Transgender woman 'humiliated' after told she can't board Jetstar flight

Jetstar has apologised to Darci-Lee Hume for its conduct. Photo / Getty Images

A transgender woman who was unable to board a flight because she didn't have identification has described the experience as humiliating.

Jetstar has apologised to Darci-Lee Hume of Christchurch, who said she was due to board a flight out of Christchurch airport with a friend yesterday morning, but was not able to check in.

She told Fairfax the pair were asked to show identification by Jetstar staff. The friend used a bank card, but Miss Hume did not have any ID so was not allowed to board the flight.

Darci-Lee Hume did not have any ID so was not allowed to board the Jetstar flight. Photo / Darci-Lee Hume/Facebook

Because Miss Hume is a transgender woman, her ticket was booked with the honorific "Miss".

But she said she was told by staff that her details didn't match, Fairfax reported.

"When they came to me they said 'your details don't match up'.

"They were just like, 'look, you've got five seconds to provide some ID, prove who you are or you're not getting on this flight'."

Miss Hume alleges she spoke to a manager who said her details didn't match up, saying 'your details don't match up, it says Miss Darci, you are clearly not a Miss, Sir'.

Miss Hume said she had "never felt so humiliated".

A Jetstar spokesman told Fairfax that Ms Hume's gender was not an issue when they asked for identification, and regretted any offence caused.

For travel within New Zealand, the airline requires that identification be shown if requested.

This could be a passport, driver's licence, birth certificate or citizenship document, student ID or a company-issued ID.