Shame on British Airways

The following excerpted news article comes to us via Inclusion Daily:

 

British Airways Turns Girl Away Because She Has Down Syndrome
(Daily Mail)
June 20, 2011

LONDON, ENGLAND– [Excerpt] A girl of 12 was refused a plane ticket by British Airways staff because she has Down's syndrome. 

The mother of Alice Saunders was stunned when she was told her daughter could not fly unaccompanied as it was the company's policy not to accept passengers with Down's travelling alone. 

Heather Saunders, 49, had phoned the airline to book Alice a flight from Gatwick to Glasgow. 

Heather said: 'I explained I wanted her to travel as an unaccompanied minor, she was 12 years old, she had Down's syndrome and was very independent. 'The woman said, "Our policy says we don't take children with Down's syndrome".'

When asked why, the BA customer service agent responded: 'Because we've had problems in the past.'

Entire article:
BA turns girl away because she has Down's syndrome: Alice, 12, barred from Gatwick-Glasgow flight
http://www.InclusionDaily.com/news/2011/red/0620b.htm
Related:
British Airways apologizes for turning away girl with Down syndrome (MSNBC)
http://www.InclusionDaily.com/news/2011/red/0620c.htm