News

Woman says United Airlines suggested she use pet relief area for breast feeding

(MyFoxBoston.com) -- A local mom tweeted Monday saying United Airlines was unable to accommodate her when she asked for a place to breast feed.

Liz Meagher Cooper tweeted at about 5 a.m. showing the photo below of a pet relief area, saying that was where United suggested she breast feed at the Dulles Airport.

After flying out of town early Monday morning, Cooper stepped off the plane looking for a place to pump since her 4-month-old baby was at home. On Skype, Cooper told FOX25 that after she inquired about a private area, the woman at the counter told her she could go to the bathroom.

"I said the bathroom is not sanitary," Cooper told FOX25. "And I can't pump in a bathroom. She said we also have a pet relief center. And I just looked at her."

A spokesperson from United's Media Relations department provided the following statement to FOX25: "Although many of the airport terminals where we operate do not have dedicated private spaces, we welcome nursing mothers to breastfeed or pump on our aircraft and in our facilities. We will reach out to Ms. Meagher Cooper to apologize that we weren’t able to provide her more suitable accommodations."

A spokesperson for the airport weighed in as well, saying, "Our teams at Washington Dulles International Airport are working to develop dedicated lounges to accommodate nursing mothers, which will be in place later this year. Currently, we do not have dedicated nursing areas at the airport."