British Airways has introduced a new rule that could lead to passengers having their phones confiscated if they film or photograph cabin crew without explicit permission. The updated policy, part of the airline's General Conditions of Carriage, aims to protect staff privacy amid growing concerns over unsolicited recording on flights.
New Rule Details
Under Section 11, 'Behaviour on the aircraft,' the list of unacceptable behaviour now includes 'filmed, live streamed or photographed our crew or other colleagues without their consent.' This applies to all devices, including smartphones, wearable cameras like Meta AI glasses, and GoPros. Passengers who violate the rule may face measures such as being asked to leave the plane, refusal of carriage for remaining sectors, reporting to authorities for potential prosecution, diversion costs, or device confiscation.
Why the Change?
While no specific incident triggered the update, cabin crew have expressed frustration over being recorded and clips posted online. On Reddit, user @friendlierskies shared: 'I'm not a fan of being recorded… I don't want to be on TikTok… I don't want to be recorded doing something silly, spilling a drink on myself… making an awful face, or adjusting my dress.' Another user, @tpiranha, noted: 'It's happened to me before. I literally stopped the [safety demonstration] and made him delete it. I don't go to their work and take pictures of them.'
Broader Context
British Airways is not alone in enforcing such rules. Dutch airline KLM makes pre-takeoff announcements warning that filming or photographing crew is prohibited. The change also follows an incident on an IndiaGo flight where a passenger was reprimanded for taking inappropriate photos of female cabin crew, reportedly zooming in on their legs, faces, and bodies.
Passenger Advice
Travelers are advised to always seek consent before capturing any content involving crew members, even if they appear in the background. The rules also extend to wearable technology. A recent Metro Lifestyle flight from London Gatwick to Tenerife included safety announcements reminding passengers to respect others' privacy and ask for consent when filming.
Section 7 of the Conditions of Carriage further allows BA to refuse carriage for failing to comply with crew instructions. Passengers should be aware that violations could lead to legal consequences, including fines or criminal charges.
