'Let's Go Brandon' tag on pilot's luggage angers 'Karen' passenger. American Airlines vows 'internal review' — but allowed BLM pins on flight attendants in 2020.
A woman who identified herself as a passenger on an American Airlines flight complained to the airline on Twitter about a "Let's Go Brandon" tag on a pilot's luggage, Fox News reported.
"Y'all cool with your pilots displaying this kind of cowardly rhetoric on their crew luggage when they're in uniform, about to fly a plane?" the woman reportedly asked the airline. "We are not the only passengers who noticed and were disgusted."
The passenger in question has since made her Twitter account private, Fox News said, but images of her tweet and subsequent chat with the airline survived:
Dana Finley Morrison has a problem with an American airline pilot with a Let's go Brandon tag on his luggage. There's an internal investigation now. \n\nIn 2018 American Airlines allowed their staff to wear BLM pins.\n\nLike what ever happen to AMERICA..pic.twitter.com/AROswBg9x9— Neo Jane (@Neo Jane) 1641825310
Here's American Airlines' initial response on Twitter:
Thank you for bringing this to our attention and we want to get this to the right team. Please DM any additional details.— americanair (@americanair) 1641688494
Fox News said the woman then posted what she claimed were direct messages with AA representatives, and the cable network posted an image of that chat. It begins with the woman complaining about "political propaganda" and "images that support the insurrection of our gov't/sitting president."
The phrase "Let's Go Brandon" has become well-known code for "F*** Joe Biden," which those who dislike the sitting president use in lieu of profanity.
"We hold our team members to the highest standards and expectations," the airline said in response, also promising that appropriate AA officials would review the matter and that "we take this very seriously."
But what about Black Lives Matter pins?
American Airlines made headlines in September 2020 when it announced it would allow flight attendants to wear Black Lives Matter pins while on duty. The decision came amid that summer's protests and riots over the death of George Floyd in the hands of Minneapolis police.
"Clearly we live in a time where it is so important to have a dialogue about this important issue of racism in our society and try to find common ground," the airline wrote in a company-wide announcement. "American is truly committed to having an inclusive culture that is welcoming to all and a reflection of our country and world."
But some AA employees were angry about the announcement, saying colleagues who don't wear BLM pins could be ostracized. Some opponents also vowed to wear items showing support for police and then-President Donald Trump in response.
How did folks react to the 'Let's Go Brandon' complaint?
A number of Twitter commenters made it abundantly clear that American Airlines should not punish the pilot and that the complainer is out of line.
Conservative journalist Mollie Hemingway tweeted, "Hope he and everyone else gets a raise for having to deal with Karen passengers such as this one."
Christina Pushaw, press secretary for Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, tweeted that the pilot "deserves a raise for dealing with entitled Karens while doing his job."
"Don’t fire your pilots for being conservative or criticizing Biden," Pushaw added, according to Fox News. "We won’t have any pilots left. As if the thousands of flight cancellations aren’t enough already. @AmericanAir do the right thing."
Others agreed — and promised repercussions:
- "This ain’t it AA," one user stated. "I won’t fly your airlines if you punish this pilot."
- "If you fire this guy, I’m never using your airline again," another commenter vowed.
- "If you take ANY action against these pilots and crew members because this Karen complained about her overprotected sensibilities, I promise you I will never fly @AmericanAir again," another user said, adding that "this’ll make the rounds in the media until you lose 40%+ of your customer base."
Fox News said American Airlines didn't immediately respond to its request for comment regarding the "Let's Go Brandon" complaint.
Anything else?
The airline isn't the only one forced to deal with the "Let's Go Brandon" phenomenon.
A few months back leftists lost it when a Southwest pilot said, "Let's go, Brandon" over the plane's intercom.
An AP reporter aboard the flight said she was almost removed when she tried to gain access the flight deck to ask the pilot about his remark. In addition, a Harvard professor and CNN analyst insisted that every passenger should file a complaint with the Federal Aviation Administration over the remark.