Another US Domestic Passenger Reports An In-Flight Sexual Assault
A 23-year-old woman is speaking out after what she says was a sexual assault she suffered on board a Delta flight from Chicago to Los Angeles.
On June 16, Delany Luh says, she was on a Delta flight to her home in LA. She was in a middle seat between two men she didn't know. "I ended up falling asleep and woke up to a drunk man with his hands down my leggings," Luh wrote on Twitter.
After overcoming the shock of what was happening, Luh told local news station KTLA she yelled at the man to stop and tried to exit her seat. The man wouldn't move, forcing her to climb over him to seek help. Luh said she escaped her seat and ran to the back of the plane.
Once she found a flight attendant to help her, Luh said she "grabbed her, and I hugged her, and I looked her in the eye and said, 'Please, please help me,'” she told KTLA. The flight attendant found her a new seat for the remaining two hours of the flight. Delta arranged for one of its "red coat" employeed to escort Luh off the flight and to baggage claim at LAX.
According to the airline, Luh told agents after getting off the plane that her seat neighbor had actually touched her.
“The safety and security of our customers is our top priority and we do not tolerate the harassment or assault of any kind," Delta told TPG in an emailed statement. "After deplaning, Ms. Luh first informed a Delta agent that she had been improperly touched on the leg by another passenger during her flight. Immediately upon learning this information, Delta reported the incident to local and federal law enforcement for their handling. We will continue to cooperate fully with the FBI in their investigation of this situation. We also reached out to Ms. Luh for more information on this incident.”
Despite the airline's response, Luh told TPG she still felt "dismissed" by the carrier.
Luh says additionally, Delta gave her a $200 voucher as compensation for her ordeal. She now hopes that by talking about her incident, she can offer solidarity to fellow victims.
"I felt in my heart I needed to speak out because this has been happening way too much," Luh wrote to TPG. "And my hopes in speaking out is to stop all of this and be that voice for other women or men."
The Federal Bureau of Investigation said in June that reports of in-flight sexual assaults are increasing at an "alarming rate," with the number of reported assaults growing 66% from 2014 to 2017. The FBI believes that the actual number of mid-air sexual assaults is much higher than what is actually reported. In 2017, the agency opened 63 in-flight sexual assault investigations.
“These acts are felonies, which can land an offender in prison for 10 years — or, if aggravated, to life,” the FBI's Assistant Special Agent Brian Nadeau said.
The FBI advises any passenger who believes they have been sexually assaulted to tell a member of the flight crew.
Delta, and other airlines like Alaska, have faced similar issues before. Delta passenger Allison Dvaladze sued the airline for failing to follow through after her seatmate repeatedly assaulted her on an international flight in 2016. Another former Delta passenger sued the carrier as well, stating that when she reported a passenger who had repeatedly groped her, a flight attendant refused to intervene because the man held elite status with the airline.
TPG's Katherine Fan contributed to this report.
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.