Qatar sheikh delays plane over seating

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Why do people act soooo stupid...??

Please try to understand what I am telling you: you asked us to check a link, I did that, the info of this story is different to the info provided from BBC by Dweller.

In order for us to judge a story, to approve the behavior of the people in this story, or disapprove with them, or to critisize their conduct..etc, we must first be certain that the story is holding solid, not just a bunch of alligations.

I am simply sensing weak points in this story, because, for a start, they have changed the 2 female relatives, to 3 wives. If such important info (that makes some people think that the guy was having a foursome) is changed/fabricated, then propabely other input in the story is also changed.

Once we can confirm all the info is solid, then we can start critisizing!

There are 2 types of people; a group that believes everything in the media & just ride with the wave, and a group which is interested in digging for more facts behind the "news"

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I hadn't seen you had, so I started another hee hee

will go look at yours ...

Noisy, disruptive, selfish audiences in cinemas

Novi when I get a minute I WILL find a minor british royal from SOMEwhere I swear it! hee hee and I WILL post it here.

and PM - you make me die laughing. When Jurazzic Park first was in a cinema 'near me' in UK, we took a friend's daughter to see it.

To this day I honestly don't know what the film was about for all the crisp munchin, pop corn throwing, toilet trips, kids yelling and general disruption that went on during the dialogue. The audience was only ever quiet when a monster was on the screen.

I guess if thats a prince charles's cousin's sister's newhew's son who throwing tantrum it would be mention in britishexpats.com lol :-)

the fact remains they made a BIG fuss and upset and inconvenienced an entire planeload of passengers, and whether female relatives or wives it seems the women were the ones who wouldn't accept alternative seating etc etc etc.

I'm sure this thread has been done to death now.

I'm off to google for similar tantrums of other royals from other countries around the world. I'm sure I shall find a few. This one just happened to be the most recent and involved a Qatari - this is Qatar Living, so ......

Stay safe - cya in Doha soon (passenger seating willing) :o)

i am not saying it's bad to have 3 wives. i am saying if 2 media sources have changed the story from 2 female relatives to 3 wives, then stories coming from such media are mostly fabricated and ridiculous.

It is possible that he is not from the royal family. It is possible that they fabricated this. It is possible that he claimed to be a royal but no one cared to investigate...etc.

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What would be so bad about him having 3 wives anyway PortAlfred? Thats not a "ridiculous story" but his god-given right, and from most accounts its true.

Your article is just being vague about it.

I checked your link:

http://www.airliners.net/discussions/general_aviation/read.main/3531309/

it said:

"A Qatari royal family member and two female members of his family caused a row on a BA flight from Milan to LHR when the sheikh refused to allow his female relatives sit beside men they did not know..."

While dweller informed us:

"The three wives of Sheikh..."

So they might not be his 3 wives. They might be his 2 relatives. So this muslim sheikh would not be having a "foursome", as knoxcollege put it.

The media can twist facts and we should not give them credit for such ridiculous stories

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If this is a joke, it's not funny. If it really happened that is just too sad that those kind of people still exist in 21st century.

because of the airplane rules, if a passenger have to left the aiplane, than his luggage has to follow him.

Aiport is busy,need time for the poeples how search for the bags etc.Waiting for new take off time etc. If you have a story like this , its very easy to delayed.

Oh, Knoxcollege, I was just teasing you! My late night sense of humour. No offence.

1. Do not expect the world around you to change for you, learn to adapt and tolerate or accept if possible. There should be no double standards.

2. Values and respect do not come from being born with wealth, being born of a certain race, being born with a certain religion. You learn and earn them respectively.

3. Dumb will be dumb no matter when and where.

I've been on planes here that have been delayed because one Al-Thani or another has been late for the flight. I think it's Qatar Airways policy to hold flights for Qataris, I imagine he expected the same behaviour on British Airways.

"I fight with love and I laugh with rage, you have to live light enough to see the humor and long enough to see some change." Ani Difranco

Lots of assumptions and guessing here but I think for the most part it's pretty accurate. The three hour delay is not hard to believe because it sounds like the aircraft was already preparing for take-off and it's not like you just make a u-turn and return to the terminal. (remember this was not here).

From past experiences in KSA and here I have seen many times when a local holds up an aircraft because they are late arriving to the airport and they think they are priveleged, just like the automobile drivers here. Race and religion have nothing to do with it, there have been several occasions of celebrities pulling the same stunt back in the US, it is arrogance and selfishness. I wonder if the price of oil will go up now?

Maybe people cheered just because they were relieved to finally be able to take off after three hours ...

The guy should have just checked on the net, seating arrangement of the flight and his seats. In case there are strangers sitting on those, request for change or change the flight...

if he was net savvy this is...or find a computer operator along with the cook and maids.

It must be the Milan to London route then …

I never thought this is common.. I have been to two Qatar airways flights with that same issue (not involving sheiks though).

Question is why would they not get consecutive seat numbers in the first place? Are they one of the following? (1) just dumb (2) attention seekers (3) want to let everybody know that they are above everyone else (4) they want to let everybody know that their religious laws are above everyone else (5) just dumb.

Trust me, if you were one of the passangers inconvenienced by these people.... grrrrrrr!!!

So 'seatbelt' main reason for problem and then, quite apart from waiting for the Ambassador, the luggage being offloaded would have caused further delay (forgot about that).

From The Times

March 13, 2003

"Boy, 2, ordered off BA flight after tantrum

A BOY aged two and his grandparents were ordered to leave a British Airways flight after he could not be persuaded to put on a seatbelt.

Marcello Ferrand threw a tantrum and disappeared under his seat when crew on the flight from Milan to London tried to make him wear the seatbelt before take-off. The captain then decided that the party would have to be removed from the aircraft. It was delayed further while their luggage was unloaded......

....A British Airways spokeswoman said yesterday: “It is absolutely imperative for all passengers that they are wearing a seatbelt during take-off, landing and when the fasten seatbelt light is turned on.”

and that is probably what caused the 3 hour delay!

My husband flew out of Doha with QA the other night. He stepped on the plane and asked where 10B was (he thought he had Business Class by mistake cos of the low number). The crew pointed round the corner and it was the aisle seat in the first row of 2 in Economy. Two Asian ladies were sitting there with a babe in arms.

He went back to the crew who looked surprised and walked back with him to the seat and asked the lady what her boarding card said. It was 18 something. The hostess asked him if he would mind changing and he said 'not at all'. (Unfortunately when he found the seat it was a window seat and he's one of those 'plane walkers' thus he prefers the aisle but he accepted it without further comment to the crew.)

I consider him quite as evenly tempered as the next man unless provoked and seriously wonder what occurred to 'provoke' the passengers asked to swop seats into being uncooperative with the Sheikh.

Knoxcollege...i must be reading the wrong article? it said he got the pilot involved and the pilot threw him off the plane?

it reached the headlines and the news because the sheikh got the ambassador involved. Thats why it reached the news. afterall how many times has an ambassador been involved in seating arrangements of a plane?

scamsse...i stated (if u read it properly) that people forget to ask for allocation seats at check in and on the plane there is always seat shuffling due to this...(And as a frequent traveler) I have given up my seats due to these mix ups for people who have forgotten to do this at check in...

Also I didnt say that 3 hour delays were common???? I still question this 3 hour delay..I dont see the airlines tolerating 3 hour delays without taking action sooner

And for people who think thats its not somehow rascist due to him being a sheik?......Yes he shouldnt have demanded different seats and they couldve asked him to leave the plane if he wasnt happy but why has it reached the news???? With a great big Sheikh headline????

Get a grip as you put it!I'm not saying he had a right to demand those seats..

Isn't that lovely..........going and making this thread sound like a hate/racism thread! Get a grip!

Just the fact that you are so sure that these people had the 'right' to demand, shows you just the kind of arrogance that most of the posters above are referring to.

No disrespect, but in the aviation industry there are laws. They are there to protect passengers as well as airlines. Do you have any idea what this arrogant stunt cost $$$ BA and it's unfortunate passengers?

I am sure that in the interest of getting the flight off the ground, BA would have done everything in it's power to find a solution. But if other passengers refuse to move after having paid for a seat next to their spouse of friend or whatever, why do you have to say....."Hatred of Arabs and Muslims: possible for some QL members."

You just end up spurring and even worse debate. Come on!

"Life is life - whether in a cat, or dog or man. There is no difference there between a cat or a man. The idea of difference is a human conception for man's own advantage." ~Sri Aurobindo

Nadt, It happens all the time huh? When was the last time your plane was delayed for 3 hours because a high and mighty so-and-so refused to sit down?

I'm pretty sure it went down very similarly to this:

He didn't get his way.

He threw a fit.

Refused to sit down.

Airline officials threaten to deplane him.

He calls in his "Royal Card"

This scares the Airline.

They call the embassy to have it dealt with...blah blah

Not a hard scenario to fathom.

This incident had ZERO, NOTHING, to do with islam or being a muslim....it had to do with someone used to always getting their way...get over it.

Possible terminologies in this respect are:

Ignorant: possible for the part of the Sheikh in regard to sitting arrangement and need to plan in advance,

Reckless: possible for the travel agent for failing to book seats,

Arrogant: possible for the captain,

Incensitive: possible for the Sheikh and passengers,

Unaccomodative: possible for BA passengers and some of us,

Incomprehension: for us, commenting on half told stories.

Hatred of Arabs and Muslims: possible for some QL members.

________________

Forgive & Forget.

I found this in airliners.net. Its interesting comment so far.

All of you guys are really not looking at all sides of the story. You are hammering the Qatari Guy and his Female Members like there is NO tomorrow!!!! None of you listed other possibilites that might have caused this situation

1) In Qatar and most Islamic Countries, Women usually do not sit next to men out of their family circle, let alone strange men. Regardless of who that man was or where they were. So in this case, the Qatari guy, whether royal or not, did not want his female family members sitting next to a man. Now don't start saying tough luck and he should have asked for all of them to sit next to each other and it is not BA's problem to care for this issue... read the next point

2) Most probably the man took it for granted or even asked from Ground Staff to put all of them next to each other on the plane. Chances are, ground staff didn't have empty seats next to each other... and they could have actually told the guy you will have to sort it onboard!!! OR.... they might have even missed mentioning that the seats were not next to each other which might have upset the man. I have been on many flights with small groups and we used to be given seats that are way different than each other .... even on the plane it was difficult sometimes to re-arrange

3) Regarding pre-bookings or reserving seats online.... let me tell you that this method is rarely used in this part of the world. I don't even think the Qatari man knew about it.

I am not trying to defend the Qatari guy but I cannot stand back and watch everyone hammering the guy without actually taking all possibilities. He might have been wrong, rude and stubborn.... but I think the Crew could have actually solved the problem.... kicking him off the plane in my opinion was a wrong decision... but that's my opinion

Okay let the flaming begin!!!

_________________

Forgive & Forget.

It took them 3 hours to deal with the situation..."really" how believable is that"...it takes them less than an hour to clean a plane and they couldnt deal with it sooner? I question what really happened..and to sat that this thread has turned into a rascism which it isnt.is really on another planet..Of course its because hes muslims and a sheik..hence highlighting it in the article....

People complain daily about mix up of seats and it doesnt always hit the news....Yes he shouldve sorted it out whilst checkin in and he didnt ...so what...this happens all the time....I'm sure if it someone else they wouldve happily obliged....these days anything a muslim does is magnified..even a stupid incident like this..which i think crap..airlines wouldve have security on to him in a flash if it really happened..i think this has been exagerrated...

You misunderstood my post. I didnt mean to say that people who sit in first class are gays or queers. Rather the first class passengers are richer and more respectable than me (In today's world respect and richness go hand in hand)

I meant to say that I had preferred to sit in the first class than to sit with the super hot blonde. Many people will think I am gay as I preffered to sit in the first class rather than to sit with the hottie. Thats why I was saying that I am not gay. I hope everything is clear now.

"If you have to choose between two evils Always choose the lesser of two Evils"

Knoxcollege, I think you have the best idea of the thread! That's precisely what they should have done...sat in economy together. Ah but that may not have been an option to mix with the hoi polloi if you have a superior attitude.

BTW, you don't need homosexual tendencies to sit in first class!!!!!

Moonbeam, on these short inter-Euro hops there is usually a small business class with a larger economy behind. No first class usually. Not much difference between business and economy, squashed like sardines either way.

Schlaunik, there is a big difference between having the right to ask for a seat swap and refusing to sit down and buckle up or refusing to leave the plane.

What silly silly people.

There was one solution that the Sheikh could have used and no would have had any problems

He could have switched all the first class seats with economy class passengers sitting in one row. Who the hell will refuse to sit in first class specially when you have paid for the Economy class. I did it once when this guy wanted to sit next to the super hot girl who happened to be sitting next to me. I gladly went to the first class compartment. It is not that I am gay or something, it is just the luxury of first class that matters

So much for the riches they own, they don't have their own private plane. Opps, I forgot they own Qatar Airlines.

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery

None but ourselves can free our minds..

Exactly. Thats 'professional' western Journalism for you.

I aint in no way culture bashing anybody. But i did get mad when papers who are supposed to be the 'safeguards of truth in the west' failed to do their basic homework correctly.

I hate it when people do write ups without any proper research!

Is it just me or are they referring to the sheikh as the Emir in the article?

"I fight with love and I laugh with rage, you have to live light enough to see the humor and long enough to see some change." Ani Difranco

on Dailymail.co.uk

some are simply hilarious

someone travelling with a child or children I would have no objection in changing my seat.

But changing my seat because of someone's religious beliefs or his culture I would definitely say no to him

I don't entirely disagree with you Mira. It is simple to swtch seats for someone. If I saw someone with a child, I'd do it in a second. But when someone demands it and is willing to incovenience hundreds of passengers to get what they want, then that's a different story.

I don't know about that aviduser, i think A list celebrities are doing a pretty good job making asses of themselves too. I mean doing time seems to be the new celebrity fashion statement.

But anyway, back to this thread... this is hilarious. It's utterly ridiculous. Can you imagine calling in the ambassador to sort out seating arrangements?! Bet he was loving his job that day.

Anyone know why it took all of three hours to sort out? I've been trying to imagine the situation and can't think of any circumstances where it would take 3 whole hours to solve this problem. What really happended?

I don't think it has anything to do with him being a Muslim. I think it had everything to do with him causing a major fuss and a scene.

"I fight with love and I laugh with rage, you have to live light enough to see the humor and long enough to see some change." Ani Difranco

I had taken an El Al flight to Israel and an Orthodox Jewish women was seated next to a strange man and had requested to be moved to sit with her teanage children.

It wasn't a big deal people politely switched sweats and were respectful.

I really can't understand how this situation is any different except that the person in question is a MUSLIM. We need to stop beating on everything a Muslim person does. I can't understand why nobody would switch seats, really how big of an inconvience is it to switch seats... get up and sit down..yes quite the challenge.

Europeans are generally very hostile towards Muslim travellers and honestly I don't know of how many stories we have to read in the newspapers before we just stop spending our money in those countries.

Its the always going to be the lower members of the family that behave badly, they are touched with just enough "royalty" to think they deserve ALL the privileges that the "Proper" royals get.

Its a bit like C list celebrities in the UK and the USA they always act worst than the A list because their sense of entitlement outways their actual entitlement.

This explains the problem with the country its filled with C list royalty.

naughty knox :D

when you're in rome, do what the romans do.

3 wives together on a trip. what did he have in mind.

a foursome?

wondering what happened to the fourth one?

One thing is for sure

The sheikh's PA is gonna be out of job very soon

did it even occur to you to consider the 'party' must have checked in well after the other passengers and THAT is why BA couldn't find 6 seats together (think was 6).

Not sure how Business Class works on a short 'hop', but it's probably possible to request seating when you book the flight. It was only a day trip and quite likely the seats were allocated in advance. Whoever was responsible for booking the flight should have sorted it out at the time of making that booking.

It can't have been the first time the Sheikh had flown with his wives and cooks and pots and pans in tow. He would be aware of his preferences.

Sounds like the wives were the ones playing up. Poor man! One wife nagging is bad enough but TWO stamping there feet about and making a right royal fuss must have been really embarrassing for the poor chap. Wonder where wife 3 was sitting - next to him maybe?

hmmm

they should have dealt with the situation sooner than some 3 hours.i'd be pissed if my plane had to be delayed for 3 hours.

is the flight from milian to london even 3 hours long?

and what is this non-sense of not having the seats split up.i would complain to if im traveling with my family and we are all spread out. whenever i travel in a group we are together.

this is so typical of british airways.just poor service

Sorry, schlaunik, the party concerned appear to have been blatantly disruptive and flaunted the law of ALL airlines when they refused to sit down and 'belt up' (hee) when the aircraft was taxiing.

"A delay of nearly four hours ensued as two members of the Qatari party refused to sit down." I can just imagine the scene.

If I had been travelling with a companion and had specifically requested that we sat together I wouldn't wish to be moved. Having said that, since I am an old hand when it comes to living in the Middle East, I may have made an exception in this instance but certainly NOT if they were causing a big fuss about it. That would really make me want to dig my heals in.

LMAO!

If people want that kind of preferential treatment then they should have their own plane. British Airways was not in the least bit responsible, even though most airlines will attempt to accommodate passengers wishes when possible. Key word being "when possible".

Excuse me, but with all due respect, they could have purchased the whole of first class if they really wanted to be 'comfortable'.

What an embarrassment!

"Life is life - whether in a cat, or dog or man. There is no difference there between a cat or a man. The idea of difference is a human conception for man's own advantage." ~Sri Aurobindo

The she ikh had the right to ask to chnge seats or leave the plane. The method of the airline to seat him and reseat him was the problem. Find out how many muslims are remove from planes trying to fly home for vacation and I don't see you complaining then those removals also delay flights. But you think you just been rescued so you shut up.

You who have lived in the khaleej with allits problems could help yourselves by correcting and educating your bigooted lawmakers and yourselves.

I suspected that but didn't know. I understand they are the largest royal family in the Gulf.

I was quoting from the BBC. Full text including full name of the sheikh.

A British Airways flight was delayed for several hours after women members of the Qatari royal family objected to sitting next to men they did not know.

The three wives of Sheikh Badr Bin Khalifa al-Thani refused take up their seats on board Flight 563 from Milan's Linate airport to London Heathrow.

Police and Qatari diplomats became involved before the captain told Sheikh Badr's entourage to leave the aircraft.

The Qatari royals eventually ended up getting an Alitalia flight to London.

They had been on a shopping day-trip to the Italian city.

'Safety instructions'

In addition to his three wives, Sheikh Badr, a junior member of Qatar's 3,000-strong ruling family, was accompanied by a male relative, a cook and another servant on the flight.

After boarding, the women complained about the seats they had been allocated because they were next to men they did not know, a spokesman at Linate said.

The people were offloaded because they failed to comply with safety instructions when the aircraft was taxiing

British Airways spokesman

Cabin crew tried to move the passengers to different seats, but those travelling with other people refused to change.

Sheikh Badr then reportedly got up and walked to the pilot's cabin to complain.

A delay of nearly four hours ensued as two members of the Qatari party refused to sit down.

A BA spokesman said the captain eventually had no option but to return to the terminal.

"The people were offloaded because they failed to comply with safety instructions when the aircraft was taxiing," he said.

Later in the evening, the royals travelled business class with the Italian carrier, Alitalia, with their staff in economy.

The Qatar embassy in Rome said it was a "private matter".

Dweller, there are more than three thousand Al Thanis.

When I read about the whistling and applause I burst out laughing!!! Wish I had been there.

A lesson learned the hard way.

He isn't a powerful sheikh, he is a minor member of the ruling family (of 3,000).

Had he been a "ranking" member, he could probably have used one of the Amiri flight planes (or is it now part of QA).

I suspect that part of the problem is that the ruling family are so used to getting their own way that they can't accept being told "No".

I am sure a similar reaction would have resulted had Prince Andrew of the British royal family been told "No". I'm sure we all know what happened when he was in the RN.

Even the airline is at fault.

Even when they know its a group booking they dont allot all the seats together. Ive had this experience travelling with 2-3 year old kids where the parents and the kids were allocated in four different corners( this happened in Qatar airways). I stood my ground, asked them to reallocate and go t it done.

NOw if you say it was because of pride then I accept it.

Mention his name??? hm Good

100% his fault while takin the boardin pass he should have checked it at that time. Dunce Nutz

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One dirty, dumb, retarded & illiterate fish polutes the whole pond.

It seems to me that in most of these cases, where people need to move seats, oftentimes people are very reasonable. So it leads me to believe that this man decided to cause a scene well before asking if others would be willing to move, that, or he started ordering the people to move...

3 hours still seems to be quite a long time to remove a passenger. If I were the one causing the scene I am pretty sure the plane would have removed me and still taken off on time...LOL

haven't he sorted that out earlier?while booking or during check-in.

Obviously he was too ignorant to do the booking himself or check-in earlier,otherwise he would've get his seating arrangement easily. Specially since there are 8 (Milan-London) flights daily!

I hadn't seen that PM (about the applause) - sounds like it was quite an event. oh my.

Lucky for him, he did not left the plane in chucks and handcuffs and manhandle. Of course It was not an American Airline carrier.....

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery

None but ourselves can free our minds..

on the inconviencing others part. It wasn't my intention to condone this guy's behavior if that's the impression I've given you...just wanted to point out that many GCC women are not comfortable being seated next to strange men and vice versa.

Its either sit next to a strange man or stay behind a curtain at home? It doesn't have to be one way or the other you know. My mom, sisters, cousins...etc are all educated women but they feel it inappropriate to sit next to strange men onboard planes as do most women in this region...It's their prerogative if theyre not comfortable....Im not referring to this case alone Im generally speaking here.

I beg to differ...not wanting your sister/ mother/ whatever sitting next to a strange man is not being ignorant about islam!

and modest too :-P

I wish!

it's all ok, as happyhappy quoted

"Prophet Mohammed (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “People are as equal as the teeth of a comb….”

I agree - it's just that young combs may have more teeth but they have less experience than older ones.

You always know the right thing to say.

I still think there are two sides to every story so ppl shouldn't be quick to judge him....esp since none of us were there....besides, it happened already...what can anyone say here that would undo what he did?

LOL bajesus. Okok sorry, my bad. It's too late for me, so not my fault! hehe

Anyways guess there will always be silly people around the world in different shapes and forms whether it was in the form of ignorant racist bashing or arrogant attitude. But it sucks how they make the rest of us decent folks look bad!

i dont believe we live in a free world but then again maybe i am just being pessimistic early saturday morning, dreading sat...

or maybe i am just being realistic, personally i wouldnt voice my disapproval of the royal families behaviour or at the least not refer to them or for that matter anyone else in a derogatory way.

especially, if i wouldnt have the courage to do it in PERSON.

Each of us come on board with a seat number. Being the queen of England or a street beggar is beside the point and totally insignificant in a situation like that.

He, or his staff failed to provide him with appropriate bulk of seats, or it might be that he did not make a special request before boarding, wont change the fact that his manner is disgraceful and arrogant.

Yet, BA should've dealt with him as any other passenger claiming seats not in his or his relatives’ name.

I'd advise him to get on his own plane if he thinks his above rules of Law or religion for that matter.

Prophet Mohammed (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “People are as equal as the teeth of a comb….”

Simple as that my friend... we are all the same..:)

we live in a free world don't we ... and I feel Qatar is part of that world.

I was worried about posting this thread - I worry MORE about WHY I was worried...and that IS worrying lol

BUT as soon as diamondgirl entered the frey I knew common sense was/is alive and kicking in Qatar and the guy on the aircraft just, quite simply, got his knickers in a twist as we all can occasionally.

Difference is, he should have known better.

bet they own boats, submarines, spacecrafts instead.

BA confronted with a powerful sheikh demanding he has every right to any seat he chooses when his PA could have booked a block seating arrangement beforehand!?

It seems he only complained once on board. The fault was with his admin. NOT our beloved and much maligned BA (I've only ever criticised their hostesses NOT the pilots)

I think you should be respecting the royal family members here, for you own good.... even if u disapprove of their actions. Unless you dont live here!

British Airways should be sued for making other passengers wait for three hours. And manybe then they will have the zero tolerance policy. Next time I am gonna fly with British Airways.

Ah Cornellian..there are thousands and thousands of members of the ruling family and they don't all have their own jets.

Instead, British Airways should be sued for their incompetence and failure to put the situation under control TIMELY.

had to be called in to negotiate. Qatar's Ambassador has nothing more important to do? and British Airways did not listen to the Ambassador shows their policy. and the Sheikh got kicked out. wonder what is next. The sheikh should be sued for making people miss their connected flights?

I'm just wondering if he is a "member of the ruling family" then wouldn't he have his own jet ?

Oh and dweller, I think if that happened on QA. They would've accommodated his wishes.

he forgot that he is not on Qatar Airways, it is British Airways but why the hell did the Brisitih Airways had to wait three hour to get his sorry A$s off the plane.

I think you are a very OK person, as it happens :o)

ut oh - I think I may be suffering from 'relief syndrome' - my screen is still alive and kicking !

that was from the Qatar Journal, so I don't feel so bad about about posting it now.

but not sleeping...lol Been in the sun all morning long, had a massage and a facial yesterday..getting all rested up for surgery next week...though from the weather reports might have to use my floatie to get to the hospital...flooding is really bad in Houston...

How's England, J?????

definitely connected...they're onto you J...

how's Aruba?

Don't know whether this is a wise move, but as the name has already been published in the Italian dailies, it's hardly a secret:

http://qatarjournal.com/article.pl?sid=07/07/27/206241

I just got a text message from my husband to say his flight is delayed from Doha .. hope no-one put the word around that I was cheeky hee hee

purchase the entire business class section to avoid the entire issue? AND BA has the right to dismiss them like they did but certainly before 3 hours had elapsed....

no need to go overboard.

ok

air kiss coming up ...

umwah!

Don't fret. No-one is above criticism. Hug is fine but before that we'll press on the same cheek twenty times and make kissy noises as is our cuwcher mate.

I'm so glad you turned up ... I was fretting here.

Common sense reigns !!

c'mere and lemme hug you (is that ok?) :D

Seems like very arrogant behaviour. It's perfectly alright from our cultural and religious viewpoint to sit next to a man on a flight (Milan to London is a relatively short hop). He should have had the foresight to book seats together or book out the whole section if the women did not want to sit next to men. Duh.

of the beast jauntie sad to say.

Wonder what would have happened had it been QA.

that I actually posted this thread, I guess it begs the question "why was the sheikh (allegedly) so unreasonable when on an international flight".

there you go CYman, that's probably what my requested comments should have been about.

more it is the fault of the British Airlines that allowed for pne person to ruin 150 people's plans!

qatari started a thread saying yobs in UK hounded qatari students out of Salisbury!

Fair do's !!!

a qatari inconvenienced 100s of people because of a seating arrangement.

*folds arms across chest*

cant imagine anyone commenting, as it happens. apart from our dear fearless Gypsy :o)

it just seemed a bit like the sheikh was stamping his feet and it didn't work.

Oh I dunno .. all sounds pretty childish anyway.

seemed like a good idea at the time.

Sort of like we have a go at Prince Charles if he gets uppety?

There are some occasions, maybe, when people shouldn't always get their own way when they choose to fly with others who also paid for their seat.

I dunno ... maybe I should kill the thread. It sort of made me smile, that was all.

I guess you put it up as a topic of general interest Jauntie. Do you want comments?

May the roof above us never fall in, and may the friends below never fall out!

What an idiot. I can't believe they waited 3 hours to kick his stupid butt off the plane.

"I fight with love and I laugh with rage, you have to live light enough to see the humor and long enough to see some change." Ani Difranco

but hey! it happened ... like qatari guys got yelled at by our yobs in UK.

Not stirring, just balancing ... sort of ... oh God I wish I ...

too late! I posted.