Billy Canu and his partner said their holiday travel was disrupted when a United Airlines agent called them "faggots" during an exchange about access to the lounge at Denver International Airport on Saturday.

ABC 7 News of Denver reports that Canu and his partner were waiting for their flight home to San Diego when they became confused about access to United's Gold Lounge on Concourse B. They approached nearby United agents and were met with "a very condescending, sort of rude" answer that prompted them to complain. A manager approached and escalated the situation, even threatening to throw them off their flight if they continued to complain, according to the couple.

"As we were walking away he goes 'idiots,'" Canu told ABC 7. "So my partner turned around and started walking up to him and said, 'I'm sorry. What did you say?'"

"He [the manager] says, 'What faggots,'" said Canu.

ABC 7 declined to identify the accused United employee, but in a more detailed account on Facebook, Canu identified him as Rodney Hill. In a statement to the TV station, United said it was reviewing the complaint and "does not tolerate discrimination of any kind."

Canu and his partner are seeking an apology from the airline.