Woman tries to board flight in Chicago with ‘medical device.’ Now she’s calling out Delta for discrimination: ‘A breast pump is not a medical device’
A woman on TikTok is getting backlash after sharing a story about what she calls a discriminatory interaction with Delta staff before boarding a flight.
TikTok creator Amanda (@amarx76), whose video has gotten over 619,200 views, says the situation started when she was told she had too many items to bring on board.
“This is what I was wearing when Delta told me I couldn’t fly,” she says, showing a fanny pack and a backpack.
She says she was initially told to consolidate her belongings. “She says, ‘Ma’am, you can’t fly with all this. You need to consolidate,’” Amanda recalls.
Amanda says she complied, putting her fanny pack into her backpack, but then tried to explain one of the items.
“I just wanna let you know, like, this is a medical device,” she says.
She Says The Interaction Escalated At The Gate
According to Amanda, the Delta employee questioned her claim.
“You have a medical device? I don’t think you do. You don’t look like you need one. Prove it,” she says the worker told her.
Amanda says she then showed the device. “I take out my breast pump… I’ll comply, not a big deal,” she says.
But she claims that didn’t resolve things. “What is that?” she says the Delta employee asked. “A breast pump? Nah, that’s not how it works around here. That’s not considered a medical device.”
Amanda says she pushed back, explaining she had traveled with it before without issue.
“I’m a frequent flyer… I’ve never been questioned,” she says.
She adds that she ultimately put the device back in her bag and continued through the boarding process, but the interaction stuck with her.
“You can’t ask me to prove what medical device I have,” she says. “You’re discriminating against me, saying I don’t look like I need a medical device.”
Commenters Push Back On Her Claim
In the comments, many viewers questioned whether a breast pump qualifies as a medical device in this context.
“Can you explain how that’s a medical device ?” one person wrote.
“I’m a type 1 diabetic and I wear an Insulin pump and a CGM (real medical devices) a breast pump is not,” another said.
Others questioned her description of it being prescribed.
“Prescribed by a doctor to pump breastmilk? what? please explain,” a third wrote.
At the same time, at least one commenter who identified as a flight attendant sided with her.
“Flight attendant here: medical devices do not count as a personal device! I’m so so, unbelievably sorry you had to deal with that. It’s completely unacceptable,” they wrote.
Is a Breast Pump A Medical Device?
Yes. Breast pumps are considered medical devices and are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
They’re not just for convenience. For breastfeeding mothers, especially those separated from their infants, pumping is necessary to avoid pain, infection, and other complications.
Airlines typically recognize that. Delta Airlines, for example, states that passengers can bring a breast pump and an associated cooler bag as an additional item on top of their standard carry-on allowance.
@amarx76 @delta can you tell I’m mad? #delta #discrimination #illegal #momtok #fyp ♬ original sound – Amanda ??
The Mary Sue has reached out to Delta and Amanda via email for comment.
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