FLY THE GAY-FRIENDLY SKIES

Meetings & Conventions: Short Cuts September 1998 Current Issue
August 1998
Short Cuts:
FLY THE GAY-FRIENDLY SKIES

How do the major airlines treat the homosexual travel community? Out & About, a newsletter for gay and lesbian travelers, has been rating the airlines biannually since 1994. At right are this year's grades, based on policies as of late 1997. Criteria cover customer policies (including transferability of frequent flyer awards, spousal benefit programs and bereavement fares for same-sex partners); community involvement (membership in the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association, among other factors); and internal policies (inclusion of sexual orientation in a nondiscrimination policy, sensitivity training covering sexual orientation and AIDS, and domestic partner employee benefits). Details about the ratings are on the Web at (www.outandabout.com).

Airline
Alaska Airlines
America West
American Airlines
British Airways
Continental Airlines
Delta Airlines
Northwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines
TWA
United Airlines
US Airways
Virgin Atlantic

*A new policy as of this summer, allowing travel benefits to partners of all single employees, will likely raise American's grade to an A or A- in the next rating period.