“Unlimited Flights” for £800? BA Employee Caught Selling Staff Travel on eBay

A British Airways employee is under fire after allegedly turning their staff travel privileges into an eBay hustle. As reported, the staffer was selling “British Airways Staff Travel” listings on eBay for up to £800 ($995 USD), promising “unlimited flights” between London and destinations like Dubai, New York, and Los Angeles.

While it’s unclear how long the listings were live, the employee allegedly provided their own name and staff details to book standby tickets for paying customers—none of whom were actually eligible for these benefits.

A Wild Violation of Airline Policy

British Airways, like most major airlines, offers heavily discounted standby travel for employees and eligible family members. But there's one hard rule that isn’t up for debate: you don’t sell your flight perks. And you definitely don’t do it in full view of the internet.

The listings promised “travel at up to 90% off” and referred to the tickets as “non-confirmed,” a nod to their standby nature. Still, the eBay seller allegedly claimed that travelers could take “unlimited flights for a year,” using the employee’s name and credentials to get on board.

How the Scheme Collapsed

According to View from the Wing, the scam unraveled when a buyer attempted to use one of these tickets and was denied boarding. That raised a red flag within the system, leading to an internal investigation at BA.

A British Airways spokesperson confirmed to media that the airline is aware of the situation and that “misuse of staff travel benefits is taken extremely seriously.”

As of this week, the eBay listings have been taken down, and disciplinary action is likely underway.

Why This Matters for Airline Staff

This kind of behavior gives every passrider a headache.

Nonrev privileges are one of the best parts of working in aviation, but they come with a strict code of conduct. When someone tries to monetize the system—especially so brazenly—it puts pressure on airlines to tighten restrictions, audit travel history, or even suspend pass privileges for entire employee groups.

We’ve seen it before: all it takes is one bad apple for a company to overhaul their entire staff travel program. For nonrevs who rely on these perks to visit family, take advantage of spontaneous getaways, or save money on personal trips, these crackdowns can be devastating.

And in this case? The seller might’ve made a few hundred quid—but everyone else could be paying the price.

The Industry Reaction

Aviation circles are watching this case closely. Airline insiders across social platforms have been sharing the news with disbelief (and a heavy dose of sarcasm). Some questioned how long the scheme was running, while others shared their own stories of seeing standby perks abused.

The incident serves as a warning not just at BA, but across the industry. Staff travel misuse is rare—but when it happens this publicly, it tends to trigger ripple effects everywhere.

The Bottom Line

If the investigation confirms these allegations, the employee will likely face termination and permanent loss of travel privileges. BA may also tighten verification systems to prevent similar abuses going forward.

For airline employees everywhere, this story is a cautionary tale: use your benefits wisely, or risk losing them for good.