AN OPEN LETTER TO BRITISH AIRWAYS? CEO/CHAIRMAN

Re: The Airline Luggage Tussle (70-50lb reduction); Seeking Social Justice

Dear Chairman/CEO,

Re: The Airline Luggage 70-50lb reduction: Seeking Social Justice

The people of Ghana, especially those overseas, have enjoyed a very fruitful and mutually rewarding business relationship with your airline. We have recommended your airline over many carriers even when there were choices to be made or recommendations for other airlines. It is therefore with regret that we hear that you have arbitrarily reduced the luggage allowance granted travelers to Ghana from 70lb to 40lbs.

Mr. Chairman, why should British Airways treat Ghanaians different from other international customers? According to complaints reaching the Ghana leadership Union office at the Kotoka International Airport on October 3, 2005, passengers only got to know that BA has cut the airline luggage from 70-50lb.

The question we want to ask British Airways is why should they not inform their Ghanaian passengers ahead of time like they would (do to) other international customers (say at the time of purchasing their tickets) but wait till the last minute when passengers have no opportunity to make alternative arrangements?

Although passengers were told at Kotoka International Airport that the new policy took effect from September 1, 2005 there were no public notices to inform Ghanaian customers to that effect. Again, Mr. Chairman, why should British Airways treat Ghanaians different from other international customers? There is absolutely no reason to bring such untold hardship and concentrated stress to your unerring customers.

It is sad that African customers are taken for granted all the time yet British Airways MAKES MORE MONEY FROM Africans (per passenger) than any other continent. Flights from Ghana are always full. Fares from Africa are always higher than fares to Africa. This is injustice and economic exploitation and it ought to stop immediately.

There is no reason why such a reputable corporation like British Airways can not make smooth transition but treat her customers with extreme shock. Or is it because these customers are Africans? Ghanaians want to know.

There is no reason or justification why Ghanaian customers at Kotoka International should receive such a major change in service with shock to reduce the weights of their luggage (which other international passengers are allowed) from 32 kilos to 23 kilos each without prior notice. This shows the kind of respect British Airways has for her African customers. We hope race is not an issue here.

1. On behalf of the many Ghanaian customers Ghana Leadership Union (GLU) wishes to demand an apology and assurance of some respect in the future.

2. GLU is also asking British Airways to allow Ghanaian passengers the same weight allotted to her international passengers around the globe. We are not asking for any more or less. Just an equal treatment. Any thing contrary will guarantee that British Airways is a discriminatory entity by color and location.

3. If this cut in luggage weight is due to airline union demands on their employees breaking their backs to pick up those heavy bags. We suggest that travelers be given the same weight of 70lbs but be spread into 3 bags.

4. Or as some of us would like to suggest, that if the workers are really complaining, British Airways is not to punish the traveler but invest in the appropriate technology to help the workers out. With the advance in technology, robotics and automation, there is no reason to punish travelers because workers are complaining about heavy lifting. One way is to spread the weight in three bags. History shows that the plane can handle the load. BA should work assiduously to find creative ways to load luggage onto the plane without breaking the backs of their workers.

5. If British Airways does not treat her Ghanaian passengers traveling from Ghana or to Ghana equally and with some respect as they do to other western customers Ghanaians may consider using alternative means to seek redress and social justice. Africans have had enough of past discrimination and prejudicial treatments, allowed due to the ineffective leadership of the past. We of this generation are tired and will expect a different and more equitable relationship with the Western businesses.

Mr. Chairman, we are sure you realize that this has not only caused undue hardships for the many travelers on your carrier, but also started to generate ill feelings. This could ruin the very friendly relationship your company and Ghanaians have enjoyed over the years. We know that other airlines are trying to enter Ghana and Ghana Leadership Union, Inc. will like to keep you as our friendly airline and recommend your airline.

On behalf of the estimated 2-3 million Ghanaians around the globe and thousands of people who prefer to fly your airline from various destinations overseas to Ghana every week, we hereby ask you to reconsider your decision and let the old baggage weight limit stay.

We hope to hear favorably from you very soon.

Sincerely Yours,
Secretary, Ghana Leadership Union

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