British Airways sued over 'humiliating' policy

[harvyk]

It is a pretty blatent form of discrimination really.

You'd think that, but didn't you know it's not discrimination if it's against a male. :shock: Especially as the airlines simply sprout "child safety" cough.

As a father I'd have no problem if any of my kids sat next to a male on a flight. There is nothing that a male could really do on a flight which a female could not realistically do. Especially as there would be loads of witnesses to any untoward behaviour in either case.

 

[JohnK]

As a father I'd have no problem if any of my kids sat next to a male on a flight. There is nothing that a male could really do on a flight which a female could not realistically do. Especially as there would be loads of witnesses to any untoward behaviour in either case.

Would anyone really be that stupid to try anything on a flight?

 

[samh004]

Were they miners, by any chance?

It was between the UK (boarding school) and HK. So not likely.

I'm not a parent but to me, what kind of parents let their under 12's fly (international) all alone?!?!

Many expatriate children from the UK attend boarding schools in the UK from a young age, but their parents live in Asia. It’s very common.

 

[trooper]

Like a few others here, part of my job involves dealing with children.. As a result I am subject to regular "Police Checks" (which, in a nice sort of twist, I have to pay for...:mrgreen

Now, as I have clearly always "Passed" this test... one wonders how it would go onboard... I think I will request some official written "certificate" to carry with me.... and if ever told to move under this policy - demand to see something similar from each and every male crew member on the flight...

Probably a quick way to get booted off actually!

Hope he wins... if only to lead to a FAR more discreet use of such policies!

 

[samh004]

Like a few others here, part of my job involves dealing with children.. As a result I am subject to regular "Police Checks" (which, in a nice sort of twist, I have to pay for...:mrgreen

I’ve actually got to get my blue card renewed, and seeing as I’m technically still a student, I’m going to hopefully get it renewed at uni for free!

 

[serfty]

I'm not a parent but to me, what kind of parents let their under 12's fly (international) all alone?!?!

In this particular case, the child was not under the age of 12.

See my earlier post #8: The Australian Frequent Flyer Online Community - View Single Post - British Airways sued over 'humiliating' policy

To reiterate the main points:

• BA won't carry any child under 12 without them being classed as a UM.
• It seems this was not an unaccompanied child.
• However, the child should still have been seated with the other UM's at seat allocation/check-in. The age of the passenger would have been known given an international flight.

 

[NM]

Like a few others here, part of my job involves dealing with children.. As a result I am subject to regular "Police Checks" (which, in a nice sort of twist, I have to pay for...:mrgreen

Now, as I have clearly always "Passed" this test... one wonders how it would go onboard... I think I will request some official written "certificate" to carry with me.... and if ever told to move under this policy - demand to see something similar from each and every male crew member on the flight...

Probably a quick way to get booted off actually!

Hope he wins... if only to lead to a FAR more discreet use of such policies!

I’ve actually got to get my blue card renewed, and seeing as I’m technically still a student, I’m going to hopefully get it renewed at uni for free!

Part of the problem will be that cards like the Qld Government issued "Blue Card" (Positive Notice Blue Card for Child Related Employment) is only recognised in the state in which it was issued. The Qld Government Blue Cards require renewal every two years and involve a police check and references from your "sponsor" organisation. So while it should be sufficient to show you are not a risk to the child seated next to you, I doubt airline staff are going to recognise the cards nor accept them for this situation. However, I do expect that Flight Attendants would be required by the state laws under which they are employed to have (and carry) their state's equivalent of the Blue Card.

On the back of my card it says "It is an offence to work with children in paid or voluntary employment, or to carry on a child-related business without a current blue card".

My Blue Card is one of the things I take out of my wallet when travelling overseas as I have no use for it outside of Queensland.

 

[anat0l]

I was seated in 4C next to a young child in her own seat in 4B with mother in 4A.

This was not many months after the first of these kinds of stories surfaced. I actually asked the lady in 4A if she minded me sitting next to her daughter in 4B. She said she had no problem and I even explained why. She was stunned that anyone would ever think that.

We had a good flight chatting, both to mum and daughter.

 

[drron]

I was seated in 4C next to a young child in her own seat in 4B with mother in 4A.

This was not many months after the first of these kinds of stories surfaced. I actually asked the lady in 4A if she minded me sitting next to her daughter in 4B. She said she had no problem and I even explained why. She was stunned that anyone would ever think that.

We had a good flight chatting, both to mum and daughter.

Once on DJ a woman and her infant were sitting in the A seat,B empty and moi in C.We had a good chat and after about 30 minutes she asked me to hold the infant whilst she prepared herself to breast feed.Now when handing said infant back where was i to look?

 

[JohnK]

Once on DJ a woman and her infant were sitting in the A seat,B empty and moi in C.We had a good chat and after about 30 minutes she asked me to hold the infant whilst she prepared herself to breast feed.Now when handing said infant back where was i to look?

Can you keep a straight face? Just remember you are a doctor and have seen them many times before.

 

[Dave Noble]

:

• BA won't carry any child under 12 without them being classed as a UM.
• It seems this was not an unaccompanied child.
• However, the child should still have been seated with the other UM's at seat allocation/check-in. The age of the passenger would have been known given an international flight.

Since he was not an unaccompanied minor, there should have been no issues whatsoever ; not being a UM, he should not have been placed with UMs ( not other UMs since he was not one himself )

also.. apostrophe alert

Dave

 

[drron]

Can you keep a straight face? Just remember you are a doctor and have seen them many times before.

Yes but there is a time and place for everything

 

[serfty]

Since he was not an unaccompanied minor, there should have been no issues whatsoever ; not being a UM, he should not have been placed with UMs ( not other UMs since he was not one himself ) ...

BA's UM policy relates to children under the age of 12.

I believe the problem here is BA's Policy for who may or may not be seated beside children (the issue here) seems to include children older than 11, as well as UM's.

With BA having this seating policy, the child's age should have been apparent at check-in and the child allocated a seat in compliance with BA's policy.

 

[Alanslegal]

In this particular case, the child was not under the age of 12.

Yep got that, but I'm just wondering who would send their under 12's by themselves in a general situation.

Thanks for some of those suggestions but it still does not ease my mind that parents do send their under 12's all alone. I for one, could not see myself sending my 'future' kid/s, internationally all alone.

 

[Dave Noble]

BA's UM policy relates to children under the age of 12.

I believe the problem here is BA's Policy for who may or may not be seated beside children (the issue here) seems to include children older than 11, as well as UM's.

The policy , I am pretty sure, only applies to under 12s plus those over 12 booked as UMs. When a friend was sending his 12 yo brat from UK-Mel via syd just as a normal passenger, there were ( quite correctly) no restrictions on where the kid seated once the crew realised that he was not a UM but just a 12 y/o travelling alone. Initially they wanted to move him from his pre-allocated seat onboard but when he said he wanted to stay where he was and they realised that he was not a UM, they left him alone

Also , another one travelling SYD-AKL ( ok not BA ) , again no issues on seating given that he was not a UM

Dave