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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
 Posted - 25 Nov 2007 : 00:49:32
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It is just been bought to my attention that British Airlines are running a two tier service in regards to passengers who they allow on their flights which stinks of discrimination to me!
In so much as long as a passenger has an up-to-date, the correct visa to enter the UK, and can pay for their ticket. They should be able to book a flight at Yundum Airport regardless whether they are or are not a EU passport holder.
This is a ludicrous racist state of affairs because there is no justification for this type of discrimination once someone has authentic documentation and has been given clearance from the British High Commission.
It just goes to show that institutional racism is alive and kicking and is exercised with ease in countries who are overly dependent on tourism. Both Thomson and First Choice refuse to take Gambian nationals on standby this service is exclusively for non Gambian passport holders and they can only travel out of the country using Gambian Experience if this is not a monopoly or legalised human trafficking what is?
The Gambian Tourist Authority should basically investigate this state of affairs because its important that all travelers transiting legally between Gambia and Britain are treated equally with respect. To have budget or any airlines acting as colonial masters of Gambian aerospace and sourveignity is reminscent of colonial days. Minister Coley and GTA, TDA need to stop pandering to whims of these airlines and taking a subordinate stance with them. There needs to be a more even playing field than to allow such companies to openly discriminate against Gambian passengers. This is a disgrace and something needs to be done about it. It's about time President Jammeh started to pay more attention to what is going on in this transport, immigration and tourist sector. Because such scandalous practice should not go unnoticed and by default condoned. Gone are the days that Gambian Experience Officials tell visitors not to give porters only £1. But now they are call the shots on how Gambians must travel out of the country. Now I'd like to know where it is stated in Gambian and British Law that Gambians can only fly from Banjul using Gambian Experience and no other airline. On another note, it seems as if the Gambian Authorities are in awe of these Tour Operators these Tour Operators need Exotic Locations because without them they wouldn't be in business. If the Gambian government allows such state of affairs to go on without correcting it then they are condoning their citizens to be treated with contempt by others; who basically have little respect for the host community which they give lip service too.This matter needs to be looked into and its about time that the authorities were more assertive in brokering a better deal for Gambian passengers.
Peace
Sister Omega
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Peace
Sister Omega |
Edited by - Sister Omega on 25 Nov 2007 01:26:51 |
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snuggels
960 Posts |
Posted - 25 Nov 2007 : 04:01:25
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| I think the reason for this was that on getting to the UK so many were found to have fake documents that the airlines had to return them at the airlines cost. Also I think Gambia Experience wont take Gambia people unless they have a return ticket |
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Lily
United Kingdom
422 Posts |
Posted - 25 Nov 2007 : 09:51:15
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I think the reason for this has to do with airline capacity. It's not to do with racism. Gambian airlines - or any airline for that matter - or any carrier can SELL tickets from the country that the airline visits - but it doesn't make economic sense for them. The airlines originate in the UK - they are chartered by the companies that fly on them. Gambia Experience is the only airline which sell tickets against the flow (ie UK to Gambia) because they charter whole airlines and sell tickets for 10, 11. 14, 7, 28 (and open) tickets - therfore they have SPARE seats for the return leg.
I am wholly against racism but I think we should get the facts straight before we start throwing stones. Charter and scheduled airlines, licence holders and non licence holders..... I don't think that the other airlines are racist - just businesses.
The Gambia Experience won't carry UK nationals out to the Gambia unless they have a return ticket either and we have to fill in a form which states how many days we will stay ........
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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 25 Nov 2007 : 13:21:34
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My facts are straight its quite simple if a person had booked a ticket as a Gambian National from the UK initially and had to rebook another ticket to return to the UK with a Settlement Visa which can easily be verified by The British High Commission on Atlantic Rd. Then why can't the airline fly the passenger who wants to buy another ticket to return to the UK. This is institutional racism subtle but racism nevetheless because the passenger has permission re- enter Britain and this can be checked by a simple phone call by the airline to the British high Commission it doesn't take rocket science just commonsense alias a rare attribute.
Lily I am fully aware of the procedures of Gambian Experience and as a EU passport holder myself I go through the same procedure whether it is them Thomson or First Choice. As for Gambian passengers who find themselves in this position they do not require a return ticket because there is no ticket that I'm aware of which covers two years then goes on indefinitely.
Peace
Sister Omega |
Peace
Sister Omega |
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Lily
United Kingdom
422 Posts |
Posted - 25 Nov 2007 : 14:23:51
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I still say it's not racism because it is the same for charter airlines the world over. The simple (but highly unlikely and impractical!) solution is for an airline originating from Gambia to fly people from the gambia to Britain. I can't get from the Uk to America without a visa and no airline will let me fly without one - is that racism too?
many Gambians fly backwards and forewards freely - the problem, I think, is not to do with airlines but with visas.....
I absolutely agree that the system is unfair. I don't like systems of visas at all. I think that people should be able to travel freely. But that's a whole other debate. |
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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 25 Nov 2007 : 15:23:18
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The problem is the airline ticket and not the visa the passenger has the correct visa to enter the UK having gone through Official Clearance via the British High Commission. The problem is they are unable to purchase a ticket from Banjul end to go to the UK even though they have
1. The correct legitimate UK settlement visa.
2. A current passport
3. Money to buy a ticket whether it be a single or return ticket.
The problem this time around Lily is definitely the airlines and not immigration.
Peace
Sister Omega
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Peace
Sister Omega |
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Serekundajock
United Kingdom
60 Posts |
Posted - 25 Nov 2007 : 22:20:42
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Wel Sister Omega I have been doing some investigations myself.
If you go to the travel forum you will see my posting.
Maybe I put them in the wrong bit.
But it might give you some answers, probably more question though. |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 26 Nov 2007 : 01:24:03
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Its an open secret that immigrants are classified as 1st class and more priviledges to E.U and then then more aggresive policies against non-E.U. Thats a deal done and even some new E.U. members especially Bulgaria are not finding it easy to travel to U.K.
Sure Sister Omega there is a kind of new jargons on discrimination.
PEACE!  |
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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 26 Nov 2007 : 20:03:59
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Although Gambian Experience is licenced to take Gambian Nationals seats are often held back by Gambian personnel who sell off the tickets to their own private customers. The passenger was refused a ticket at Senegambia hotel today even though flight AEU234 had two vacant outbound seats as confirmed by Gambian Experience in the UK. This was also relunctantly confirmed by Senegambia Hotel who declined to sell one of the seats even though it had not been officially sold at 2.30 pm today. The Gambian passenger was able to buy a ticket from Air Brussels, which cost twice as much as Gambian Experience and with the added inconvenience of having to stop over for 6 hours in Brussels before getting on a contacting flight to the UK.
At least the passenger had another choice and the means to pay the added expense. This is a crazy state of affairs. Let's hope that Air Brussels starts to tap into this sector of the market by reducing its fares after all money is money as long as the individual fulfills the ticket criteria they should be given permission to fly!
Peace
Sister Omega
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Peace
Sister Omega |
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