Airline's blanket rule left Telford passenger fuming
A budget airline used 'health and safety' as an excuse to refuse a passenger from Telford a blanket – then offered to sell her one for £5 instead.
Zoe Hammond, 26, said a Monarch stewardess cited health and safety reasons for not handing out blankets during the night flight from Turkey.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) described the incident as a 'cover-up for poor customer service'.
Zoe said: "The stewardess told me she couldn't give me a blanket for health and safety reasons but said I could buy one for £5.
"I thought it was an odd thing to say but, to be honest, I was so tired and chilly that I didn't argue so I just handed the money over."
When Zoe got home she lodged an inquiry with the HSE's Myth Busters Challenge Panel.
A spokesman said: "HSE have contacted the CAA and they have confirmed that there is no legal requirement to prevent a passenger having a blanket to keep them warm.
"There are no health and safety regulations to prevent an airline providing blankets. It would be helpful for the airline to explain the real reasons for their decisions rather than attributing it to health and safety.
"This is a blatant case of health and safety being used gratuitously as a cover up for poor customer service and/or a commercial decision."
Zoe added: "People just come out with 'health and safety' for anything these days. It should be challenged."
Monarch Airlines was unavailable for comment.
