No fly, no compo looks plane nuts

BRITS taking a holiday across the Atlantic are sometimes finding Donald Trump’s America can be the stuff of nightmares.

One reader told me what happened when he booked a British Airways flight last month.

When he arrived at the airport’s departure area he was told the airline could not let him board because he was on a “no-fly” list.

This came as a total shock to the reader, who is a Londoner.

The staff could tell him only that he was not allowed on any flight in US air space.

He knew of no reason for this. Surely it couldn’t be just because of his name, which is Ahmed.

When he requested a refund from BA they refused, saying the ban was not their fault. THE LEGAL POSITION The US no-fly list, which has names of people they either know or suspect to be terrorists, is secret.

It is also notorious. There are regular stories of innocent people being listed for no clear reason. And getting off it is difficult.

If you are not a US citizen or a lawful permanent resident there, you can make a submission to the FBI Terrorist Screening Centre. They will review your submission, and write back to say how the complaint was resolved.

The letter does not confirm or deny whether you have been included on the no-fly list. Nor does it state if you remain on it or whether you can fly in the future.

The US government refuses to give people notice that they are on the list or say a reason.

They do not provide a process or hearing at which you can “clear your name”.

The only way for a non-citizen to discover if they have been removed from the no-fly list is by buying an airline ticket and attempting to board the flight.

Airlines generally have to pay compensation when they choose not to allow a passenger to board a flight where the passenger themselves is not at fault.

But they have no liability where there are reasonable grounds – such as for reasons of health, safety or security or inadequate travel documentation.

Ahmed might get a refund on the basis that the contract has been frustrated. The airline has been stopped from fulfilling their part of the bargain because the US bans them from carrying him.