This woman’s food allergy didn’t fly.
Ellie Brelis, 29, recently went viral on TikTok by sharing her harrowing experience after getting kicked off a Delta flight from Los Angeles to Boston.Â
In a tearful video, the actor and playwright explained that he 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 ensure her safety on the flight – she was forced off the plane.
“In a way, it all happened really quickly in the place where there were so many different people involved. And I was really embarrassed and I didn’t understand how such an ordeal happened because I’ve flown many, many times in my life and I’ve always done the same thing,” she told The Post.
Despite her efforts to protect herself, Brelis felt ostracized by 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 to show a plane taking off at the airport, claiming she was supposed to be in flight.
In the video, she tearfully shared her disbelief and disappointment. “Somehow I just got off the plane because of an allergy” — an issue covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
“I don’t want to be this person, I don’t want to cry, I just want to be on my flight home so I can see my doctor and understand why this is happening,” she said.
Brelis noted that she carries several EpiPens on her person and has traveled on Delta flights for years, always alerting staff about her allergy before and during boarding, but has never had a problem.
“Am I a hole? Is this my fault? Shouldn’t I have said I have an allergy?” she asked viewers.
She also expressed a sense of helplessness. “I don’t know how to be sure,” Brelis said.
In a subsequent video, she revealed that she had been on the plane before leaving the crew. After her departure, Delta officials informed her that they would have to contact Medair, a medical consultation service, to determine if she was “fit to fly,” adding to her confusion.
After confirming she had EpiPens on her, she was cleared to fly, but was reassigned to a red-eye flight. Because the flight was already full, she was given a seat with no guarantee of her safety.
She explained to The Post that she is usually seated in the back or in a section where those near her are warned of her allergy and asked not to eat any shellfish during the trip.
“I’ve flown all my life, I’ve always been able 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 problems.
Since posting the videos a few days ago, Brelis said many 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 states that while the team strives to meet the needs of passengers, they cannot guarantee an allergen-free environment or prevent other customers from carrying allergenic products on board.
“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 we can eat shellfish or peanuts.”
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Image Source : nypost.com
