the event of an abusive situation, the enger is entitled to compensation. In Brazil, the articles 14 e 20 do Consumer Protection Code (CDC) establish that the supplier must be held liable for damages caused during the provision of the service. In the event of inadequacy of the service, the consumer may demand forced execution as contracted or reimbursement.
In the specific case of Ingrid Guimarães, the situation was considered abusive, as the actress was forced to give up her seat in the class Economy for a enger of the executive class due to a broken seat. The crew's approach was considered inappropriate and disrespectful, generating public embarrassment and outrage among engers.
Gender issues and discrimination
The episode involving Ingrid Guimarães during the flight of the American Airlines raised significant concerns about gender discrimination. According to the actress herself, the criteria for her being chosen to give up her place in the Economy — the class Economy offers more legroom, more comfortable seats, improved in-flight service and priority boarding, while Economy Class has more compact seats and standard service — it was the fact that she was a woman and traveling alone.
This justification points to potentially unequal treatment based on gender, suggesting that unaccompanied women may be seen as easier targets for inconvenient or unfair requests. The case gained even more attention because the actress landed in Rio de Janeiro, ending her flight with the company, precisely at International Women's Day, March 8.
Common reports include the seat change request, lack of adequate accommodation e lack of consideration for the specific needs of women. These examples highlight how the norms and practices of certain companies can perpetuate gender inequalities, requiring critical analysis and changes in corporate policies to ensure fair and equitable treatment for all engers.
The issue of gender discrimination is also ed by global legislation and policies that advocate for equal rights. In both Brazil and the United States, laws and guidelines are established to protect individuals against any form of discrimination, including gender discrimination. Awareness and reporting of cases such as Ingrid Guimarães are essential to promote positive change. The actress's outrage and the solidarity shown by her followers on social media reflect the visibility focused on the fight for equality and justice, encouraging changes in corporate practices and legislation.
American Airlines Positioning
Sought by G1 na Monday, day March 10, American Airlines released an initial statement in response to the incident involving the actress Ingrid Guimarães:
"Our goal is to provide a positive and safe travel experience for all of our engers. A member of our team is reaching out to the customer to understand more about her experience and resolve the issue."
American Airlines press release.
What did you think of this case involving the actress? Ingrid Guimarães? Tell us Comment!
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Sources: American Airlines e G1.
reviewed by Gabriel Princessval in 11 / 03 / 2025
