“Are You Following Racist Policies,” IAS Officer Asks British Airways For Downgrading Her Seat

It is never a good flying experience when the airline downgrades passengers’ seats, that too for none of their fault. In a recent similar incident, IAS officer Ashwini Bhide came across a horrible experience when British Airways downgraded her premium economy seat. She was not at all happy hearing this and took to social media to talk about the incident and slammed the airline for doing things under a false pretext.

Indian Bureaucrat Accussed British Airways For Following Racist Policies

Taking to the X (formerly Twitter) platform, Ashwini Bhide (@AshwiniBhide) shared her travelling experience with this airline.

Are you cheating or following discriminatory/racist policies @British_Airways ? How come u downgrade a premium economy passenger at check-in counter on false pretext of overbooking without even paying price difference forget about compensation? I’m told this is a common…

— Ashwini Bhide (@AshwiniBhide) January 12, 2024

According to the post, the airline downgraded Ashwini Bhide’s premium economy seat at the check-in counter. She also claimed that the airline did it under the false pretext of overbooking on the flight. In addition to all these, the British Airways airline did not even pay her the flight fare difference or any sort of compensation.

The IAS officer also added in the tweet that she had been told this experience was a common practice by this airline.

Hi there, if you’ve been downgraded due to overbooking, you’re entitled to any difference in the fare paid. Our Customer Relations team will look into this and advise of any compensation due. Lindy

— British Airways (@British_Airways) January 13, 2024

British Airways later replied to the post and mentioned that the “Customer Relations team will look into this and advise of any compensation due”. The response also mentioned that passengers downgraded due to overbooking are entitled to the difference in the paid amount of flight tickets.

Also read: London-Tel Aviv British Airways Flight Turned Back Mid-Air; Flights On Route Suspended By Airline

Netizens Responded To The Social Media Post

Reading all the reactions under the social media post by Ashwini Bhide, looks like the IAS officer is not the only passenger to face such an experience. Many X users commented how they have faced similar incidents in the past. In fact, many Netizens commented how they stopped flying with British Airways for such behaviour with passengers. From calling it cheating to saying the airline’s customer service is the worst compared with other airlines, here’s what Netizens are responding to online.

@DGCAIndia @UK_CAA @AlexWEllis @British_Airways behaving absolutely pathetic on the london – India( BOM and DLH) leg regularly. BA change aircraft frequently with delays of more than 8-10 hours . Delay baggage,now it’s come to light they downgrade!! Plz give their slots to other…

— Prasad (@prasadpbhave) January 13, 2024

Please don’t fly British Airways. You pay for getting discriminated when you do that.

— Amogh Chaphalkar (@chaphya) January 13, 2024

This X user shared how she was downgraded from business class to premium economy while flying from Mumbai to London. She still has not received the fare difference.

I was too downgraded from business class to crappy premium economy and am still awaiting the fare difference. I was flying from Mumbai to London @British_Airways

— reginald101 (@101reginald101) January 12, 2024

This is absolute cheating.

— Sachin Wakadkar (@Sachin_Mee) January 15, 2024

@British_Airways their customer service is by far the worst compared with other airlines. We had the similar experience of downgrading just before the checkin from business to premium economy. BA Staff was rude and impatient.

— Sam N (@tekysam) January 14, 2024

Have stopped flying this third rate airline after 1988 .

— Dinesh Joshi (@dnjoshispeaks) January 13, 2024

Also read: 1990 Kuwait Hostage Passengers & Crew To Take Legal Action Against UK Government & British Airways

The last I traveled with @British_Airways was in 1996. Had a similar miserable experience and have stopped flying with them ever since

— Dr. Jaijit Bhattacharya (@jaijit) January 14, 2024

Hope they correct it ! Pathetic

— Siddarth Pai (@siddarthpaim) January 12, 2024

Since its British, there is 99% chance it would be recial. BA may wish to prove this otherwise.@MEAIndia @DrSJaishankar @JM_Scindia @DGCAIndia there needs to be proper probe and exemplary action if found in violation.

— Shrikant – श्रीकांत (@shrikantkhopkar) January 13, 2024

Have you travelled with British Airways before? If yes, how were the experiences?

Cover Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons, X (formerly Twitter)/ Ashwini Bhide (@AshwiniBhide)

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