Because airlines are not equipped to sell a meal to everyone in coach who decides they want one. Welcome to 21st Century U.S. airways. What this woman wanted was special treatment above and beyond what her fellow passengers get. Why is that fair? And if another person in coach demanded to buy a meal because the lady in row 22 got one then what does the flight attendant say?
You are literally being absurd by trying to defend your opinion. I am sure no one on the plane would start organizing for hot meals if they saw this girl get one. This situation resulted in a diverted plane. I can only imagine that the other passengers would have been more than happy if the airline would have just accommodated the simple request and not escalated to an emergency landing with cops and paramedics involved.
"I posted on your article but I wanted you to know I was on that plane and my seat mates and I were horrified and very angry with the horrid way they treated you. I talked with Jerod, the 2 female fight attendants and the pilot. I filed a formal complaint with the Salt Lake City police and posted on FB and called TV news stations. I am appalled with the behavior of the airlines and I am really glad you are doing something about it. I have photos and my seat mate an exec. with Shell Oil has video. I didn't hear of a single person that was upset with your daughter just in case you wondered. Please let me know if I can help in any way. Blessings, Jodi Smith"
That unless the other person in coach can prove that the Americans with Disabilities Act applies to him, he’s sh!t out of luck on that meal.
Giving the kid a meal that the mother agreed to pay for sounds like the most reasonable of reasonable accommodations, given that United’s own policy is to have bistro boxes on board flights that are more than 3.5 hours in duration, and Houston to Portland is. They nuke the sandwich, give the kid a hot sandwich, story over.
That said, if Mom knows this can happen, she should bring one of those box meals that you just need to nuke with her wherever she goes. Although the steward on a power trip may have refused to microwave it.