Beyoncé helped a disabled man fly to her concert after he was denied access to an Alaska Airlines flight due to his oversized wheelchair.
Jon Hetherington, who claims to be a longtime fan of Beyoncé, said in a TikTok video that he was on his way to see the iconic singer perform in Seattle, Washington, as part of her Renaissance Tour on September 14, 2023 when he encountered a roadblock.
“I got to the airport for my flight, and they tell me that my wheelchair is apparently four inches too tall to be loaded onto the plane,” Hetherington said.
“They checked every possible flight, and nothing was available. So after 25 years of waiting, I’m not seeing Beyonce tonight,” Hetherington concluded.
Hetherington’s post reached Beyoncé fans, known as the “Beyhive”, and the fan base got to work immediately, persistently tagging the 32-time Grammy award winner until she noticed the post.
Beyoncé’s team then reached out to Hetherington and invited him to the show. They also arranged for his transportation, including his flights.
Hetherington then posted a photo of him at the concert venue to Instagram, saying, “Beyhive, you made this happen, you pushed and tagged like the internet has never seen. Tonight, for the first time ever, I had a seat on the floor for a concert. Welcome to the RENAISSANCE.”
Hetherington also had the opportunity to meet Beyoncé, and her mother, Tina Knowles.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Alaska Airlines, the carrier that could not fly Hetherington, confirmed the incident, gave the following statement to various US media outlets:
“We feel terrible about our guest’s travel experience with us. We’re always aiming to do better as we encounter situations such as this one.
“Our Boeing aircraft have dimension limitations when it comes to loading battery-powered mobility aids, like a wheelchair, into the cargo hold.”