Coach: Southwest agent asked for proof biracial son was hers

LOS ANGELES – Southwest has apologized to the Cal women’s basketball coach Lindsay Gottlieb (GOT’-leeb) after she claimed an airline employee stopped her from boarding because the worker didn’t believe her 1-year-old biracial son was hers.

Gottlieb tweeted that a desk agent wouldn’t let her on a flight from Denver to Oakland Sunday because her son had a different last name. However, the coach from the University of California, Berkeley said she believed it was “because he has a different skin colour.” Gottlieb was travelling with her fiance, Patrick Martin, the boy’s father, who is black.

Airlines aren’t required to match the last name of a child and guardian for domestic flights.

Southwest said Tuesday it reached out to Gottlieb.

Gottlieb says she appreciates the apology.