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BA refuses weary Boris Johnson an upgrade on flight to China for Olympics
Last updated at 07:49am on 22.08.08
Boris Johnson arrived in Beijing today looking tired and dishevelled after a cattleclass flight from London.
British Airways denied the Mayor an upgrade from his economy seat on the nine-hour overnight flight to the Olympics.
City Hall aides are understood to have requested a move to business class for the Mayor before leaving Heathrow but were turned down. A spokesman for British Airways refused to comment on the request or reveal whether the flight had been full.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson gets out of a rickshaw as he arrives at London House in Beijing ahead of the London handover at the Closing Ceremony on Sunday of the 2008 Olympic Games in China
But the incident is certain to be viewed as a snub by mayoral aides who were convinced their boss would be treated like a VIP.
It is not Mr Johnson's first confrontation with airport authorities - his luggage was delayed at Gatwick earlier this month.
He then complained managers had a "chimpanzee-like " control over baggage handlers and that the service was worse than many third world countries.
This time, the Mayor made a high-profile decision to travel economy in a bid to slash costs for the trip funded by London taxpayers. His predecessor, Ken Livingstone, had been planning to travel business class and there was a general expectation Mr Johnson would be upgraded.
He also reduced the size of his party to 13 and cut the amount of time in Beijing from three weeks to five days. The trip is now expected to cost around £167,000.
A source on the plane said fellow economy class passengers were surprised to see such a well-known politician in their midst.
If he had travelled Club World, BA's business class, Mr Johnson would have had a fully reclining seat-bed, 73 inches of legroom and on-demand meals.
Johnson on his way to meet the Mayor of Beijing after arriving from London in an economy class seat
Instead, he had to put up with just 38 inches of legroom, and meals and snacks when the cabin crew distributed them.
He was unlikely to have got much sleep ahead of the visit, which kicked off with a meeting with Beijing Mayor Guo Jinlong, who asked him about his flight.
A bleary-eyed Mr Johnson received VIP treatment once he landed at Beijing Capital International Airport and was whisked away in an official car to his hotel.
He had promised to cancel expensive hotel suites booked by Mr Livingstone and downgrade to a cheaper hotel.
But the Mayor and his team are staying in the official International Olympics Committee hotel, the five-star Beijing Raffles Hotel, where rooms start at £400 a night.
A spokesman for the Mayor said: "We were told it would be easier for us to stay at the IOC hotel for security reasons and also because that's where we'll be having meetings with Jacques Rogge and Seb Coe about the handover to London."
Mr Johnson will have a key role to play in the closing ceremony on Sunday when he receives the Olympic flag from his Beijing counterpart before an estimated worldwide television audience of 1.5 billion.
He is also battling Gordon Brown for the best photo opportunities in the city. The Prime Minister will also be at the closing ceremony and is said to be redrawing his schedule to meet Britain's athletic heroes, including fellow Scot and triple gold medallist Chris Hoy.
The Mayor will welcome budding competitors to the London Games at the Beijing athletes' village.
Reader views (22)
Thanks BA, you've made my day.
It's a bit presumptuous to expect an upgrade, 'celebrity' or not, but even more so, after making a point of buying an economy ticket. Someone's got to wear the cost for an upgrade, and if he's not happy to, noone else should be asked to.
- Ucie, abroad
BA Should be ashamed.. Yes maybe he is not super popular but the role of Major for London is one that needs to be respected and thus how do you think the world views the role of London Major now when even a home grown airline will not show any respect for the position!? Now in addition to this just imagine how they treat normal run of the mill folk .. Great PR for Ba.. no wonder the airline is lacking.
- Phil, London
"Sorry BA, what did you say about privileged status at the new airport at the estuary? I couldn't quite hear? Ahhh I thought so - yes, I've saved you just the spot beside animal quarantine around five clicks from the main entrance"
- Ag Musgrove, Winchester
Why should he get an upgrade? If he wanted to travel business class, he or his staff should have booked business class in the first place.
- A. Bennett, Letchworth, UK
Ooooh, if only Gordon were to get an economy seat, next to me. He would go away with battered ears and an entirely different way of seeing things.
In fact, maybe ALL government figures should be required to travel economy with the people they supposedly serve. Buses, 2nd class rail, economy air. Maybe they could convince us that their only real interest wasn't their gold plated pension schemes.
- Naomi Sajeri, Manchester
Monkey-Managers, brilliant! Sums British Airways up. I think Boris' has signalled the end to Livingston and his cronies high expense Junkets. I know an official in the mayoral office who confirms it was a complete joke and free for all to fill their pockets.
- Marcus, Birmingham
So let me get this straight. Boris buys a Economy ticket and is gutted that he does not get a free upgrade. Seems that stardom can buy an election, but not a free upgrade.
- Paul, London
I am no fan of Boris, but this was not a junket at taxpayers expense, it was for the handover of the Olympic torch. Considering he was trying to save taxpayers money by booking economy class, if there was room on the flight it would not have hurt BA to upgrade him. Sounds like sour grapes to me.
- Marina, hemel hempstead
Whether to have an upgrade policy is a business decision, not a question of "fairness."
No real reason for him to go anyway. Its called a "junket" at taxpayer expense.
- Trunk, US
Hmmm I take it the two young ladies in red have just been recruited as Deputy Mayors?
- David, London UK
I am sure Boris will return the favour next time BA put in a planning application.
- Tom, Watford UK
If you want a business seat - buy a business seat. Arrogant so and so to expect upgrade for Mr Cost Cutter!
- Richard, Reading Berks
BA is notorious for not caring about its loyal customer base. While frequent flyers often get upgraded on other airlines, BA has a no upgrade policy. Is it fair? Just ask yourself, if you bought milk from the same grocer every day for years and for once, you were short of 10p, would it be fair to others that the grocer still sell you the milk?
- John, London, UK
This man is related to royalty! He should travel through life first class.
- Arthur Crabtree, St Leonards on Sea
Wwhat's all the fuss about? Boris made a big point about saving Londoners money by travelling economy class instead of business class like Ken. Boris got what he asked for! If you want to score political points expecting or getting upset by not getting an upgrade really isn't the way to do it!
- Andy, London
If as a public figure you make a 'high profile decision to travel economy' to make a political point about your predecessor, then you must be prepared to stand by it: asking in advance for an upgrade (if that is what happened) is surely hypocritical. It's like travelling by bike to make a point but having your official car running along behind you...It is only because we now hold politicians so low in esteem that they have to go through these bizarre contortions and pretences.
- Damian Hockney, London, UK
Er, he made the decision to travel economy and then expected an upgrade to first class. He wants to be a Londoner so he should travel like the rest of us. If he thinks nine hours is hard he should try ~24 to Australia!
- Michael, London
He looks no more dishevelled as usual!
- Stuart, UK Luton
"This time, the Mayor made a high-profile decision to travel economy in a bid to slash costs for the trip funded by London taxpayers. His predecessor, Ken Livingstone, had been planning to travel business class and there was a general expectation Mr Johnson would be upgraded."
He got what he paid for - another stunt gone wrong. Is this the end to Conservative speeches about how we can cut costs without anyone being affected!
- Tonyb, Twickenham
Buy a business class ticket if you want a business class seat! BA is not a charity.
- James, London
No one is entitled to an upgrade, no one at all. Pay for economy ticket - expect an economy seat. People who are obviously wealthy enough to pay for business class are often the least likely to be given a free upgrade.
- Jane Bewick, London
Does this mean British Airways is part of the Labour party?
- Peter Seekings-Foster, Muildenhall, Suffolk
