101-year-old woman constantly mistaken for a baby by airline

An airline repeatedly mistakes a 101-year-old woman for a baby due to a problem with its flight reservation system.

Apparently, American Airlines systems are unable to calculate that Patricia – who did not want to disclose her last name – was born in 1922, and not in 2022.

The BBC witnessed the latest confusion, which was a laughing matter for her and the aircraft’s crew. “It was funny that they thought I was a little kid and I’m a little old lady,” she said.

The case happened when Patricia was traveling between Chicago and Marquette (Michigan), in the United States.

Patricia was traveling with her daughter, Kris.

“My daughter booked her ticket online and the airport computer thought my date of birth was 2022 and not 1922,” she said.

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

Patrícia’s seat was reserved with an adult ticket.

But it appears that the airport’s computer system was unable to process her true date of birth until now, so it registered the passenger as a person 100 years younger.

The retired nurse, who flies every year to see her family and escape the cold winters, says that on both occasions American Airlines employees were friendly and helpful, despite the confusion.

American Airlines did not respond to a BBC request for comment.

Despite seeing the funny side, the centenarian states that she would like the error to be resolved, as it causes her some problems.

For example, airport staff do not have transport prepared for them inside the terminal, as they are waiting for a baby that can be carried on their lap.

On another occasion, Patrícia and her daughter had to wait inside the plane for all the other passengers to leave, as the airport staff had not prepared a wheelchair for her.

He says that recognition of his real age would also benefit Kris. “I wish they would fix the computer since my poor daughter had to carry all our luggage and clothes almost a kilometer from one door to another,” she said.

Patrícia traveled alone until she was 97 years old, now she depends on her family’s help.

“I have vision problems, so I wouldn’t want to do this alone,” she explains.

But she insists the computer problems won’t stop her traveling and says she’s looking forward to her next flight in the autumn.

By then he will have turned 102 and, who knows, the airline’s computers will have updated his true age.