Originally Posted by
Sixth Freedom
If the passenger presents themselves for check in, reaches the airport on time and is then prevented from taking their flight as a result of detention by the authorities as a part of airport operations, which includes the Terrorism Act, then I am sure that BA would allow the passenger to rebook free of charge.
Getting through the airport is a necessary part of taking a flight and accordingly I really do not see why the carrier would not rebook free of charge in this case. I doubt the liability would lie with a passenger.
If the passenger was charged and found guilty in court then it might be a different matter, but this passenger was released without charge. Any costs incurred by BA as a result should be a matter for them and the airport officials.
There might be something more concrete in the conditions of carriage of course if anybody will read that!
In this case he actually checked in in Germany and was only transiting through LHR, so they pulled him out on a transit stop. Definitely he met his conditions (ie check in on time and meet compliance ones). It wouldn't surprise me if there is some obscure clause somewhere in the T&Cs, but it's likely the Guardian had funded this travel, hence perhaps why he was routed via the UK, a deal with a company travel agent perhaps? A random check on Skyscanner shows going via Portugal and TAP would have been cheaper, but maybe a longer journey.