Air France found guilty of discriminating against male passenger

paris - A man felt discriminated against when asked to change seats on an Air France flight, and the Norwegian Anti-Discrimination Commission ruled in his favor.

A man who felt discriminated against when asked to change seats on an Air France flight has been vindicated by the Norwegian Anti-Discrimination Commission. The incident took place on October 27, 2022, on a flight between Oslo and Paris. Dominique Sellier was asked to switch seats with a female passenger to avoid sitting next to two unaccompanied minors, which was deemed a higher risk of violence.

During the case, Air France's lawyer referenced the airline's internal regulations, stating that unaccompanied minors should ideally sit next to a woman in a full flight. The lawyer argued that the differential treatment was justified to protect the minors from the risk of trafficking and other forms of violence, crimes that are predominantly committed by men.

Sellier described the experience as unpleasant, noting that other passengers looked at him, anticipating the seat change to proceed for takeoff. He expressed frustration at the assumption made based solely on his gender, criticizing the generalization of men. Sellier has not received compensation or an apology despite the Commission's ruling in his favor. Air France's lawyer declined to comment on the decision.