Awful BA experience advice please

Nickb12

Photo me - esta is a visa waiver for British citizens which is valid and used last year (lasts for 2 years) BA well the 'gate guard' told me I wasn't British although place of birth stated I was and a simple call would of clarified I was also the fact I had a valid esta proved I was. Basically he said I needed a visa! I wouldn't be able to get a visa as A British citizens don't require and B I have an esta!

Tiddlywinks

Nickb12 wrote: »

Below is a copy of a rushed anger filled email sent to BA which will no doubt get ignored! Any legal advice appreciated

Afternoon

I'd like to inform of quite possibly the worst day of my life which should of been the start of a much anticipated Xmas holiday. I booked a package holiday with yourselves ref xxxxxx departing from Gatwick 19th December destination Las vegas and returning to Heathrow. Check in was fine flight was on time about to board the flight at the gate that's where the drama began. Firstly the operative at the gate who I think was G4S let it be known to me that he was unhappy at the fact my passport was in a case but that was least of my problems. I'm a British Citizen born and bred and have travelled to the US twice previously in 2010 / 2011 now upon looking at my passport he notices there is an error as it says British Subject? Obviously I was unsure what that meant I've had the passport 8 years and never had any issues so politely asked the meaning of it which was met with a rude slightly IMO racist remark stating that I'm not a Brit? I pointed out it said under birthplace that I was born in Leicester and that I've never resided in any other country to which he shook his head as If I was a liar. All this time Que behind me is building people watching and as you could imagine it was at this stage embarrassing. He passes me on to a colleague who I thought would simply get to bottom of issue and let me join the rest of my travelling party. The colleague again in full public view looked at passport called via telephone somebody then coldly stated that as I was not British even though I am! That I will not be travelling on the flight and its not BA's problem as I don't have a VISA. As I mentioned to him again in full public view that I'm British I have a valid ESTA which I've used In 2 years previous he basically said not his problem and to step out the que and wait for somebody to take me to collect my luggage. I've never felt so low and helpless In my life I was treated like a criminal but this was just the start. I was left waiting at gate for an hour watching plane take off then taken to the bag collection with know one having an idea about my bag. I finally give up leave arrivals head round to departures where I find a BA rep who agrees that clearly there is a typo on passport as have travelled US before on ESTA and in order to get ESTA they check your passport number to confirm eligibility. She tried to locate my bag but apparently no trace of my bag is basically missing In the system! 4 hours later I file a missing baggage report then basically kicked out, no information about re booking no compassion no empathy no bag and no holiday. I expected a service second to none from one of the worlds leading airlines but this turned out to be a disaster on the scale that's impossible to make up. I have a meeting planned with my local MP regarding this and will also be notifying national press if this issue isn't resolved soon. I understand fully that the typo isn't your issue and I'm already taking that up with passport office but the rest of it is. Holiday of a lifetime ruined at a massive expense not to mention fuel parking hotel etc which I have receipts for.

I look forward to your response

Good grief - I couldn't even bring myself to start reading that block of text.

Have you ever heard of paragraph breaks?

When writing a complaint 'less is more'!

Nickb12

Bagand- the fact is I've travelled to US twice previous and anyone that's been there knows how intense they are upon landing. My passport number which I entered for esta clearly stacks up as British citizen otherwise I wouldn't of been granted an ESTA. Yes did discuss options of which I had none apart from get a visa which I clearly didn't need

bagand96

photome wrote: »

I dont get it, why wouldnt BA fly the OP, you dont have to be british to fly.

I'm not 100% sure on this. But you have to be a citizen or a national for the Visa Waiver Programme. Perhaps being a British Subject doesn't count?

what am I missing as he said he has an ESTA etc.

wouldnt the OP be eligible for entry given the fact he has an ESTA coupled to his passport

Photo me - esta is a visa waiver for British citizens which is valid and used last year (lasts for 2 years) BA well the 'gate guard' told me I wasn't British although place of birth stated I was and a simple call would of clarified I was also the fact I had a valid esta proved I was. Basically he said I needed a visa! I wouldn't be able to get a visa as A British citizens don't require and B I have an esta!

An ESTA is not a pre approval to enter the US. It does not guarantee entry. The ESTA is just an authorisation to travel to the USA under the visa waiver programme (I.e. without a visa). From the ESTA website:

Does a travel authorization guarantee me admission to the United States?

If your electronic travel authorization is approved, this approval establishes that you are eligible to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program, but does not guarantee that you are admissible to the United States. Upon arrival in the United States you will be inspected by a Customs and Border Protection officer at a port of entry who may determine that you are inadmissible under the Visa Waiver Program or for any reason under United States law.

Nickb12

Bag exactly authorised to travel under visa waiver therefore don't require visa of course it doesn't guarantee entry nothing does. My question to you would I have been issued with an esta if I required a visa?

Bob_the_Saver

You think you had problems yesterday, it was the worst day of my life as well, I lost my £2 off Poundland voucher, no Xmas pud or mince pies for Mrs Bob the Saver now!
I lost it, it wasn't Poundlands fault, nor was your problem BA's fault. I have no plans to complain to or sue Poundland.

Nickb12

It's like saying does having a football ticket guarantee me entry to the stadium. I could of been in jail since esta approved or caused mayhem last time I visited etc etc. my point is the fact I have esta proves I don't require visa they obviously check your status when you apply

Nickb12

BoB I didn't lose my passport lol the gate guard suggested I wasn't British and clearly didn't understand procedures

bagand96

The thing is that even with an ESTA generated the airline still need to check that everything stacks up. In their eyes the British subject thing didn't.

You need to do two things. Number one is to establish in writing from BA exactly why you were refused boarding. Number two is to verify that they were correct in doing so. I.e. check with the US embassy if a "British Subject" is eligible for visa waiver travel or not.

Only then can you know for sure if you have any case against BA.

shaun_from_Africa

I.e. check with the US embassy if a "British Subject" is eligible for visa waiver travel or not

A British Subject does not qualify for an ESTA.
You must be a British citizen (or a citizen of any of the allowable countries).