Should flight crews be wearing masks?

A common complaint amongst air stewards and stewardesses is that passengers keep their headphones on whilst trying to communicate. This is an absolutely understandable gripe – it’s incredibly rude, and forces the crew member to try and bellow over the top of a film when they’re trying to ask what drink you’d like.

Anti swine-flu precautions

But I experienced the flipside on my way back from Australia to the UK two weeks ago – and I can’t quite work out whether I’m justified in taking offence. I flew back with Cathay Pacific, and all crew members were wearing those anti –swine flu face masks.

Personally, I think such masks are a pathetic waste of time. They don’t make any difference other than to make the wearer look ridiculous. Oh yes, and they also reduce any speech to a mumble.

Rude or sensible?

The crew members kept the masks on all flight, even when trying to talk to passengers. Now I find this pretty damned rude – but is this unfair? Part of me says that I should respect the position that air crews are in; they are in the front line when it comes to infectious diseases (even if they are as ridiculously overplayed as the current swine flu pandemic).

Another part of me says that I should respect cultural differences – wearing such masks is clearly more common in Asia.

But the insensitive boor in me wins out; if you’re in the service industry, you shouldn’t look like you view your customers as a disease-ridden nuisance.

Am I right here? Or just being both ridiculous and insensitive? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment.

Tags: airlines, Asia, Australia, Cathay Pacific, culture, Etiquette, health, online travel, swine flu, Travel Industry