Discrimination by Aer Lingus

haz

Aer Lingus has a new policy of 'language tests' to check that EU foreigners can speak English before being allowed into Ireland on their flights - http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2012/0312/1224313153577.html

A GREEK telecoms manager who has lived in Cork with her family since 1998 was forced to do a language test in English and Greek before being allowed to board an Aer Lingus flight home to Ireland from Barcelona recently.

“In the age of biometric passports, such illogical and discriminatory ‘tests’ are entirely unacceptable. I was only targeted because of my nationality and no serious attempt was made to check that I was indeed flying back home, where I came from only six days previously,” she said

It doesn't say if Irish proficiency was an option, although the check-in staff sound like complete goons who wouldn't have any themselves.

Bigcheeze

More importantly, the aircraft behind her looks like it's in serious difficulty.

davetherave

I got the impression that it was the local handling agent at the airport who decided to do all of this and not actual air lingus check in staff.. Much the same as if a servisair did the same thing in Dublin. It just happened to be on an air lingus flight.
It did get me wondering if you get someone who's first language is not English, and whose English is suspect, would the air line be within its rights to get them to do a language test to make sure that they would be able to understand the crews safety brief and instructions in an emergency?

JustinDee

Why is this in Politics???

haz

davetherave wrote: »

It did get me wondering if you get someone who's first language is not English, and whose English is suspect, would the air line be within its rights to get them to do a language test to make sure that they would be able to understand the crews safety brief and instructions in an emergency?

Doubtful on two grounds, firstly they don't pick on other non-English speakers and secondly it is not in their terms and conditions (nor any other airline I know of).

Here is the Aer Lingus language test, for foreigners coming to Ireland:
http://imgur.com/nUHx5

haz

JustinDee wrote: »

Why is this in Politics???

I assume that migrants' rights and the policing of national borders are political issues. If there is a more appropriate forum then could a mod please move it.

southsiderosie

MOD NOTE:

It's not clear from the OP or the article that this is really a discussion thread for the Politics forum - maybe consumer issues?

Closed.

EDIT: thread started in consumer issues.