How Former BBN Star Erica Nlewedim Disrupted Airline Policy Over Alleged Ticket Downgrade

A trending Instagram video featuring former Big Brother Naija (BBN) housemate Erica Nlewedim has stirred controversy, showing her making explicit statements toward a staff member of a Nigerian ground handling firm. 

Erica accused the staff of downgrading her from a business class cabin to an economy seat on a British Airways flight, despite having fully paid for the premium seat.

The incident highlights a misunderstanding of airline policies, as check-in staff lack the authority to upgrade or downgrade passengers without direct instruction from the airline. 

According to industry pundits, situations like these are not uncommon during peak travel seasons, where overbooking is frequent due to high demand and multiple agents booking seats.

An expert, who spoke to Daily African Times anonymously, said during peak periods, airlines prioritise passengers with frequent flyer premium passes, often resulting in overbooking and check-in delays for others once the aircraft’s capacity is reached. 

The expert disclosed that early check-in, available up to 48 hours before departure, can also affect seat availability.

Hence, Erica’s reaction, caught on video, showed her refusal to heed the check-in staff’s advice to contact her ticketing agent for resolution. 

The staff attempted to explain the available options, including flight or airline changes, and potential compensation for the inconvenience, but Erica remained unyielding.

The incident underscores the importance of passengers being informed about overbooking policies and potential seat reassignments to prevent such confrontations. 

While regrettable, these situations have solutions that could have been explored calmly with the assistance of the airline and ticketing agents.