Airline drops student fare age cap after BCEN ‘discrimination’ challenge

Caribbean Airlines has abolished its controversial age limit on student travel discounts following successful lobbying by a Barbadian consumer rights group on behalf of a mature student who was denied access to reduced fares.

The Trinidad-based carrier had restricted its student travel package to those aged between 16 and 40 for more than five years before the Barbados Consumer Empowerment Network (BCEN) intervened, arguing the policy discriminated against older students.

The airline officially removed the age restriction on October 30, extending eligibility to all enrolled university students regardless of age, for travel within the Caribbean region and some international routes.

The policy change came after University of the West Indies Cave Hill campus law student Joan Lavia sought BCEN’s support when she was refused the student package because of her age.

BCEN challenged “the discriminatory nature of the restriction”, saying the previous policy created barriers for students over 40 despite their active enrollment in university programmes.

“BCEN argued that student status should be based on enrollment rather than age, emphasising equal access to the benefits offered to all students,” executive director Maureen Holder told Barbados TODAY.

Holder described the decision as “a meaningful victory for equal access” and “a win for student rights and consumer advocacy”, highlighting its positive impact on Caribbean students.

“With the age limits removed, the Caribbean Airlines student travel package now provides a more inclusive solution, ensuring that all university students, regardless of age, can benefit from affordable travel options as they pursue their education,” she said.

The consumer advocate noted that the revised policy better reflects the diverse student population it serves, providing more affordable travel options for mature students pursuing higher education across the region.

Caribbean Airlines has updated its website to reflect the new eligibility criteria, which now applies to all “accepted and enrolled” students, marking the end of what BCEN called a “discriminatory” restriction that had created barriers for students over 40 despite their active university enrollment.