Overview

• A family was denied boarding on a British Airways flight from Shanghai to London after staff raised concerns about insect bites on their one-year-old son.
• On-site airport medical staff cleared the child to fly after applying bite cream, but BA's remote medical hotline insisted on a 'fit-to-fly' letter, leading to the boarding refusal.
• The family rebooked with another airline the same evening, which did not require additional medical documentation, and the bites subsided shortly after treatment.
• The parents, who had spent £3,000 on tickets, are now in discussions with British Airways and their booking agency to secure a refund for the disrupted journey.
• British Airways has defended its decision, emphasizing its commitment to passenger safety and reliance on specialist medical advice in such situations.