MELBOURNE, Nov. 29 (UPI) -- Australia's policy that bars male airline passengers from sitting next to unaccompanied children leaves airlines open discrimination claims, law experts say.
The relatively unknown policy -- enforced by Qantas on a New Zealand man -- also is practiced by Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, United Airlines and Virgin Blue, The (Melbourne) Age reported.
The ban is based on Australian law that allows sex discrimination in the provision of goods and services.
Qantas passenger Mark Worsley said he was "extremely humiliated" when he was forced to change seats with a woman after taking off on a flight from Christchurch to Auckland, New Zealand.
"Nobody wants to be pointed out as a possible pedophile," Worsley told The Age. "It was humiliating. In the beginning, I was embarrassed; later on, I was angry."
While legal experts said the policy opens airlines to discrimination claims, a Qantas spokesman said it reflects "the need to maximize children's safety."
