Major airline issues grovelling statement after banning breastfeeding mum from lounge

Virgin Australia has issued a grovelling apology to a mother-of-two after she was asked to leave the airline's Melbourne business lounge on Monday (September 15) because she was pumping breast milk. In a story posted to her social media, Dr Elise Turner said she was asked by a staff member to leave the lounge to breastfeed in a bathroom.

"This is pretty unbelievable and I'm beyond furious right now," Dr Turner said in a now-expired social media post. "I've been told that I can't sit here in the Virgin lounge as a paying business class ticket-holder to express breast milk." Dr Turner said she attempted to "politely provide education" to the staff member that breastfeeding is protected under Australia's Sex Discrimination Act of 1984. Breastfeeding is also protected by law in the UK under the Equality Act 2010, which prohibits discrimination against breastfeeding mothers in public places and the workplace.

In her social media post, Dr Turner said she asked the staff member if she prepared her own dinner "in a shared bathroom, a public bathroom or a public toilet".

"The staff member's reply was that I am making her and other people uncomfortable," Dr Turner said.

"And then she put her hand on my arm and asked me to leave the lounge.

"This is just disgusting," she added. "This is 2025, and this is the sort of treatment that lactating mothers are expected to deal with."

In a statement, Virgin Australia said it had apologised to Dr Turner directly.

"We are sorry for the way this situation was handled," the airline said. "It fell short of the high standards of care and customer service our team strives to deliver.

"We have reached out to our guest today to apologise directly."

The airline said it had since followed up with the staff member involved. Virgin Australia's Chief Marketing Officer, Libby Minogue, told 10 News Australia that they were writing a report on the incident.

Australian Breastfeeding Association executive officer Victoria Marshall-Cerins told ABC Melbourne radio that it was disappointing that women were still having these experiences in the community: "Women may feel more comfortable in a dedicated space, but it is a woman's right to be able to breastfeed in any public space that she is lawfully able to access.

"I think it indicates that they've still got some fairly significant gaps and learning needs [at the airline]."