A woman trying to clarify Delta Airlines’ breastfeeding policy as she prepared for a transcontinental flight with her 10-week-old son involuntarily launched a social media campaign in support of moms everywhere. A Delta employee told the mom via Twitter that she could not breastfeed without a cover, which the airline later said was “misinformation.”

Lindsay Jaynes tweeted @DeltaAssist and asked: “What’s your breastfeeding policy? I’ll be flying with my 10 wk old son and he won’t nurse with a cover or take a bottle. Thanks.”

@DeltaAssist tweeted back: “Lindsay unfortunately you are not able to breast feed if you don’t have a cover up. I’m sorry. *SD”

Jaynes will be traveling next month from Orange County, Calif. to Sarasota, Fla.

Shocked, Jaynes tweeted: “My flight is six hours and he needs to eat every two hours. What do you suggest?”

The conversation continued with @DeltaAssist replying: “I would suggest pumping if you can and bringing it on board with you. You are allowed to bring breast milk on board.”

Jaynes asked for a link to Delta’s policy specifying this rule, posting: “So even though I am legally allowed to breastfeed without a cover, you’re saying I can’t? Is there a Delta written policy?”

“I was shocked,” Jaynes told WXIA-TV. “I was expecting a link to their policy I could print out just in case there were any issues. I heard about the woman who got kicked off a Delta flight for breastfeeding without a cover.” 

The conversation was picked up by angry Twitter users around the country, who sent more than 1,200 tweets in reply to @ClassicHippie.

“Hoping @DeltaAssist will clarify for all of us mamas why they told @ClassicHippie she can’t breastfeed on flight without a cover? NOT OKAY,” posted one Twitter mom.

An @DeltaAssist user with the initials TH then sent out an apology: “Delta welcomes breastfeeding mothers and babies on our flights. We apologize for the misinformation earlier. *TH”

Jaynes said Delta called her to apologize for the back-and-forth.

Even so, Jaynes wasn’t entirely convinced.

“I’ve flown Delta for years,” she said. “And I don’t feel like they’re taking it seriously.” 

Sources: WXIA-TV, The Blaze

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SANTA ANA (CBSLA.com) — A Newport Beach woman got into a controversial exchange with a Delta Airlines customer service representative on Twitter about the mother’s right to breastfeed her baby aboard a plane.

Lindsay Jaynes told KCAL9’s Stacey Butler that she went online to book a flight with her newborn son, who is recovering from oral surgery and has acid reflux.

“I noticed that there wasn’t any statement about a breastfeeding policy,” she said.

Jaynes decided to tweet at Delta’s customer service account to ask if they had a policy.

@DeltaAssist What’s your breast feeding policy? I’ll be flying with my 10wk old son and he won’t nurse with a cover or take a bottle. Thanks—
Lindsay Jaynes (@ClassicHippie) February 21, 2014

“All I really wanted was a written statement by them to show any of the flight attendants or anyone on the plane just in case there was an issue,” Jaynes said.

A Delta representative wrote back that she would not be able to breastfeed without a cover-up.

@ClassicHippie I Lindsay unfortunately you are not able to breast feed if you don’t have a cover up. I’m sorry. *SD—
Delta Assist (@DeltaAssist) February 21, 2014

“I have tried since day one to use a cover with him and to use a bottle, and he refuses to feed with either one,” Jaynes told Butler.

Jaynes asked if the rep had a suggestion because her boy needs to eat every two hours and she’s on a six-hour flight.

@DeltaAssist My flight is six hours and he needs to eat every two hours. What do you suggest?—
Lindsay Jaynes (@ClassicHippie) February 21, 2014

The rep told Jaynes that she could bring the breast milk on the plane.

@ClassicHippie I would suggest pumping if you can and bringing it on board with you. You are allowed to bring breast milk on board. *SD—
Delta Assist (@DeltaAssist) February 21, 2014

Jaynes said she was so upset, she contacted breastfeeding advocacy groups. They retweeted her tweets and contacted Delta.

On Friday, Delta tweeted an apology about the misinformation.

@ClassicHippie Delta welcomes breastfeeding mothers and babies on our flights. We apologize for the misinformation earlier. *TH—
Delta Assist (@DeltaAssist) February 21, 2014

A Delta spokesperson told Butler that the customer service rep who issued the tweets made a mistake.

Jaynes just wants a breastfeeding policy posted on Delta’s website.

For Immediate Release
 
Chicago, IL – February 21, 2014 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include the Hewlett Packard (HPQ–Free Report), GOL Linhas Aereas (GOL–Free Report), Delta Airlines Inc. (DAL–Free Report), United Continental Holdings Inc. (UAL–Free Report) and American Airlines Group Inc. (AAL–Free Report).
 
Today, Zacks is promoting its ”Buy” stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free.

Here are highlights from Thursday’s Analyst Blog:

H-P Posts Strong Q1 Earnings
 
Hewlett Packard (HPQ–Free Report), reported first quarter 2014 earnings and revenues today, posting an EPS of $0.90, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.85.  On the Revenue front, HPQ beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $27.19 billion, by posting Revenues of $28.15 billion.  
 
As the company is in year two of CEO Meg Whitman’s five year plan, the street was anticipating the news regarding the companies Free Cash Flow situation, the company-wide restructuring effort, PC sales, and margins.  First, Free Cash Flow, has been scrutinized due to dividend payments, and the overall cost of the restructuring plan.  In the previous quarter, HPQ had a FCF of $2.0 billion, and is now at $2.4 billion.  A marked improvement from the previous quarter.  Secondly, the restructuring effort by management has been well received and has obviously helped both the top and bottom lines.  
 
The company was able to trim costs, and still produce positive revenues (net cash is currently at $1.7 billion).  Third, PC sales, it appears as though PC sales have finally bottomed out, and that there is a potential for growth in the coming years for the company. Moreover, the PC segment saw a rise of 4% in total revenues.  Finally, but most importantly, Margins; one of the strongest areas of margin growth for the company was in the Printer segment, which saw margins up 16.8%.  Overall, management stated that margins were positive and moving in the correct direction.  

In other news, HPQ is currently in talks to settle a lawsuit regarding the Autonomy write-down.  This $8.8 billion write-down after the acquisition of Autonomy, due to Autonomy’s controversial hardware sales practices.  The plaintiffs are stating that HPQ management was aware of the practices before a whistleblower identified the problem.  This settlement could have a negative impact on FCF, and their margins though 2014 as well.  

GOL Strikes Deal with Air France-KLM
 
Low-cost Brazilian carrier GOL Linhas Aereas (GOL–Free Report) has announced an exclusive strategic partnership with European giant Air France-KLM SA aimed at expanding their operations between Brazil and Europe. Shareholders reacted positively to the news as the stock gained 5.5% in the Wednesday aftermarket trade on NYSE.
 
Per the agreement, Air France-KLM will invest $100 million of which $52 million will be in GOL’s preference share representing a 1.5% stake. The remaining $48 million will be invested as part of commercial agreements and bonus based on cost savings. Both the companies await regulatory approval for the deal.
 
The alliance includes increased code share, joint sales activities and enhanced offerings through their frequent flyer program, which will allow GOL to extend its service in Europe, while Air France-KLM will benefit by increasing its presence in Brazil. The agreement will allow both the companies to increase their service to 318 destinations across 115 countries.
 
GOL has a code sharing agreement with Delta Airlines Inc. (DAL–Free Report), whereby the two carriers will maximize the connecting routes in the Brazil–United States passage. The current code share agreement allows Delta to access 23 destinations in Brazil while GOL customers can access 5 markets that Delta currently serves.
 
Brazil will host the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics, two of the biggest global sporting events. This year the country is expected to get around 600,000 international visitors in addition to 3 million domestic fans during the event, presenting a big opportunity for passenger carriers like GOL.
 
Thus the partnership will strengthen GOL’s position in Europe – one of the most popular destinations for Brazil. Passengers from Europe are only expected to increase during the world cup, and drive growth. However, persistent weakness in the Brazilian economy, a depreciating Real and surging operating costs could create headwinds for the company going forward.  
 
GOL currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Better-ranked stocks within this sector include United Continental Holdings Inc. (UAL–Free Report) and American Airlines Group Inc. (AAL–Free Report). Both carry a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
 
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Paramedics met a Delta Airlines flight at Los Angeles International Airport on Wednesday to treat nine teenagers who apparently became ill after consuming food before boarding in Guatemala City, officials said.

Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey said the nine passengers consumed “common” food, possibly fruit, before the flight, prompting the medical emergency at Terminal 5 upon landing. The teens were traveling together, Humphrey said, and were experiencing nausea and vomiting.

None of the flight’s other passengers needed medical attention, he said, adding that none of the sickened teenagers required hospital care.

In a message posted on Twitter, Humphrey called the illness “mild to moderate” and not life threatening.

“The main reason for our alert is to clarify the reason for ambulances rushing to the airport,” he told The Times. “We want to remove fear, uncertainty and doubt.”

Airport spokesman Marshall Lowe said Delta Flight 1392 from Guatemala City landed at 11:21 a.m., with the captain reporting that the teens were possibly suffering from food poisoning. LAX had been the plane’s destination, he added.

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DETROIT (WWJ) – More than 700 Delta workers’ jobs at Detroit Metro Airport could be on the chopping block. They could be laid off in April.

WWJ and Fox 2 Business Editor Murray Feldman says the workers might be hired by the sub-contractors.

“Of course nobody knows what kind of pay or benefits the new companies will be offering, it may not be what the former companies provided. Delta says if they can help these people get jobs here they will, if they can help them get jobs other places they will do that. The change is going to take place on April the fifteenth,” said Feldman.

Feldman says that Delta is being very cautious about what they are calling this, they don’t want to call it an outright layoff, in fact, he says, Delta addresses term specifically and denies that this is a layoff.

He notes the people affected are “local people, work for companies that Delta contracts with, these are people who provide service jobs to maintain the cabin and the ramp agents, administrative agents. Airport sources say that Delta has chosen new companies to perform these services and the new companies are going to need people so it’s possible that people who are going to be laid-off could be hired by the new companies.”

Feldman says Delta could potentially transfer crews to other Delta companies.

Delta Airlines has jobbed out maintenance and service workers at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport with layoff notices coming in April after new contractors take control of the support positions.

The job cuts will affect 741 workers but just how many will remain out of work is unclear. Morgan Durrant, a spokesman for Delta Airlines, said the employees will be able to re-apply for their jobs.

Our expectation is that as this transition is happening, the new providers will look to the old workforce, Durrant said. We expect the incoming vendors to look to the existing workforce and utilize that institutional knowledge and skill.

DAL Global Services, an airline subsidiary, will be making the cuts, according to a document filed by the company with Michigans Department of Career Development.

The layoffs will come on or around April 15, the company said. Jobs being cut include 141 cabin service agents, 380 ramp agents, 77 cabin provision agents and 50 ramp supervisors. Delta is switching from DAL Global Services to two new contractors: Prospect, which will be responsible for cabin cleaning, and Menzies Aviation, which will handle baggage and marshalling out on the tarmac. The changes only affect regional flights where planes seat between 50 and 76 passengers, said Morgan Durrant, a spokesman for Delta Airlines.

Durrant said the switch to new contractors is a standard move for the business when it re-evaluates its needs. He declined to elaborate on the reason for the switch.

According to the document filed with the state on Wednesday, the outgoing provider could also provide assistance for placing laid-off employees in other jobs.

While DAL Global Services will work with its employees in placing them in available positions in other cities, employees may not necessarily receive the city which is their first choice, the company said in the letter to the state. Those affected employees who are not willing to transfer will be furloughed.

Durrant said the layoffs only affect staffers at Detroit Metro Airport.

Last year 32.4 million people flew through the airport, said spokesman Michael Conway. He said 18,100 employees work at the airport.

As for the layoffs, he said he isnt expecting many jobs to be eliminated.

If theres any net loss in the jobs at the airport, they would be minimal, said Conway. Theyre still going to need the same services done.

Delta layoffs

The jobs in jeopardy:
■Cabin lavatory agents: 58
■Cabin service agents: 141
■Cabin provision agents: 77
■Cabin service supervisors: 7
■Cabin service duty managers: 2
■Ramp agents: 380
■Ramp certified trainer: 2
■Ramp supervisors: 50
■Ramp duty managers: 12
■Ramp station managers: 2
■Administrative assistants: 9
■Administrative duty manager: 1

SOCHI, Russia – Canada needs to pick up the pace in the second half to reach its goals at the Sochi Olympics. Canada had 11 medals at halftime in 2006 in Turin, …