Long COVID sufferer who says she must stay horizontal 90% of time crowdfunds for business class flight to US - then gets a nasty surprise

A long Covid sufferer who crowdfunded for an business class seat on a Delta flight for medical reasons has hit out at the airline after she arrived at the airport to be quoted double the price.

Actress Laura Baranik attempted to book the lie-flat using donations from well-wishers in a bid to help manage her debilitating symptoms during her ten hour flight from Europe to the US.

The Canadian-Slovak writer explained she has to fly back to the states from her family's home in Prague to 'save' her green card.

But she claimed a miscommunication around booking the luxury seat wound up with her being asked to fork out double the cost to secure an on-the-day upgrade - which she cannot afford.

'They have the space, they just don’t have the heart,' Laura wrote, stating the Delta app showed '20 seats' in the luxury section of the cabin. 'F*** capitalism. F*** ableism. I’m so done.'

A long Covid sufferer who crowdfunded for an upgraded seat on a Delta flight for medical reasons has hit out at the airline after she arrived at the airport to be quoted double the price

Delta passenger Laura attempted to book the premium spot in the Delta One cabin (pictured) in a bid to help manage her debilitating symptoms during her ten hour flight to the US

Laura explained she had tried to book a Delta One seat to allow her to lie down during the journey.

Delta's website describes the upgrade as offering, 'spacious lie-flat seats' which recline back to 180 degrees and come complete with 'cozy bedding and a lumbar pillow that doubles as a mattress pad'

'The exertion of fighting for the upgrade alone will be enough to crash me, let alone the 9.5-hour flight sitting up,' she explained in posts on X. 'I currently have to spend 80-90% of my day horizontal to manage symptoms.'

Laura claims she was told by Delta reps to request an upgrade in person at the check-in desk, but that when she got there she was informed it should have been done over the phone.

'After calling three different lines I was quoted an upgrade price that was DOUBLE what they told me yesterday,' she added. 'I didn’t crowdfund enough to cover that, so I’m stuck in economy.

'The exertion of fighting for the upgrade alone will be enough to crash me.' 

To make matters worse, she claimed the wheelchair assistance team was 'unmasked' and coughing all over her.

'One of them is coughing up a lung. I’m stuck sitting here with their spittle for an hour now bc flight is delayed due to “last-minute maintenance”,' Laura fumed.

The Canadian-Slovak writer explained she has to fly back to the states from her family's home in Prague to 'save' her green card. Pictured: Laura before her illness

Laura claims she was told by Delta reps to request an upgrade in person at the check-in desk, but that when she got there she was informed it should have been done over the phone

The CDC states that long Covid is a 'real' disease which can cause extreme fatigue, joint paint, respiratory problems, digestive issues and brain fog among other symptoms. 

'For some people, Long COVID can last weeks, months, or years after COVID-19 illness and can sometimes result in disability,' the CDC says.

Around seven percent of US adults, equivalent to around 17 million people, had long Covid as of April, independent health publication KFF reports.

While several people empathized with Laura's plight, some accused her of trying to 'grift' a free first class seat.

'Grifter’s gotta grift,' one snarky user commented under her thread.

'“End capitalism” ..well, yeah, then first class wouldn’t be an option,' another pointed out. 

'Sounds like you are way too sick to be on an airplane… hopefully Delta does the safe thing and denies you boarding for your own safety and health,' one user said.

Others highlighted  that Delta has an obligation to assist disabled customers.

Her long Covid is so debilitating she tries to remain horizontal for 90% of the time to manage her symptoms

Many social media users expressed sympathy with her position

However, she was accused of being a 'grifter' by several snarky X users

'Delta please do better,' one X user wrote. 'You are breaching the ADA! People have a legal right to safe travel that accommodates their disabilities without having to pay extra.'

'Delta this is an absolute travesty! I’m a loyal medallion customer and I’ve been singing your praises for the last few years. You need to fix this and not shunt disabled people around,' another added.

'How pathetic is it that you couldn’t accommodate,'  one person wrote.

'Where is your compassion? Empty seats to boot! Then the cost differences quoted. Just sadly inhumane. I’m so sorry Laura you were treated this way. There needs to be some drastic compensation.'