BA cabin crew ordered to 'socialise more' with pilots

PA

A new British Airways training programme dubbed 'Hug a Pilot' has ordered cabin crew to socialise more with their captains to boost team morale and, ultimately, the passenger experience.

Crew have been told they must include their cockpit colleagues in their socialising on stopovers to ensure the team bonds.

The idea was brought up at a new 90-minute team work discussion that was part of a mandatory Safety and Emergency Procedures three-day training session.

The new measures were being discussed on professional pilots internet forums, where, according to the Daily Mail, one staff member wrote: 'It transpires at SEP on the first day, BA have now introduced how to interact and socialise with the 'pilot community'.

'The session includes pre, during and post flight interaction, you will now be advised it's inappropriate and bad mannered not to include everyone on the crew and pilots while socialising in the bar or down route.'

But some flight staff fear the scheme will cause problems with family back at home. One stewardess told The Sun: 'How we are meant to explain this to our loved ones at home - who are jealous enough as it is - I don't know.'

An airline spokesman said of the scheme: 'We are always looking at ways to improve customer service and safety on board.'

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