CBC:
From seating arrangements to facing Mecca, following religious practices in the air can be tricky
Air travel, like religion, can come with a lot of rules and restrictions. There are designated times to stand, sit and eat. The seating is often less than luxurious, and the food can leave something to be desired.
And sometimes, the two sets of rules conflict, as seemed to have been the case on a recent Toronto-bound Porter Airlines flight, when a passenger claimed a man who appeared to be an ultra-Orthodox Jew did not want to sit next to her because she’s a woman.
Toronto resident Christine Flynn wants an apology from Porter after a flight attendant, who was attempting to remedy the situation, asked if she would be willing to move to another seat. She refused, and the man, who has not been identified, traded seats with another passenger who offered to accommodate him.
Each airline deals with these challenges in its own way and for different reasons, but many were vague when asked by CBC if they have specific rules for dealing with devout passengers. Porter spokesman Brad Cicero said the company has, until now, dealt with issues on a case by case basis, but now plans to establish a more “formal protocol” for its employees.