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