Hats off as BA bows in dispute
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.IF YOU PAY for a ticket for a flight, you expect to have a seat - either to sit in, or, as in the case of a woman from Surrey, for your hat box.
Earlier this year, Georgina Ash Rogers bought four air tickets for her family in a 'two for the price of one' Sainsbury's promotion. They were to travel between London and Paris on British Airways.
Some weeks before the departure date Mrs Ash Rogers decided her youngest son would not go along. 'Reservations staff at BA explained that the ticket, which cost pounds 145, was fixed and did not allow a refund. My travel agency confirmed this, but did tell me we were at least entitled to that seat. empty though it may be,' she said.
'I considered this quite useful, since we were attending my brother's wedding and the seat would be useful for my hat box.' However, when the family got to Heathrow, BA staff would not honour the ticket. In fact the seat was eventually occupied by another paying passenger who had been called from the stand-by list.
Mrs Ash Rogers complained to BA. She asked for a voucher for the ticket they had refused to honour. 'BA would not let me use the seat - they had sold it twice, once to me and again to someone else. The least they can do is give me a voucher for a return flight to Paris,' she said.
BA said the ticket was in her son's name, and only he could travel on it. The hat box had no right to a seat. It refused the refund. But after the Independent spoke to BA, it adopted a more benevolent attitude to flying hats. A spokesman said: 'We have decided in the circumstances to give her a refund. If people take the trouble to complain, then obviously there is a reason in their mind why they should.'
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments