Georgia Woman Kept From Boarding American Airlines Flight Because of Her Oxygen Tank

Betty Lewis says she flew from Atlanta to Chicago earlier this month on a United Airlines flight with an oxygen tank that she needs to breathe.But when she tried to return home to Georgia this week on an American Airlines flight from her aunt's home in St. Louis, she said she was prohibited from boarding because her tank didn't meet FAA requirements. Her saga began Wednesday when she was scheduled to fly out of St. Louis Lambert International Airport. She told Fox 2-TV she was surprised when she was informed her tank wasn't approved for flights."They told me that I could not take it on with me," Lewis told the TV station in an interview. "That I could not board the plane on oxygen on. I'm like, you got to be kidding me."Lewis said she was given an overnight stay at a hotel and told to return Thursday to make alternate flight plans. The next day, she said, she was told she could spend $400 for an approved oxygen tank. She said she didn't have the money to do that.Fort Worth-based American Airlines told the TV station and the International Business Times that Lewis' tank isn't permitted on any commerical aircraft under federal regulations and there is no "wiggle room" for enforcement. The FAA lists approved oxygen tanks on its website.  Continue reading...