### Family Prevented from Flying After Infant’s Insect Bites Raise Airline Concerns
A British family faced an unexpected travel ordeal after being prevented from boarding their British Airways flight due to concerns over insect bites found on their baby’s leg. The incident, which occurred at Shanghai Pudong Airport, left Jonathan Arthur, 34, his wife Xun Sun, 35, and their one-year-old son Joseph, feeling both inconvenienced and unfairly treated as they attempted to travel home to London for a family wedding.
The couple, who currently reside in Hangzhou but are originally from Doncaster, South Yorkshire, were set to fly to London Heathrow on 1st May. As they approached the boarding gate, the family noticed some minor insect bites on Joseph’s leg, surrounded by a mild rash. Seeking to be cautious, the parents asked British Airways (BA) staff where they might purchase some allergy medicine at the airport, suspecting the bites could flare up during their journey.
This precautionary question, however, prompted further scrutiny from the airline. BA staff, noticing the visible rash, consulted a medical advice hotline for guidance. The hotline expressed concerns that the rash might be connected to Joseph’s mild peanut allergy, raising fears that his condition could deteriorate mid-flight. On these grounds, the family was informed they could not board the plane without a written ‘fit-to-fly’ letter from a doctor.
The family was left shocked by the swift response, reporting that BA staff immediately began unloading their checked luggage from the aircraft. “We felt like we’d done something wrong, rather than simply being cautious about our child’s health,” Jonathan recounted. Their attempts to explain that the swelling was reducing with ordinary bite ointment proved unsuccessful, and they were escorted away from the gate by airport staff.
Rather than return home, the family spent the remainder of the day at the airport. During this time, they managed to re-book with another airline that did not demand any additional medical documentation for Joseph. After application of bite cream, the visible swelling receded within fifteen minutes, and Joseph displayed no further symptoms.
Jonathan explained that both local airport medical personnel and an online doctor had confirmed from photographs that the marks were undoubtedly insect bites, possibly from mosquitoes or even bedbugs, as they had suspected. He described the family’s experience as bewildering, particularly since the medical staff at the airport – who were not employed by BA – had no objection to them flying once the swelling subsided. However, the final decision came from the airline’s remote medical advisor, who, without physically examining Joseph, insisted upon the additional requirements.
The family, having paid approximately £3,000 for their original return flights, are now pursuing compensation through both British Airways and their booking agency. Despite their frustration, they remain determined to seek answers regarding how the decision was reached. “It’s troubling that someone thousands of miles away can make such a call without seeing the situation first-hand,” Jonathan reflected. He added that the ordeal left them feeling like they were being treated as a problem to be removed rather than customers in need of assistance.
British Airways responded to queries by saying: “We take the safety and well-being of our customers very seriously and do everything we can to support them when issues arise. This includes accessing specialist medical advice to assess an individual’s suitability to travel. Although we understand this was disappointing for our customer, we never compromise passenger safety.”
The incident has raised questions about the protocols airlines follow when dealing with minor medical conditions and the balance between passenger safety and customer care. For travelling families, the experience highlights the importance of being prepared for unexpected health-related concerns, as well as understanding the processes airlines may follow when such issues emerge.
Jonathan and his family were ultimately able to make it to the family wedding, albeit after a stressful delay and with an added financial burden. Their story serves as a reminder that even minor health concerns can have major implications when travelling internationally, especially for families with young children and pre-existing medical notes attached to their profiles.