Awful BA experience advice please

Bob_the_Saver

A lot easier to go to Poundland.

Nickb12

G4S at the gate I attempted to exit! As I pointed out at the start of email I was angry annoyed etc so just fired off an email from my phone. It was clear for them to see I had previous stamps and a valid esta so to suggest I'm not 'a Brit' was shocking. Will probably get no joy but need to do something. Oh and the threats aren't empty I do have an appointment with MP who's office is on my street! Mainly aimed at the passport office who have already admitted fault but obvious getting any type of compensation will be an uphill battle

Bob_the_Saver

Nickb12 wrote: »

G4S at the gate I attempted to exit! As I pointed out at the start of email I was angry annoyed etc so just fired off an email from my phone. It was clear for them to see I had previous stamps and a valid esta so to suggest I'm not 'a Brit' was shocking. Will probably get no joy but need to do something. Oh and the threats aren't empty I do have an appointment with MP who's office is on my street! Mainly aimed at the passport office who have already admitted fault but obvious getting any type of compensation will be an uphill battle

So are you saying it's not BA's fault?

malkie76

Why is it BAs fault?
You are responsible for your passport - no one else.
Why do people constantly refuse to take responsibility for their own mistakes ?

headpin

I am not sure why you think your Passport is wrong and your ESTA is correct?

When applying for an ESTA you have to say whether you are a British Subject or British Citizen (there are other options too). This should be as shown in your Passport. Therefore from what you have already posted you have either entered the information on the ESTA incorrectly or should otherwise been aware that your Passport incorrectly had you as a subject and not a citizen.

British Subjects are not eligible to travel under the ESTA programme. It is your responsibility to ensure your Passport is correct. Period. Previously you have been lucky and managed to circumnavigate the system. This time your were caught. We all speed when driving and generally get away with it. If we do subsequently get caught there is no defence saying I have been speeding for the last 20 years and never been stopped before. It doesn't wash.

Also you really do need to check what you completed on the ESTA application. You have been lucky on previous trips in getting through at both ends. If the US Customs and Border Protection Agency Officers think you have tried to enter by giving false information then you may find you are in a position where future entry is severely prejudiced.

Clearly you believe your Passport is incorrect and that it should not say "subject" but "citizen". But it is your Passport and your responsibility to check it for accuracy. I'm sorry your trip has been messed up, but it is your own fault and nobody else's. Do not blame the Gatwick staff for doing their job.

My view is that your email will only antagonise BA? You would do better going for the sympathy angle. Admit the mistake and ask what they can offer to help you recover the situation. After all, it's not BA's problem that YOUR Passport is incorrect.

Nickb12

Passport office have admitted an error on the passport yes. Hard not to. My issue with BA is treatment and refusal to board me when they could of easily called us immigration or us embassy to clarify.

malkie76

So BA did the correct thing in denying boarding to someone with incorrect documents?

I'm glad they did. You have no grounds for compensation.

Nickb12

Speeding is illegal I've done nothing wrong here. If you think my treatment was correct then that's your choice

Bob_the_Saver

Nickb12 wrote: »

Passport office have admitted an error on the passport yes. Hard not to. My issue with BA is treatment and refusal to board me when they could of easily called us immigration or us embassy to clarify.

I guess their problem would be if it was picked-up they'd get a big smacked botty for our US friends so I guess they were correct.
The fact is the paperwork was wrong.

headpin

bagand96 wrote: »

The ESTA is an electronic check. Therefore it would have approved you as a British Citizen if that's what the Passport Service have you as on record.

HOWEVER; the airline have to go on the documentation presented to them. And that said British Subject. Which, if BA and Shaun are indeed correct, are not eligible. Therefore BA were left with little choice. They couldn't run the risk of you being refused on landing in Vegas.

I do not think that the US currently have access to our Passport records. That may be going to change. I believe that the OP probably entered the incorrect information on the ESTA application. That would have led to an approval and the Border Agents have not picked up the "subject" v "citizen" issue on the previous visits. Human error all round?