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Quarter of cabin crew 'reduced to tears by passengers'

17 Dec 2015 by GrahamSmith

A quarter of cabin crew in the UK have been reduced to tears by passengers, according to a study.

The poll, undertaken by flight comparison site Jetcost, also revealed that 34 per cent of respondents found dealing with passengers to be the worst aspect of the job.

Forming part of a long-term project looking into the behaviours and attitudes of passengers during a flight, the poll surveyed 2,019 Britons aged 18 and over who are currently working or have previously worked as an air steward in the past five years.

When asked about the types of passengers that caused them the most anguish, 69 per cent said those that are loud and excitable, followed by 61 per cent for drunk passengers that were difficult to control and 45 per cent who said screaming/hyperactive children.

Antoine Michelat, co-founder of jetcost.co.uk, said: "No one deserves to be treated so badly that they break down and cry; working with the public can pose certain challenges, particularly in a heightened environment like on a plane.

"It's important that people are aware of how they are behaving and try to be fair and reasonable, without getting too confrontational and difficult."

A similar poll surveying cabin crew in Spain, France, Italy and Germany found that the worst part of the job varies from country to country.

In France, it was the strict uniform and makeup regime (39 per cent); in Germany, the salary (33 per cent); in Italy, the staff meals (20 per cent); and in Spain, dealing with passengers (27 per cent).

Subscribers can click here to read a September 2014 feature about a British Airways cabin crew training day.

Ben Allen

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