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British Airways Treats Passenger Like Pervert, Passenger Sues

January 19, 2010 at 3:00 PM | by | Comments (0)

Here’s a pretty odd airline rule of which we weren’t aware. Apparently unaccompanied minors and kids in different rows from their parents are not allowed to sit next to men on British Airways. We understand that many people—not just men—are kind of gross and weird, but this just seems a little excessive. One man isn’t too happy with the policy, and he’s decided to sue British Airways over it.

Mirko Fischer is claiming that the airline is making an assumption that all men are potential sex offenders and that innocent travelers are at the risk of being embarrassed and humiliated. He isn’t too thrilled about the British Airways policy that requires flight attendants to check out the seating situation to ensure that male strangers aren’t sitting next to any kiddos.

The offended passenger was asked to move his seat when flying with his pregnant wife, and when he refused, he was told the airplane was staying put until he moved. Eventually he selected a different seat, but had this to say about the whole situation:

...statistically children are far more likely to be abused by a member of their family. Does that mean that BA are going to ban children sitting next to their own parents?'

I was made to feel like a criminal in front of other passengers. It was totally humiliating. Neither myself or my wife dared to speak to the boy in case the cabin crew forced us from our seats. The poor child must have thought we were extremely rude and unfriendly.

British Airways is keeping quiet while the lawsuit moves forward, but we can only guess that they aren’t pleased over the whole situation. We haven’t seen any situations like this during our travels, but we really haven’t been looking for it. We understand the possible risk to kids flying solo, but at the same time, it’s not right to single out men as possible criminals when they’re stuck next to children they don’t know...especially if they're concentrating on the comfort of their pregnant wife next to them.

Related Stories:
· Businessman Sues BA 'For Treating Men Like Perverts' [Daily Mail]
· How American Airlines And I Survived The British Airways Strike Together [Jaunted]
· Airline News coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: BriYYZ]

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