As any frequent social media user knows, airline passengers often record and post in-flight incidents – from frightening turbulence to unruly members of the public. Often, these viral videos feature flight attendants just trying to do their duties, while being filmed without their consent.
These videos usually portray flight attendants either as heroes effortlessly managing difficult passengers or “villains” accused of being rude and unprofessional. Either way, the trend is emerging as an industrial issue, with unions arcing up about it and airlines bringing in new rules aimed at curbing the practice.
Unkind comments about appearance and age
Going to work knowing that at any moment you may become the unwilling star of a viral video can exact a considerable toll on the wellbeing of flight attendants.
I (Liz Simmons) speak daily with flight attendants in Australia and abroad as part of my PhD research. From these discussions, I’ve heard from attendants who worry often about discovering videos of themselves featuring unkind comments about their appearance, age or employer.
One flight attendant, Kate*, described the disconcerting feeling of someone aiming a smartphone camera at her while she was simply trying to do her job, saying: “You don’t know why they’re filming or what they’ll do with it.”
Marie spoke of being featured in a TikTok video during a safety demonstration, with viewers making fun of her appearance. Charlotte, after refusing to serve more alcohol to an intoxicated passenger, had a camera thrust in her face, accompanied by threats to her job. Mark told of how uncomfortable he felt having to ask a passenger to stop taking photos of the crew during service.
These personal accounts illustrate the distress flight attendants can experience when being filmed or photographed without their knowledge.
A broader industrial issue
This issue is drawing the attention of policymakers, airlines and the unions that represent flight attendants.
Japan recently introduced laws aimed at curbing sneak photography in a range of settings, which may be used to prevent passengers voyeuristically filming flight attendants. Research by Japan’s aviation workers union found that about 70% of the 1,573 flight attendants surveyed believed they’d had their pictures taken surreptitiously while they were working.
Passengers have been arrested in Turkey and India after unauthorized filming. And flight attendant unions in Japan, Hong Kong and Australia have voiced concerns about the issue.
Of course, videos can occasionally play a crucial role in understanding what transpired during an in-flight incident, and flight attendants themselves can also be found on social media sharing their stories, consenting to the video. But many videos still feature airline staff simply going about their job (while being filmed, without their consent).
Unclear rules
News reports suggest staff aboard Dutch carrier KLM “now commonly make an announcement during the safety briefing asking passengers not to take photos of any crew members.”
The rules on the KLM website are less clear, saying only that, “Recording videos and/or taking photographs other than personal videos and photographs is prohibited on board the aircraft.”
Virgin Australia’s rules state anyone traveling on their planes must “use cameras or photographic devices (including mobile phones) for personal use only. You must comply with the directions of flight crew when using cameras or photographic devices while on board.”
In November 2023, Qantas introduced new rules requiring passengers to “seek consent before filming or photographing Qantas Group staff, contractors or other customers.”
This is a start. For most airlines, however, there is a notable absence of clear guidelines against recording and publishing footage of flight attendants in their workplace. The existing rules are often buried in the fine print of terms and conditions, which few passengers take the time to read. This underscores the necessity for airlines to reconsider how these restrictions are communicated to passengers.
Looking ahead, it may be timely for more airlines to establish clearer rules on filming cabin crew while they work. There should be an acknowledgement that unsolicited filming is frequently unfair, invasive and distressing. Developing a framework to enforce these provisions and enhancing communication about these rules would help inform passengers about how to respect the privacy and comfort of flight attendants in their workplace.
* All names have been changed to protect identities.
Article written by Liz Simmons, PhD Candidate, Griffith University; Gui Lohmann, Professor in Air Transport and Tourism Management, Griffith University, and Rawan Nimri, Lecturer in Tourism and Hospitality, Griffith University
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Since this article is about people using their phones to shoot videos, the word “filming” is incorrect. Cellphones have never used film. They record videos digitally.
I have the same problem with DVDs. When I used VHS I was always “taping”, but what am I doing with DVDs, dvding? What’s the correct action verb?
Recording. Works for audio, video, or any other form of data. Also is retroactively accurate, even back to cave drawings!
SMH
Unfortunately, people do this. I am not sure since the plane is private property the airlines can ask them not to record???
Hey, borkhole, the term “digital film” has been around for a long time. Your pilpul semantics are lame and homosexual.
Everyone understands what “filming” and “film” means today, regardless of the medium used to record. When we go to the movies, we go see films even though most are shot on digital. No one says “Let’s go to the theater to see the latest Avengers Digital Video.”
They can’t both claim an airplane is under Federal jurisdiction and assert private property rights. If I go out on a public street, I can take all the pictures I want. An airplane is either a public place, or it isn’t.
It is. It is a public conveyance, just like a taxi or a subway.
It’s a PRIVATE company that’s highly regulated by the gov’t. Same with taxi companies.
I guess that’s one way of not allowing the public to see these rude people at their best
Brett your car is private property but you drive on public roads. If someone in your car did something that you did not approve of you can take action to stop them just like the airline can stop people from doing something that they do not approve of.
When on PRIVATE PROPERTY you must abide by THEIR RULES. No cameras, means no cameras. You can be EVICTED for non-compliance on PRIVATE PROPERTY (The aircraft); BANNING KARENS is a must.
Social media is the scourge of today’s society.
When I think about Flight Attendants, I always remember the saying: “Power tends to corrupt, absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
Perhaps, like the police, airlines should video and audio record all interactions with their customers. This should quell any issues of who said or did what.
Also, if you serve the public, you are going to interact with people, including their recording devices. So suck it up.
OK. It doesn’t look like my comment will get published. So I will try again. I recently flew on a Jet Blue flight with my son. We are both nice, respectful, quiet, non-drinking passengers. We were treated so rudely by the flight attendants for reasons that are a mystery to us. But I guess we shouldn’t take it personally. They were rude to everyone.
Both of my comments were deleted. Apparently StudyFinds does not believe in freedom of speech.
There is a concern here, but it is NOT what the article is stating. IF (?) there are edited videos that are only selective of ‘bad’ behaviors then it is biased, but if not edited then it is not, it is the real behavior (and can be documented). However, what I read is that flight attendants are concerned about being ‘videoed’ period. Well, the former IS BOGUS (edited videos) the latter IS NOT (full video) IMHO. If we prohibit ALL videos then we (the public) cannot distinguish between the two, it becomes ‘word of mouth’ (vs. video evidence either way). I’d much rather have a complete video and make my own judgement than ‘word of mouth’. Otherwise it feels like a way for people to try to escape accountability in the era of video/audio recording.
14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.13 of the Federal Aviation Regulations states,
“ § 91.11 Prohibition on interference with crewmembers.
No person may assault, threaten, intimidate, or interfere with a crewmember in the performance of the crewmember’s duties aboard an aircraft being operated.”
If, at the discretion of the required crew member, they deem the recording to threaten, intimidate, or interfere with the performance of their duties, they are justified in requiring the recording to stop. The purchase and use of the ticket means that the user agrees to the conditions of the ticket as described by both Federal Statutes and the operator (airline). Failure to comply is a violation of Federal law.
Frankly I think the use of phones and other video capable devices on aircraft needs to be rethought. I fly often enough to have elite status on several airlines and I’m tired of traveling in a cabin where most people pull down the window shades so they can better see their screens. Flying, even first class, has become like being trapped in a dungeon.
Total nonsense people video people in stores restaurants everywhere. Why should airlines get a special carve out for this behavior?
“while being filmed without their consent.”
Public conveyance. They have no expectation of privacy. SCOTUS already settled this topic.
Coming soon, though: video cameras that watch the passengers.
That may be judged ‘Moronist’.
I do not see what the issue is.. If the airlines thinks people recording is an issue then they can create a policy saying no recording on the plane. When a persons buys the ticket they agree to the terms and conditions on the airlines rules. This will work cause the airport is public and open to everyone. The airplane is private and only open to ticket holding members. This would also allow the airline to have the video removed since the video was taken in violation of the airlines TOS
Law enforcement officers worldwide risk their lives and deal with being filmed in the most dangerous and challenging situations of their lives every day and we are supposed to shed a tear because the flying cocktail waitresses are feeling triggered while slinging peanuts?! Most flight attendants are decent enough, but the really good ones left the industry years ago after airlines implemented policies that made customers little more than breathing cargo. It made many of them rude, callous and indifferent to their customers, so filming their bad behavior and calling them on it should not only be legal, but actually encouraged!
I have no sympathy whatsoever for the “flight attendants” after their prison-guard-in-the-sky behavior during COVID. Too many delighted in providing no actual service while harassing their paying passengers. I wish them many years of anxiety and suffering. Maybe they will focus more on customer service for their paying customers if they’re worried about becoming a viral video.
Maybe flight attendants should wear body cameras in self-defense. Then the passenger’s narrative won’t be the sole video evidence.
Prisoners aren’t supposed to film the people threatening them with fines for tiny infractions.
This is more propaganda to take more rights and oppression of the public.
People are going to have to bankrupt these companies to get rid of the bogus TSA and all these bogus rules.
The government has 1 goal depopulation agenda at all costs. Destroy freedom and imprison the population take your property etc.