My son is a frequent BA flyer as an unaccompanied minor, for which I have always been able to provide proof of identity using my medical aid card, this as recent as January 2013. When checking him in on his return flight to Cape Town on Monday 18 February I was asked to present a birth certificate, which according to the check in staff was always the policy. I asked for a manager and Sydwell Maluleke, Customer Service Manager confirmed that this was the case and that I have to go and fetch the birth certificate at home which would have resulted in my son missing his flight. When explained to Mr Maluleke, he then suggested a change in flight which would have allowed enough time to fetch the birth certificate, at an additional cost of R805. According to him the acceptance of a medical aid card was on exception only, I then requested a last exception as I was never requested to provide a birth certificate in the past, which was flatly refused. I am happy to supply whatever proof of identification when it concerns my family, but at the check-in counter some judgement must be used, surely there must have someone that could have assessed the situation and made a judgment call.
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