Do you think we (Britishers) are racist or it is just that the world is jealous of us?

Answer 1

Exactly six months ago, my wife & son were not allowed to board a British Airways flight to Paris via London because they didn't have a transit visa, called a Direct Airside Transit Visa. This came as news to me, as well as to many people to whom we mentioned the incident later including - hold your breath - the West Europe Division of the MEA.

When she protested, the counter girl said the travel agent should have informed her that a transit visa was needed. Perhaps he should have. But what was BA's duty in the matter? When I checked the BA office in Delhi the next day after receiving a call from her, the girl said BA had informed all the "major" travel agents but it was not possible to inform all the smaller ones.

Really, I asked. Even when you do business with them? There was no reply to the question but she informed me that India had been added to the list of nationals who needed a transit visa around October 2005 because Indians tended to run off. I checked. Between 2001 and 2006, there have been around 300 such cases, as against nearly 700,000 Indians who have passed through Britain. Talk about shabby excuses.!!!

The girl also told me that it was up to the passenger to ensure that all travel documents were in order and that the airline had no responsibility in the matter. But that is debatable because BA encourages you to buy e-tickets, which is what she had. For paper tickets it charges $25 extra. In other words, it cuts out intermediation so that it need not pay the commission, which is usually between 3.5 and 5 per cent.

I would have thought that this exclusion imposed an additional duty on BA regarding visas, especially transit visas, because I doubt if anyone today thinks he or she can enter Britain without a visa. But transit is a different matter altogether.

Indeed, the only thing required on the e-ticket form is a field asking for visa details. If this field is not filled, the computer can be programmed not to issue a ticket. It is a simple method and effective but BA has not thought it fit to create such a field on the ticket application form.

I did not argue with the girl because it seemed pointless. Instead, I came home and checked what this transit visa thing was.It turns out to be an extraordinary instrument of discrimination because it applies overwhelmingly to coloured people. The exceptions are Macedonia, Moldova, Serbia and Montenegro and, if you stretch it a bit, Albania.

Is this story self sufficient to answer your question ?

Answer 2

I've met a few British people who are awesome. I've also met some who where the biggest @ssholes I've ever met. I don't think people hate the British because you guys are racist because you can be racist and of any nationality. As for the world being jealous of you, what are we suppose to be jealous of?

Answer 3

British people arent racist, they're just stuck-up. That is however generalising, which is why this question even exist, who says the world is jealous of you? Some are jealous, just like some are stuck-up and some are racist, then again it also depends which of the british you're refering too as the scots are pretty cool in my humble opinion, but the english are stuck-up, and not even all of them, just some...well a lot actually

Answer 4

Yes some of the britishers are racist and they hv spread their racist ideas in South East Asia esp. India And Pakistan.

Answer 5

I'm jealous that the pound is worth two of our dollars. But other than that I think your weather sucks. Also my wife said people in London that she talked to in the airport were rude. But I've met many of you guys on vacation in Greece and I think your just a bunch drunks. But that's just my opinion and like sphincter muscles everyone has one. Your not all bad.

Answer 6

I am not sure that the issue of one of previous answers is due to color of skin rather than location of different terminals in airports. People in my country mostly white colored and we face the same problems with transit visas in some but not all European airports unlike US where you always need transit visas. For ex, Zurich, Munich, Frankfurt are OK whereas Leonardo da Vichy in Rome demands transit visas. Just be aware to check beforehand…whether your country has special agreement on visas or not...

Answer 7

Unfortunately, there are racists in every country and society. It's not something to be proud of.

Answer 8

I don't know. Not everyone is racist and not everyone is jealous of you.

Answer 9

It's awful being forced to call myself a citizen rather than a groovy subject.

Answer 10

Tom we may be British but not "Britishers" as you put it so incorrectly, so I put it you you that you are not British at all......