BA security refuses to let Alex Salmond on board with ticket booked under Star Trek pseudonym
Former First Minister Alex Salmond has fallen foul of British Airways security regulations after the airline refused to let him on-board with a ticket booked under pseudonym James T. Kirk.
Due to the fact the name on his ticket did not match the name on his passport BA staff at Heathrow refused to let the Gordon MP on the plane.
For personal security reasons Salmond often travels under a fake name, with the self-confessed Trekkie fond of using William Shatner's Star Trek character James T. Kirk.
According to reports Salmond arrived at the check-in desk armed with the offending ticket when the woman on the desk refused to let him check-in. As a queue formed other members of BA staff arrived with Salmond forced to make calls to back up his story.
Following the mix up Salmond told The Mail on Sunday: "It was all sorted out. I just wanted BA to 'Beam me up, Scotty'."
Of the incident, a British Airways spokesperson said: "We ask all our customers to travel under their own names to maintain the most secure travelling environment possible. The safety and security of our customers and colleagues is our top priority."
A source close to the former First Minister said in his previous role protection officer who travelled with Salmond were always on hand to explain the ruse, but since resigning he now travels alone. Officials at Gatwick and London City, where he usually flies from, are said to be aware of the arrangement.