Stranger Danger: British Airways sued for 'treating all men like perverts'

An Australian businessman is suing British Airways over a 'humiliating' policy, which forbids male passengers from sitting next to children they don't know.

Mirko Fischer said it is unfair for the airline to brand all men as potential sex offenders and claimed innocent travellers are being publically shamed because of the policy.

British Airways cabin crew patrol the aisles before take-off to check that young passengers travelling on their own or in a different row from their parents are not seated next to a male stranger.

If crew come across a man sitting next to a child or teenager they will ask the older person to move, and the aircraft will not be able to take off until the passenger complies with the request.

Mr Fischer, a 33-year-old hedge fund manager, became aware of the policy while he was flying from Gatwick with his pregnant wife Stephanie, 30.

Mr Fischer was in the middle seat between his wife and a 12-year-old boy. Shortly after all passengers had sat down, having stowed their bags in the overhead lockers, a male steward asked Mr Fischer to change his seat.

Mr Fischer refused, explaining his wife was pregnant, at which point the steward raised his voice, causing several passengers to focus on their conversation.

Mr Fischer eventually moved but felt so humiliated by the way he was treated that he is suing British Airways on the grounds of sexual discrimination.
A win at Slough County Court would force BA to change its policy.

 "This policy is branding all men as perverts for no reason," Mr Fischer, who lives in Luxembourg with his wife and their daughter Sophia, said.

Children's charity Kidscape's Claude Knights said, "I was made to feel like a criminal in front of other passengers. It was totally humiliating. The airline should have procedures in place to avoid this situation."