[hezzers]

Hello Fellow Travelers,
I have been a loyal American Airlines traveler for the past 30 years (previously US Airways) and I have never had an issue until Sept. 14, 2024. I have maintained an impeccable track record and flying record and have made many friends on the ground and in the air including pilots, flight attendants, airport staff. Anyone could attest to the fact that I always call people by name, treat others with respect and am a generally friendly person. On Sept. 14, 2024 I was denied boarding before boarding had even commenced. I had approached the gate desk to confirm my special meal and seat selection - as is my usual travel routine. I am a 52 year old, white female, and that day I was traveling alone on my usual flight I have taken 3-4 times a year for the past 30 years, AA Flight 718 from Philadelphia to Rome. I have been residing in Rome for the past 25 years and I had flown home for a family emergency which ended with my father's unexpected passing. I changed my return ticket to a few days later in order to help my family make arrangements for my father. As anyone could imagine, I had had little sleep and I had been crying a lot in the days after my father's death and leading up to my return flight. I had been told by AA phone reservations and my AA check in desk staff in Harrisburg Airport en route to Philadelphia, that flight AA 718 was fully booked. I confirmed my seat and special meal in Harrisburg and checked in for the Philadelphia flight in advance. Once I arrived in Philadelphia, I hurried to Terminal A and approached the check in counter for my gate to double check my seat and special meal again. I was ambushed by a female in civilian clothes who refused to identify herself as I stood in front of the gate check in counter talking to a gate agent in uniform about my seat assignment and when boarding might commence. She accused me three times of being "intoxicated" to which I replied each time that I was NOT intoxicated. I drink rarely and I had had nothing at all to drink nor did I have the time to get anything once I arrived in PHL from MDT for the connecting flight to Rome. The entire exchange lasted less than 5 minutes. I asked the female who she was and what authority she had to deny me boarding and make this false accusation without proof. It ended with her taking my boarding pass and issuing me a new boarding pass for the next day and then she walked away. I have been fighting this since Sept. 2024 starting with contacting AA Customer relations and have escalated it to the DOJ Has any one out there had this happen? If so, what are your recommendations? Last resort would be a discrimination lawsuit.