[Butch Cassidy Slept Here]

Think there are only, very specific, reasons for being denied boarding? Think again! Say anything, even remotely, cross to a gate agent, or to a crew member, then consider the following arsenal at the disposal of “the dark side”:

These are passages from what I believe to be a representative Contract of Carriage. In this case the Contract is that of American Air.

Your physical or mental condition is such that in American's sole opinion, you are rendered or likely to be rendered incapable of comprehending or complying with safety instructions without the assistance of an attendant.

Now we know where all the comments, from the airline people on here, about being mentally ill come from. As you’ll note, American Air has licensed its gate agents, and flight crew, to be practicing psychiatrists!

Your conduct is disorderly, abusive or violent,

Think you can say something nasty about my nail polish?? That’ll teach you! You were disorderly and abusive!! I shall assume the “good ole boy” flight attendants punish same sex holding of hands under this clause. “Those people” are, by nature, “disorderly,” aren’t they??

Engage in any action, voluntary or involuntary, that might jeopardize the safety of the aircraft or any of its occupants.

Untoward farts can be severely punished!! Don’t laugh too long at that dirty joke your colleague just told you. You might get kicked-off the plane!

The passages can be found in section 8, “Acceptance of Passengers,” at:

http://www.aa.com/aa/i18nForward.do?...OfCarriage.jsp

The airlines that write stuff like this want you, very much, to forget that, under the law, they are “common carriers.” As such their ability to deny boarding has limitations, not the “blank check,” as shown above, which they have written for those of their employees who have problems relating appropriately to others. Hopefully, someday, one of the major US-based airlines will be looking at a high six figure judgment because some gate agent, or flight attendant, with a problem, decided laws do not apply to him.