A businessman on a flight from London to Luxembourg with British Airways who had a seat next to a child he did not know, has complained of being treated like a “child molester”.

The case concerns Mirko Fischer a hedge fund manager in the Grand Duchy who while flying back to Luxembourg, switched seats with his pregnant wife so that she could have a window seat, placing him next to an unaccompanied boy.

The cabin crew of the BA flight then told him to move as company policy did not allow adult males to sit next to unaccompanied children.

Mr Fischer was outraged and appalled by the request and in his opinion believed the policy to break the Sex Discrimination Act, making him feel like a “child molester”, and took BA to court in the UK.

Mirko Fischer, who lives and works in Luxembourg, not only won the case recuperating cost of about EUR 2,600 and EUR 920 in damages, but also resulted in British Airways changing their seating policy to now read: "seating of unaccompanied minors is managed in a safe but non discriminatory manner".

“Absolutely delighted” was the quote Mr Fischer gave on the outcome of the case, and has since donated the money he won in compensation to Orphans in the Wild and Kidscape, two children's charities.

Other airlines, including Luxair, have stated that they have no similar policies to those of British Airways, prior to their update.