Mum in tears as 'faulty' British Airways armrest crushed her hand
| Published date | 16 April 2024 |
| Publication title | MyLondon (England) |
The retired banker said she then pressed her in-flight call button to try and get someone's attention but again says no one came to help. It was only when the mum-of-three shouted out loudly to an air stewardess that she claims they alerted the manager who came to her assistance 20 minutes later.
While she was waiting for help, the British dressage judge said her husband Peter Hugh Smith was able to get her some ice to try and alleviate her swollen hand. Kate claims the BA manager admitted they were aware of the faulty seat but said there was nowhere else she could sit so had to remain in her broken chair for the duration of the journey.
Before landing, the passengers says a BA staff member took a photo of her hand and said the airline would be in touch about her injury but claims this didn't happen. After reaching out to BA on various occasions since her flight on December 31 last year, she says she has still not received her incident report or any compensation for the incident three months later.
Kate, who is a Bronze BA member and flies regularly with the airline, says the company's lack of response has left her feeling 'dismissed' and not 'valued' as a customer. Due to this, she now says she will find alternative airlines to fly with for her future holidays.
Kate, from Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire, said: "I was sitting in my chair and put my tray down. I wasn't sitting straight so I moved in my seat and the next thing I know my right armrest collapses on my finger. I have never felt pain like it in my life. I had to really pull to get my hand out as it was trapped under the arm rest for a minute or two.
"It was unbelievable pain. I had silent tears running down my face. I called out to the stewardess. We were in business class so there were only about 16 other people in our part of the flight, but she just carried on doing her job.
"I wasn't sitting next to my husband so I grabbed his attention and showed him my hand and it was already red. He got up and went to the stewardess and asked for some ice and told them that his wife had hurt herself.
"He came back and gave me a bag of ice but it was very...
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