Originally Posted by
orbitmic
To be honest, I think it was a misunderstanding between the two of you rather than the agent getting it backwards. There are competent and incompetent agents of course, but quite frankly, I just do not believe that any IST agent handling BA flights is unaware that laptops are forbidden in hand luggage on the route, and of course that is precisely why he wanted to inspect the contents of your hand luggage in the first place. Maybe something got lost in translation in your discussion here?
That would be my first thought had I read it. If he meant that I could retrieve the bag at LHR instead of checking the laptop there, then you are right. Its been 2 months now, and his English was worse than mine, so we cant rule anything out. I have no recording or any other evidence.