By: Paul Goldberg, Staff Writer

BUFFALO, NY – In yet another scandal for the airline industry – this time, Southwest Airlines finds itself in the cross hairs as it is being reported that a Florida gay couple claims that they were discriminated against by Southwest Airlines employees after reportedly being denied access to pre-board as a family.

Grant Morse and his husband were flying from Buffalo, N.Y. to Ft. Lauderdale, FL. this past weekend with their three children however, things turned quickly down hill.

As the family of five were getting their belongings together while they approached the gate, Grant Morse told WGRZ TV that a gate agent allegedly stopped them and proceeded to tell Morse…”this is for family boarding only.”

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“I feel as though we were profiled the minute we walked up the boarding area,” Grant Morse told WGRZ TV.  “This gate agent immediately approached my spouse and said this is for family boarding only, and my spouse looked up and said, ‘Well, we are a family. It’s myself, my spouse, and our three children.’ She said it’s family boarding only and got very sarcastic.” said Morse.

Morse further added that this was no rare trip and that he often travels between the New York capital and Florida on Southwest Airlines without any issues but this time out, MOrse said that he and his family experienced something that he had never seen the likes of before.

Now according to Southwest Airlines’ “family boarding policy” which you can find on their official website, “One adult can board with any traveler who is “six years old or younger….during Family Boarding, which occurs after the “A” group has boarded and before the “B” group begins boarding.”

Morse said..”I understand that the language could indicate only one adult per child who meets the age restriction is allowed to board during the select window but contends that the employee did not treat his family respectfully.  Instead of reiterating the airline’s policy, said Morse, the employee allegedly just blurtted out “only families” were permitted.

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I have reached out to Southwest Airlines to get comment on this story but have yet to get a response as of this posting.  However should they respond, I will update this article accordingly.

(Grant Morse Family Courtesy of Grant Morse}

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