Qatar Airways employee made me delete a photo on my phone before allowing me to board
I had a really disturbing experience with Qatar Airways at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport and wanted to see if anyone else has experienced something similar.
At the boarding gate, my carry-on was singled out and weighed. It was over the 7 kg carry-on limit. I was traveling with a friend whose carry-on was well under the weight limit. I explained that the laptop in my bag belonged to her, along with some of her belongings, and offered to transfer them into her bag. The staff weighed her bag, confirmed it was within the limit, but refused to let us move anything.
Instead, I was told to either throw away my belongings or pay the excess baggage fee.
I was forced to throw away most of my clothes and personal belongings because my carry-on exceeded the 7 kg limit. After getting rid of almost everything, I told the staff I couldn't throw away anything else because almost everything left in my bag was medication.
I'm a kidney transplant recipient and take lifelong immunosuppressant medication. Because my immune system is weak, I also travel with extra medication, including antibiotics and medication for diarrhea. These are medications I consider necessary whenever I travel.
By this point, every other passenger had already boarded. I was the only passenger left at the gate, surrounded by about 6–7 Qatar Airways staff members, having to explain my medical condition in front of everyone. It was one of the most humiliating experiences I've ever had while traveling.
I was then asked to sign an internal document that contained my name and seat number. Before signing, I wrote that I was being forced to discard my belongings.
After reading my note, a female supervisor became upset and told me Qatar Airways could sue me because of what I had written. She then demanded that I sign another document and made me delete the photo I had taken of the first document. She stood beside me and watched me delete it. I was told that if I refused to sign and delete the photo, I would not be allowed to board my flight.
I completely understand that airlines have every right to enforce their baggage policies, including carry-on weight limits. I am not complaining about the 7 kg rule itself. What I cannot accept is how I was treated. Enforcing a baggage policy should not involve humiliating a passenger, and threatening them with legal action for writing on an internal document or demanding that they delete a photo from their personal phone as a condition of being allowed to board.
I've flown Qatar Airways several times in the past, always in Business Class, and every trip was excellent. This was my first time flying Economy with Qatar Airways, and the difference in how I was treated was shocking. I'm still shaken by what happened, and after this experience, I don't think I'll ever fly Qatar Airways again.