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UK Passenger told to “cover up” or get removed!

A UK passenger travelling with Thomas Cook was recently told that the outfit she wore on her flight from Birmingham to Tenerife was “inappropriate” by the crew on board.

Emily O’Connor who claims her outfit is acceptable to fly was left “shaking” after her ordeal. The 21 year old claims that when she boarded the flight, crew members surrounded a told her to cover up.

Miss O’Connor also said that whilst she was arguing that her outfit wasn’t inappropriate he faced verbal comments from other passengers. She claims that the crew “did nothing” when she was told she needed to “shut up” and that she was a “pathetic woman” by a male passenger on board; which with all the tension building further left her feeling “shaking and upset”.

After this, she took to Twitter to express her anger and upset at the situation:




She believes that as she had gone through check-in and security, her outfit was acceptable as nowhere else on her journey to the aircraft gate had she been made aware/ told about the airlines terms and suitable clothing policy.

One on board, the crew “surrounded” her and physically didn’t leave till she put the jacket (given to her by a cousin sitting further up) on. All while they were making PA’s about the situation and informing the other passengers of what was going on.

A Thomas Cook Airlines spokesperson stated that, “It is clear we could have handled the situation better.” “In common it’s most airlines, we have an appropriate clothing policy. This applies to equally to men and women of all without discrimination.”

He added that, “Our crews have the difficult task of implementing that policy and don’t always get it right.” Thomas Cook said it’s policy states that customers wearing “inappropriate attire (including items with offensive slogans or images) will not be permitted to travel unless a change of clothes is possible.”

The company have since then appologised about the situation and the upset it caused Miss O’Connor.

However, after the situation Miss O’Connor appeared on This Morning with Phill and Holly on ITV, where she discussed the situation and appeared in the outfit that caused the “isssue”. On the programme an etiquette coach also reviewed the situation and placed her opinion... But should airlines scrap etiquette codes?

What do you think, his not have happened or where the crew following regulations? Perhaps the crew were unsure of the full policy themselves?


Comments

  1. Franz18 March 2019 at 05:50

    Cabin crews should also get trained for possible implications in social media when they try to impose regulations that are not safety relevant. I would like to know who feels offended by a girl dressed like that. But perhaps the crew were only concerned that she catches a cold.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Freya23 March 2019 at 20:43

      Hi, thanks for your comment.
      I agree that crew should receive training on more uncommon situations such as this, as well as if such situation arises. However, some policies are vague and as such airlines and especially their crew have a hard time enforcing this. If a cabin crew member has concerns or has been informed of a situation by another passenger, they should a) firstly assess the situation and make an informed judgement, b) approach the customer or a senior crew member (such as a cabin supervisor) and reach and agreement/ decision of what will happen, c) try and enforce it. Many people aren't used to being told what to do, as when you walk onto an aircraft crew are usually the people enforcing regulations passed on from EASA or the CAA and the airline they are employed with. In the case of Miss O'Connor, I personally see her outfit as acceptable but if she was asked to cover herself due to the resemblance of the top being similar to a bra, I don't see why that would be such an issue... I think that when she was told she could get removed, the situation had spiralled massively and that is why other passengers were also getting agitated; this may have been why she felt upset and left 'shaking'. I agree that crew should be trained but I don't fully understand why she was asked to cover up, I think it just happened to be that either another passenger said something to a crew member and they had to follow it up; I think she was just unfortunate to have been confronted with this.
      Once again, thanks for your comment and for reading my blog! Safe travels F

      Delete

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