British Airways: are passengers human?

Dear,

On 16 december 2013 I was set to travel to Mexico from Brussels. The flight from Brussels to LHR was fine. The problems did occur in LHR. First I was upgraded to Club World (I was very excited!) But next I was denied to fly for unfair reasons.

I boarded and was ready to go. I took of my sweater to sit in my t-shirt and enjoy my first Club World experience when one of the crew members asked me what was wrong with my arm. I explained that it had a harmless bruise from a general test from my GP the week before. The crew seemed to mistrust me and they said there was a danger for flying. Which there was absolutely not. I told them I already asked my GP if there was a problem and he said not at all, it's just bad luck. Do not worry there is no risk on infections, clotting, it's just a bad bruise. Like if you would hit your arm hard.

So I was perfectly healthy to fly! Sadly enough the crew didn't believe me, wrote (wrongly!) down what they saw and called MEDLIFE. They must've told the people of medlife I had an infection or something!  Based on their WRONG description I was denied the right to fly. I asked to give me a doctor in the plane who could confirm there was no harm. Any GP with the experience of only 2 days could tell this!!! I can't believe they did not take the effort to just ask if there was a GP on the plane. It would've taken them 5 minutes and offer me a nice and relaxing BA flight!  On board the captain came and told me to get off the aircraft and they would find me a solution. Gone flight.

What I read in the general conditions is "We may decide to refuse to carry you or your baggage if one or more of the following has happened or we reasonably believe may happen". I cannot accept there was a reasonable doubt concerning my health. (7a5. If your mental or physical state or health is a danger or risk to you, the aircraft or any person in it.) If I had kept on my sweater no one would have even seen the harmless bruise and all would've been perfect.  Will BA check every passenger on bruises? Will everyone be checked on their arms for possible injuries? Maybe everyone has to sit in their underwear on fIights? I think we can say this is pure discrimination. Just because I sat in a t-shirt all of a sudden there was a health risk. There was never a health risk, not at any moment. This was a case of extreme anxiety and a panic reaction by members of the cabine crew, no doubt whatsoever concerning my health was appropriate at any moment.

I was devestated. My whole holidays looked to go down the drain. Just because I had a medical check up (which turned out perfectly fine and showed that I'm in amazing health) But then it got (if possible) even worse.

The assistance I got was beneath every human dignity!! I always fly BA in long hauls because of their good service and comfort. But apparently I was very wrong in that decision. They left me at a desk waiting, telling me "we do not know what to do next". So I waited and waited. Finally they attended me and told me to search for a hospital/doctor outside of the airport. I couldn't believe this! I have never been to the UK. Now they tell me to go and look for a hospital. They gave me 2 names of hospitals and that was all.

After this the lady at the desk told me "to go away, there are other people that need my help". I  was stuck in LHR.

The next flight for me possible in my world traveller plus category was only two days later. And they could NOT foresee a place to stay for me until then plus they couldn't garanty me I would be taken on board even with a doctor's agreement. So waiting 2 days in LHR in this insecure situation, it seems unhuman to me.

I requested to just go home and redo my trip on thursday from Brussels or get a refund for my trip but was denied this opportunity! So after all I went to a hospital, I got to see a doctor who confirmed I was perfectly healthy to fly. I cite his letter:

"Date 16/12/13, this gentlemen has some redness and bruising to the right elbow, that is consistent with having blood samples withdrawn. He is FIT TO FLY, Yours sincerely Dr K. De Silva - Ashford Health Centre."

My world crashed at that moment. As I already told people in LHR there was no harm/danger whatsoever. I am in perfect health. I'm sure 90 percent of the people in the plane were a higher health risk than me! After this I went back to the airport and asked for a trip back to Belgium. I got this from the first nice lady that did do her best to help me. Sadly enough this means my TRIP TO MEXICO IS LOST ! ! ! ! FOR NO GOOD REASON! NO HEALTH RISK WAS EVER THERE!!  What should've been the highpoint of my year became my most horrible experience in life. I still cannot believe this has happened. Maybe next time BA should check every human being for possible bruises? I mean, for the love of God, this is so unreal. It was a case of EXTREME ANXIETY and a PANIC REACTION by members of the crew. I went this morning to my doctor in Belgium and he could NOT believe I was denied the right to fly. Since it is  impossible, just impossible something would go wrong in the air (at least with me).

For these obvious reasons I would like to get a recompensation for my lost money and my lost relaxation days in the Mexican sun. I would also request BA to invest in some decent follow up and help for people instead of giving them an unhuman treatment! No one should have to go through this ever again.

After this horrible experience I request a total refund or a payed round trip to Mexico on a date of my choice in the future. PLUS the 2, 50 pounds for the bus towards Ashford Hospital, PLUS 15 pounds for the cab back to the airport PLUS 50 pounds for bill for the visit to the GP in order to be able to return to my home country.  The emotional damage (missing time with my dear Mexican friends during these Christmas days) and time loss (2 weeks holidays for what now?!) I cannot express in money value. Maybe you can?

BIC: ************

IBAN: ******************

Hoping for a quick, human and positive answer,

Yours Sincerely,

Mathias Neelen

Natural Mystic

A man of love and mysticism should never become a man of rationality and science.

An example:

Once a man tried to leave his mystical, emotional self to become a realistic man in society. Calculated, rational and constanlty wondering about what would be the rational thing to do in every situation. He became so busy thinking things over, he was so occupied analyzing his every move, every arising thought, his every single feeling, in such a way that an awfull fate fell upon him. He did not know that the mind, too busy breaking down natural emotions, spontanious actions and feelings, kills a man's basic instincts. He forgot how to smile and laugh like a child. He forgot how to be sweet and friendly like an innocet boy. He forgot about caring and being compassionate. He forgot about the love between men and women. And he accepted this. For years it went on. And every day he grew colder, more rational, more succesful in a world that was not his. And he felt alright, he saw it all as the one true route for mankind.

One summer's day, a cute woman walked his way. Rationally his mind got activated, as even the most realistic mind can still see beautiful from ugly. So his mind told him that he should seduce the lady, since a man is supposed to have a beautiful wife by his side. And so he did. And the cute little woman fell for him, lovingly and happy. Where a starting romance would normally lead to spontanious arising smiles, touches, emotions and happiness, it was not the case for him. He had to unlock every single emotion from his mind. None of them came natural to him. It saddened him but since he made the choice to be a wise and solid citizin, he accepted this would be his fate. Theoreticaly he played every card right. And this led up to the moment that many a young couple point out as the hihgpoint of an early romance. After a nice evening walk she invited him to stay over.

The mind congratulated him as this was an excellent and efficient result of what was planned all along. What the mind did not tell him was that, while it can do almost anything, the mind lacks the necesary tools to satisfy two bodies. It is only the beast in a man and a woman that can do this. And while the seduced female put in all her bestiallity and forgot about any humanity for the night being,  the man followed his mind. A mind that pretended to know what to do, how to satisfy a woman's soul while pleasing the flesh. But it could never. And the deepest feeling of dissatisfaction took control over the rational man during a time where the highest point of human satisfaction was supposed to be reached. So he fled, blaming his body for letting him down, for being unable to conquer the waves of pure lust, only to hide away further behind his rational mind. Alone and unsatisfied forever.

My first train ride

Today my mother took me with her on the train to visit my grandmother. I was so excited! Not to visit my grandmother to be honest, but for the train ride oh yes. I had seen trains already, my grandfather used to take me to the trails close to the forest. But today for the first time I set a foot inside a train, today I became a real man.

When me and my mother arrived at the train station, I saw her buy the tickets from a rather grumpy old man. How strange that was to me, how can you not smile and be happy when you can see trains all day? I would love to sit there and give people tickets so they can ride the train all day!

Before entering the train I saw a lot of people with whistles and hats, these people must be very important. I saw how the trains only left after they whistled. And so many people had questions for them, I am sure that they have almost as much power as a king. I wonder if I can become one of them some day, can I mom, can I?

We entered the train and I sat next to the window with my mom on the other side. The seats in the train were so big! My little feet were all in the air since I couldn't even bend my legs. In the car I can bend them already, but in the train... Wooow, I still have some growing to do. While I was looking out the window I saw cows, horses and fields. All flying by so fast! Mom was reading a book so I started listening to this group of ladies sitting next to us. But I didn't understand their conversation very good.

They were talking about their young adult daughters and about shaving legs, armpits and how they did it themselves. Why would someone talk about that, I wondered? Was that what adults did? And I heard them talk about how you could use different products or even lasers so the hair wouldn't come back. And it made you look nicer they said. I was amazed, one machine that removed hair could make your body be nicer? I looked at my mom but didn't dare to ask her if it was true.

When we arrived at the station I was a little sad the ride had ended. Before leaving the train we passed the bench with the four ladies. My mom had me by the hand but I stopped at the ladies and asked one of them "If there is a machine that can make your body look prettier, why don't you use it on your face as well? It would be a nice solution for people like you." The lady was shocked and my mom just took me with her off the train.

I had a lot of fun!

Fonchito, who are you?

From time to time people ask me who I am.
They have never heard of me but for some reason they all seem to know about me.
I seem to live inside all human beings, don't ask me why or how.
As an introduction to my future stories I will tell you all that you need to know about me:

I am becoming. 
One moment I am a little boy: loving, happy, adventurous and free. 
The next I am an old man: indifferent, bitter, careful and imprisoned.

Do I live inside of you? Only you know.
But if so, please let me live life to the fullest!