Airline passenger news and views

We do, sometimes, feel sorry for airlines criticized by unreasonable passengers. OK, airlines often deserve censure but passengers do also need to take some responsibility for their own actions.

Last week, there were a spate of complaints that British Airways and bmi had flown passengers into the war zone that was once Egypt. As one complainant put it, she and her husband and their two children had asked British Airways if it was safe and had also asked the Foreign Office. Both had said that there was no official embargo against travel and that she should make he own decisions.

When she and her family arrived at Cairo airport, there were riots in the town and they felt frightened and abandoned. No one from British Airways was available to help them reach their hotel.

Clearly, this lady had confused an inclusive tour operator with an airline. Airlines fly people to destinations. Tour operators take people on holidays.

As both bmi and British Airways stated, they take guidance from the Foreign Office and make judgment calls based on local knowledge. Their responsibility is to operate a service airport-to-airport within the demands of safety for their crew and aeroplanes.

Airlines do not guarantee the safety of the destination for passengers be they war zone reporters, mercenaries or families with children.