Just a quick summary of an incident at T5 earlier this month. Has anyone else experienced this?

In a nutshell, Little Fruitcake needed 20 TPs for silver. So I took him LGW-MAN one day and then the next day MAN-LHR, LHR-EDI and (after meeting Mrs Fruitcake there) EDI-LGW.

When we arrived at T5 on the morning flight from MAN, we had our EDI boarding passes and so went through domestic flight connections. On our arrival at the gate an hour and a half later, though, as the 1315 to EDI was boarding, it turned out that the person at the connections desk had not actually taken Little Fruitcake's photo (though she had mine). Nor had she checked it.

To cut a long story short, despite really sympathetic help from the BA person at the gate ^, who we later commended on ba.com, in the absence of his photo, we were denied boarding.

This was, we were told by security, in case I was trying to abduct my own son and take him out of the country, even though we were travelling domestically.

If I had had Little Fruitcake's passport with me, it would have been alright apparently but as we were travelling domestically, I didn't have it. A lesson learned there! @:-)

We were rebooked at the gate onto the 1515 to EDI (luckily only 2 hours later) and then had to be escorted through International Arrivals, with an explanation to the border guard and his boss, then coming back airside through T5 security in the normal way. All a real hassle. I made sure I checked our photos were taken this time - another lesson learned!

Anyway, we got the flight at 1515 and were in the EDI lounge in time to meet Mrs Fruitcake and return to LGW. BAA were very apologetic and sent Little Fruitcake twenty pounds in vouchers afterwards.

However, this incident was potentially very serious. We were on a jolly that day but might not have been. You don't expect this to happen.

They wouldn't admit this but am I right in thinking that BAA do these photos so that domestic passengers can visit their shops alongside internationals?

I think they should focus on ensuring that people can catch their planes as first priority!!

Anybody else had this happen?