MMB being (dare I say it) sexist?
Jan 3, 2019, 8:50 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 285
MMB being (dare I say it) sexist?
This is strange but I’ll go ahead and ask the question.
I’ve made 3 bookings in the past month through BA. One holiday, one flights and hotel for part of the stay and one open jaw trip to the US and back. All of them I booked and paid for with my card while logged into my Exec Club (as a lowly Blue)
All three bookings are showing my travel companions name first. They are also a Blue, are on my household account, and are male.
Just seems very strange that he’s classed as the lead passenger. Anyone know why this might be?
I’ve made 3 bookings in the past month through BA. One holiday, one flights and hotel for part of the stay and one open jaw trip to the US and back. All of them I booked and paid for with my card while logged into my Exec Club (as a lowly Blue)
All three bookings are showing my travel companions name first. They are also a Blue, are on my household account, and are male.
Just seems very strange that he’s classed as the lead passenger. Anyone know why this might be?
Jan 3, 2019, 9:04 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 285
Jan 3, 2019, 9:07 am
#5
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: UK
Programs: BAEC (blue), VS Flying Club (red), Hotels.com (silver!), IHG, Amex, TopCashback, Tesco...
Posts: 83
Yes, I (female) booked from my account for myself, Mum, Dad and husband (who is head of his and my household account). The couple with the surname first in the alphabet was listed first with my mum (first name Axxxx) as lead passenger although all the first names were also in alphabetical order A, B, C, D!
Jan 3, 2019, 9:10 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 285
Yes, I (female) booked from my account for myself, Mum, Dad and husband (who is head of his and my household account). The couple with the surname first in the alphabet was listed first with my mum (first name Axxxx) as lead passenger although all the first names were also in alphabetical order A, B, C, D!
Neither option seems appealing. 😁
Jan 4, 2019, 5:20 am
#7
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Brighton and Hove, UK
Programs: LH FTL, BA Silver, Thameslink Delay Repay
Posts: 1,248
To provide a reverse data point, I’ve had female travel companions come first on reservations plenty of times, when they were ahead of me in the alphabet lottery. Especially fun the first time it happened, on a BA Holidays booking, where the hotel insisted there was no reservation under my name (despite being the lead pax) when we arrived tired and exhausted at 1am. Only eventually did they find one... under my partner’s name.
So, Occam’s razor on this occasion. That’s not to say BA doesn’t provide genuine examples of sexism - look no further than that pathetic “safety” video and how the “director” talks to one woman in particular.
So, Occam’s razor on this occasion. That’s not to say BA doesn’t provide genuine examples of sexism - look no further than that pathetic “safety” video and how the “director” talks to one woman in particular.
Jan 4, 2019, 7:14 am
#8
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Oxford
Programs: Skyteam Elite+, VS Red, HHonours Diamond, Accor Plat
Posts: 629
I also have a flight tonight that I booked for the wife and I . I appear first on the passenger list in MMB however the confirmation email for check-in arrived at my (Mr _f) email address which opened with
BA check-in confirmation
Dear Mrs _f,
Jan 4, 2019, 7:50 am
#9
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: UK
Programs: BA, U2+, SK, AF/KL, IHG, Hilton, others gathering dust...
Posts: 2,552
Yes, MMB is sexist. It always puts Mrs O as the lead passenger on any family bookings I make 
(though these are often made over the phone with BA, so can't be certain how automatic it is). I would guess that the alphabetical order explanation works, our family of 4 with same surname seems to be listed in alphabetical order of first name in MMB.
Anyway, it's probably correct. One of our cost centres asked a few days ago what titular meant, and by way of example I told her that I am the titular head of our household...
(though these are often made over the phone with BA, so can't be certain how automatic it is). I would guess that the alphabetical order explanation works, our family of 4 with same surname seems to be listed in alphabetical order of first name in MMB.Anyway, it's probably correct. One of our cost centres asked a few days ago what titular meant, and by way of example I told her that I am the titular head of our household...
Jan 4, 2019, 7:55 am
#10
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: living near Malaga
Programs: BA Gold , Mucci recipient. Coffee Drinker, Blue Sky Thinker
Posts: 2,112
And as further little annoyance if I use MMB to check myself and SWMBO in online as the flight opens its always her that gets SEQ001 too...
But I am too much of a gentleman to mention it.
But I am too much of a gentleman to mention it.
Jan 4, 2019, 8:20 am
#11
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: UK
Programs: BA, U2+, SK, AF/KL, IHG, Hilton, others gathering dust...
Posts: 2,552
The dangers of using humour...the character this actor is best known for, and is also playing in the BA video, is a pathetic and cringeworthy individual subject to frequent humiliation. Of course, if you don't know that (and the show is a bit niche, so a lot of people wouldn't, even in the UK), I can see how it could come across otherwise.
Jan 4, 2019, 8:27 am
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 285
The dangers of using humour...the character this actor is best known for, and is also playing in the BA video, is a pathetic and cringeworthy individual subject to frequent humiliation. Of course, if you don't know that (and the show is a bit niche, so a lot of people wouldn't, even in the UK), I can see how it could come across otherwise.
So it would be difficult for the other 74 countries BA fly to to even see it let alone ‘get’ it.