Two British Airways flights were cancelled at the same time on St. Lucia. Crew were sent to hotels. Some passengers were sent to what could technically be called hotels, while others were left overnight at the airport without information or assistance. British Airways apparently even sent several passengers to a brothel for the night.
British Airways flight BA2158 was supposed to fly St. Lucia due to fly from St Lucia to London Gatwick on Wednesday night but was delayed several times and then cancelled. In addition fligth BA2159, which had arrived in St. Lucia from London Gatwick and was headed to Grenada was cancelled as well.
@British_Airways Complete confusion at Hewanorra airport following cancellation of BA2158 and BA2159. No announcements or information about accommodation, baggage or onward travel
— Jonathan Guiney (@JonathanGuiney) February 14, 2019
At least 20 people sleeping in the terminal at Hewanorra airport, St. Lucia following cancellation of @British_Airways BA2158/9. No information about food, water or onward travel. Not a single public announcement since the flight was cancelled. Local staff left to try to help.
— Darren Stobbs (@ds_nyquist) February 14, 2019
@British_Airways single female passenger stranded at St Lucia airport as flight BA2159 to Grenada cancelled. No rooms in hotels. I am left at airport. It is 0136 local time. I am frightened. No BA rep. The crew are tucked up safely. Have been awake over 24hrs. Please help
— liz dvorkin (@lizdvorkin1) February 14, 2019
Sleeping in the airport is never fun. Although being left in the airport may not have been the very worst thing that happened to passengers.
Acccommodation not found for 21 people. So we’re all sleeping at the airport. Still have no idea when our next flight is. pic.twitter.com/KLvlLPKGkJ
— Neil Allen (@pn_neil_allen) February 14, 2019
The lucky ones that went to hotels didn’t get their dream accommodations by any stretch, but they got accommodated.
@British_Airways BA2158 cancelled and this is the accommodation finally provided.
how is this acceptable? pic.twitter.com/AAhHWS1W8l— Paul Dommett (@PDommett) February 14, 2019
And that was a whole lot better than where other passengers got sent. Several passengers reported that British Airways was able to find rooms for customers at a brothel. Much like Hainan Airlines putting up passengers at an S&M-themed hotel on Valentine’s Day three years ago:
There is no member of staff here!! You have sent us to brothels!! Shanty towns, and we were almost killed by a drunk driver returning to the airport!! This is outrageous!! You have elderly people sleeping on the terminal floor!!
— Ross Tanner (@Rtanner82) February 14, 2019
And no, I have not tried to find a hotel myself, as staff have filled every possible room for as manynofbus- including sending a group to a Brothel. And I can't imagine for one second we will get a genuine form of compensation. Shame on you
— liz dvorkin (@lizdvorkin1) February 14, 2019
31 people sleeping on floors at St Lucia airport. Some were offered accommodation, which turned out to be a brothel. There’s a couple here getting married in next few days. Three 72 year olds and a 71 year old on the floor. Others refused accommodation because not couples.
— Neil Allen (@pn_neil_allen) February 14, 2019
Not everyone was unhappy with an unscheduled extra day on St. Lucia, however.
So a 24hr flight delay #BA2158 means another day in the perfect #myWJL in #StLucia pic.twitter.com/Dhwssq5SVh
— Jarrod (@jslippiatt) February 14, 2019
The passengers sent to the brothel were presumably offered additional premium services for an upcharge. The increasingly ancillary fee-minded British Airways may get new ideas to bring home to London Heathrow, already one of the most commercialized airports in the world. They could even partner with the United pilot who ran brothels all over Houston since he managed to escape jail time.
While UK still in EU, does EU261 apply for these passengers to be properly compensated?
That’s what the brothel was for!
How is getting sent to a brothel at all a bad thing?
Did BA get a cut of the premium upcharges?
Unless they were required to work in the brothel it’s probably not worth complaining about. Not like the hotel rooms we all stay in are virgin territory. Black light! I shudder to think of all the vile, disgusting acts that have taken place in the 100s of hotel rooms I’ve occupied in my travels. And that’s just the stuff I was present for. Don’t forget to tip your server.
So a happy ending for a handful (sic) of passengers…
Try getting compensation from CSR for that!
We thought the brothel was exceptional and it was nice of BA to give us a 50 dollar credit to use towards services of our choice
I once tried to make a reservation at a hotel in Amsterdam but was told it was a gay hotel. I’m not sure what they meant. Rooms by the hour or that you have to be gay to stay? That hotel has since changed because now there are regular reviews on the hotel online. It’s a small budget hotel.