Introduction to British Airways’ New Social Media Policy
A stopover could lead to discharge in a flash. British Airways has introduced a new procedure that restricts the publication of crew members’ social media posts during their personal time. This policy prohibits airlines’ employees, including pilots and flight attendants, from documenting their stay on social media during crew layovers.
Restrictions on Social Media Posts
The new guidelines mean that popular "Get ready with me" TikToks, where flight attendants film themselves getting ready for the day, are no longer allowed. Additionally, crew members are not permitted to take pool or lobby selfies, and the guideline applies to all areas of the crew member hotel, outside the hotel, and even in the parking lot. Even a quick room tour that shows nothing but heaven and curtains is forbidden.
Reason Behind the New Policy
According to the airline’s security team, the reason behind this policy is to reduce possible security risks. The team claims that bad actors with AI-powered location tools can use the locations of crew members to determine their whereabouts, which could put flight personnel in danger. This sophisticated software can analyze subtle background details, including parking spaces, pool tiles, and even window geometry, to identify the accommodations of flight attendants.
Removing Previous Content
Crew members must also go through their feeds with a fine-toothed comb and delete every trace of previous content related to their hotel stay, even if the posts are set to "private". The risk of being fired is high if crew members do not comply with the new guidelines.
Reaction to the New Policy
The move has been described as "strict" and "overkill" by some, as it is not difficult to find out where flight crews stay. Flight expert Gary Leff found the policy to be unnecessary, as crew resorts are not exactly a secret. He wrote that local drivers, aviation enthusiasts, and prospective stalkers already know where they stay.
Impact on Recruitment
Leff also found the measure to be particularly ridiculous because there was no actual incident with a hotel security problem, and everything is "hypothetical". He added that this clampdown could present a damper on the recruitment of crew members, as a large part of the information about social media is done peer-to-peer, making the behavior of crews less attractive to applicants.
