Originally Posted by The Times

When Ruth Blakeley, a senior university academic, logged on to her British Airways account to try to change some details before a flight, she received an automatic error message. She was not authorised to make such changes, the message said. Instead, these would have to be done by her husband as “head of the household”.

Professor Blakeley, 39, of the international relations department at the University of Kent, hit the roof. She accused the airline of perpetuating “gender stereotypes” and of using outdated language more appropriate to her grandfather’s generation.

British Airways stood firm, however, insisting that the phrase “bears no relation to gender” and saying that Professor Blakeley could herself have been designated as “head of the household” — provided that her husband agreed.