A United Airlines pilot who suffers from celiac disease is suing the Chicago-based airline for discrimination, alleging that the airline refused to provide him with gluten-free meals or accommodate him in hotels that offer gluten-free options.
Captain Mark MacKenzie describes himself as an “extremely experienced” pilot with 35 years of “accident- and incident-free flying” and has worked for United since March 1992.
MacKenzie suffers from celiac disease and believes United Airlines should accommodate his disability and offer him gluten-free meals.
In his 12-page complaint filed earlier this month in a Colorado district court, the Denver pilot alleges that United regularly offers him meals he simply cannot eat because they contain gluten, and even charges him a fee for them.
MacKenzie says that eating foods containing gluten leads to “significant limitations in several important life activities” and that gluten ingestion can have “serious long-term physical consequences.”
United Airlines provides meals to its pilots on many flights, but Captain MacKenzie claims that the airline does not allow crew with special dietary needs to select a special meal, such as gluten-free, like regular customers.
Occasionally, United Airlines offers “gluten-sensitive” meals, but they are not gluten-free and MacKenzie says he can’t eat them. Therefore, MacKenzie says he has to bring his own food because United won’t accommodate his request for special gluten-free meals.
And not only does United reportedly refuse to offer pilots like MacKenzie special meals, but the airline still deducts the cost of some meals from his salary, even if they are wasted.
In addition, MacKenzie said United often places him in hotels that do not offer gluten-free meals, and the airline has denied his request to stay in hotels with gluten-free menus.
Captain MacKenzie first told United in 2020 that he had celiac disease and requested access to gluten-free meals at the time, but the airline has since denied that request.
Instead of offering gluten-free meals, MacKenzie even claims the airline told him to eat certain parts of regular meals that should not contain gluten. But MacKenzie rejected this idea because the meals are rarely properly labeled.
MacKenzie is suing United based on claims under the Americans With Disabilities Act and is seeking a court order to compel United to provide him with gluten-free meals.
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