First-class passenger denied meal because of skin colour

A first-class passenger traveling with American Airlines from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS/KBOS) to Miami International Airport (MIA/KMIA) on the 3rd of May 2025 has sparked widespread debate after alleging she was the only person in the first-class cabin not served a meal, because she was black.

The video, originally posted on TikTok, has since gone viral, garnering over 10 million views across social platforms. The passenger, a Boston-based influencer, stated she received no meal at all—despite being awake and having booked her ticket five days in advance, OMAAT flagged.

The incident occurred aboard a domestic flight on a Boeing 737 operating a high-traffic route. The passenger emphasized that she was neither offered a meal choice nor given any explanation on why she wasn't served one. Instead, she was served only drinks while every other visible first-class passenger received a full meal service.

In her public video, she highlighted her disbelief, stating she hadn’t eaten all day in anticipation of the in-flight meal. She expressed frustration not only at being skipped but also at the lack of communication from the flight crew. This silence from airline staff added to her confusion, embarrassment and concern, prompting questions around both operational failures and possible racial bias.

The carrier has a known history of service inconsistencies, and this event adds to broader scrutiny around its customer experience, particularly for Black travelers.