Couple sues British Airways over Grenada-Granada holiday mix-up

A Washington couple has sued British Airways, saying the airline ruined their holiday by booking them tickets to the Caribbean island of Grenada instead of Granada, Spain – 6,379km away.

Edward Gamson and Lowell Canaday said in their lawsuit they wanted to travel from Washington to London and then to Granada, Spain. Gamson, a dentist who has an office in Maryland, said he explained his travel plans to a British Airways agent who made the reservation.

The lawsuit said the couple received an electronic ticket that referred to “Grenada” but didn’t list the country, airport code or flight duration. The couple made it to London, but their connecting flight went to the Caribbean, not Spain. They didn’t realise the mistake until they were airborne, the lawsuit said.

British Airways said on Wednesday that it has been in regular contact with the couple and offered extensive assistance. The couple declined an offer of new flights to Granada and the airline provided alternate complimentary flights and enough frequent flyer points for a future trip, the statement said.

Gamson said in a telephone interview that they discovered the mistake when they looked at a back-of-the-seat television monitor showing the plane headed west on a map. They then asked a member of the airline’s crew what was going on.