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Alaska Airlines Reviews Discrimination Claim Over Hearing Aids

10/20/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Jonathan Van Gieson, a Pierce County resident, said a flight attendant on an Alaska Airlines flight told him to cover his hearing aids with headphones, claiming it would disrupt them.
He said the encounter was humiliating and dehumanizing, noting he has never faced noise complaints while flying.
Alaska Airlines said it is reviewing the incident and takes discrimination claims seriously, citing concerns about in-flight comfort.

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Story summary

Jonathan Van Gieson, a Pierce County resident, said a flight attendant on an Alaska Airlines flight told him to cover his hearing aids with headphones, claiming it would disrupt them.
He said the encounter was humiliating and dehumanizing, noting he has never faced noise complaints while flying.
Alaska Airlines said it is reviewing the incident and takes discrimination claims seriously, citing concerns about in-flight comfort.