Popular YouTuber Josh Cahill, known for his travel vlogs and airline reviews with over 650,000 subscribers, has been banned by Qatar Airways following a scathing video review of his economy class flight from Colombo, Sri Lanka, to London. The influencer, known for his candid and detailed assessments, called the airline “outdated,” “dirty,” and “unfriendly,” sparking a wave of support from viewers and stirring controversy with the airline.
In the summer, Cahill uploaded a video outlining his grievances with the airline, ranging from cabin space to entertainment options. The review attracted attention, with viewers commending Cahill for standing behind his honest critique. However, the situation took an unexpected turn when Qatar Airways allegedly contacted Cahill, offering him a free flight in exchange for removing the negative review. Cahill refused the offer.
According to documents seen by Insider, the YouTuber discovered his ban from the airline when attempting to board a flight booked through Qatar Airways. His reservation had been canceled, marking an unusual move by the airline in response to a negative review. Cahill addressed the situation in a follow-up video titled “Banned and Bribed by Qatar Airways — Shocking Move!” on December 16, confirming the ban and shedding light on the airline’s attempt to sway his opinion.
“In 10 years of reviewing airlines, I have never been banned from any airline, nor has any of them ever offered me a free flight in return to delete the negative review. That was indeed a first-timer,” Cahill shared with Insider.
Despite the controversy, Cahill maintains that his review was “negative but still balanced,” expressing surprise at Qatar Airways’ drastic response. As of now, Qatar Airways has not responded to requests for comment or confirmation regarding the incident.
