American Airlines' funny mix-up: 101-year-old passenger mistaken for an infant

It is said that 'age is just a number,' and the American Airlines has taken it literally. In a peculiar incident, the airlines mistook a 101-year-old woman for an infant. How? Well, technology is to blame.

101 not one

The woman, identified as Patricia by media reports, is a 101-year-old born in 1922. However, the American Airlines system apparently cannot compute her 100 plus years of age and defaults the year of birth to 2022.

"It was funny that they thought I was only a little child, and I’m an old lady!" she told a BBC reporter travelling with her on the flight.

Also read | Over 50% of US voters don't like Trump for president, but more would prefer him over Biden: Poll

"My daughter made the reservation online for the ticket and the computer at the airport thought my birthdate was 2022 and not 1922," she told the reporter.

Her seat was booked as an adult ticket. However, the staff was expecting an infant.

"The same thing happened last year, and they were also expecting a child and not me."

On the flight between Chicago and Marquette, Michigan, the flight crew was able to fix the mix-up. However, the centenarian said that she would like for the glitch to be fixed as it has caused her problems in the past.

The 101-year-old who has some issue with her eyesight revealed that the last time she had to face difficulties as the airport staff did not have transport ready for her inside the terminal and were expecting to carry a baby instead.

"I would like them to fix the computer, as my poor daughter had to carry all our luggage and apparel almost a mile from one gate to the other," said Patricia.

Also read | Years-long chill to end? Ron DeSantis and Donald Trump hold private talks in Miami

A computer glitch

As per the report, apparently the Airport Airlines computer is unable to process the 1922 birthdate, so it defaults to one 100 years later.

Patricia, a former nurse, travelled solo until she was 97, and since then has been reliant on her family's help.
 
"I have some trouble with my eyesight now, so I wouldn't want to do it on my own," she revealed. 

Patricia is scheduled to fly again in autumn, by the time she would have turned 102. She told the BBC that IT problems would not hold her back from flying and said that she hoped that by autumn the airline computers would be able to process her impressive age. 

(With inputs from agencies)