Sheikhs on a Plane
A British Airways flight was held up for almost three hours when a Quatar sheikh decided he didn’t like the seating arrangements. Apparently three of his female relatives were seated next to men they didn’t know. WTF?
When the sheikh was unable to get any of the passengers to swap seats, he went to complain to the pilot, but the pilot had the sheikh and his companions, three women, two men, a cook and a servant, thrown off the plane.
Traditions in the Arab region the sheikh is from dictate that women are not allowed to mix with men they don’t know. Unfortunately, it appears they are unaware of the airline passenger tradition of booking adjoining seats at the time the airline tickets are purchased. With a simple boy/girl seating plan and some forethought, the whole mess could have been avoided.
When I visit your country I’ll follow your traditions, but when you visit mine you’ll follow ours, and if that doesn’t work for you, get the fuck out.
Source: Reuters
Posted: July 27th, 2007 under Nutty News.
Comments: 8
Comments
Comment from Greg
Time: July 27, 2007, 11:36 pm
How are they going to get the fuck out if they get kicked off the plane?
Comment from Hammer
Time: July 28, 2007, 8:10 am
They can walk, row a boat, or swim for all I care. Better yet, they should stay the fuck out in the first place.
Comment from Laurie Anne
Time: July 28, 2007, 10:01 am
*sigh* …..that sounds so romantic! Those women are soooooooooooo lucky!
Comment from angelo
Time: July 28, 2007, 12:27 pm
I thought sheikhs were rich enough to travel on private jets and limousines, I guess this one wasn’t that rich 
And I agree on following their tradition when you come to their place, was it just for the multiple wives and smoking pot.
Comment from Joe
Time: August 2, 2007, 2:20 pm
Firstly, they weren’t visiting your country. They were flying between Milan and London on a BA flight. They flew with Alitalia in the end.
Secondly, what *exactly* do you have against the Qatari royal family, or Qatar itself?
Comment from Hammer
Time: August 2, 2007, 6:17 pm
I have nothing against Quatar, I have something against all these damn people with their special needs and having to cowtow to them because of it. If the women in their country can’t associate with strange men, leave them at home. Otherwise, no matter where you go, they’re going to have to sit near one at some point.
The comment about my country was a general statement for anyone and whatever country they live in.
Comment from Joe
Time: August 4, 2007, 9:10 am
The point about people expecting others to accommodate one’s needs when in a foreign country is a fair one.
And the second part about your country was also fair. When I visit your country at then end of this year I’ll be the one following U.S. customs, not expecting people to follow British customs. I’d have to be a dick to expect it the other way around!
Just thought I’d say, I wasn’t having a go before, I just wanted to figure out what you were meaning here. 
Comment from Fred
Time: August 21, 2007, 12:41 pm
We covered this incident on Qatarsucks.com
Yes Qatar does really suck. Much more to come in the future! Happy flying
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