Cabin Crew Where professional flight attendants discuss matters that affect our jobs & lives.

Chewing Gum

Old 31st Dec 2005, 11:46
  #1 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: UK
Age: 83
Posts: 3,788
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Chewing Gum

Is it normal for BA cabin staff to be chewing gum during the food and drinks service nowadays?

Two of them were at it this morning on BA389 - one young lady and one not so young gentleman.

I personally thought it looked pretty gash.
JW411 is offline  
Old 31st Dec 2005, 13:21
  #2 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: London
Posts: 350
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
OH MY GOD ALERT THE CHEWING GUM POLICE ASAP!!!

No its not standard and the two in question should be taken away and shot. Terrible thing to be doing on a flight.

Can't believe I have reacted to the posting. Mind you can't believe somebody has even bothered to start the topic!
OzzieO is offline  
Old 31st Dec 2005, 14:02
  #3 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Oh dear, does it really matter? At least they had fresh breath!

I can see the point of not drinking alcohol in uniform when off duty but chewing gum? This reminds me off my days in retail where you were not meant to eat or drink in front of customers! Heaven forbid they realise you were a human being!
Katie is offline  
Old 31st Dec 2005, 14:05
  #4 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: UK
Posts: 1,691
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Yes they'll be like the current standards in BA that stipulate you don't eat, drink, smoke or chew gum in front of the customers. A quick word with the purser should have sorted that one out.
Carnage Matey! is offline  
Old 31st Dec 2005, 14:19
  #5 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Dublin
Posts: 1,806
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Oh I hate it when crew do that...We all have a tendency to pop a quick gum in our mouths when in the galley or before boarding to freshen ourselves up but they should really not be doing it in the cabin in front of the passengers! I agree with Carnage...a quick word with the purser!!!
apaddyinuk is offline  
Old 31st Dec 2005, 15:28
  #6 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I do think that not eating or drinking in front of customers is a bit much...does this extend to when you're not on duty but still in uniform?
Katie is offline  
Old 31st Dec 2005, 17:22
  #7 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Jetting across the universe..
Posts: 256
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I can see the point of not drinking alcohol in uniform when off duty but chewing gum?
The point is they were on duty, and serving meals. To be honest, chewing gum while in the galley, out of sight of passengers isn't an issue. However, chewing it in front of passengers (especially the ones that do it like a cud-chewing cow..and I've seen them) while serving meals is just plain bad manners.

You wouldn't (I hope) sit chewing gum in front of you guests at home when they're eating, so why should customers have to put up with it!
EI-CFC is offline  
Old 31st Dec 2005, 17:32
  #8 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: The Burrow, N53:48:02 W1:48:57, The Tin Tent - EGBS, EGBO
Posts: 2,297
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Unhappy

As a customer may I just say that I thoroughly dislike being addressed, served, etc by a person chewing gum. It gives the impression that the person chewing cannot be bothered to treat the customer with courtesy. I have no problem if the staff are off duty or out of sight and not dealing with customers, but PLEASE show us some good manners when dealing with us directly.
DX Wombat is offline  
Old 1st Jan 2006, 08:39
  #9 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: In a box, ready for shipping...
Posts: 717
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Fact is - it's unprofessional. You wouldn't go to a restaurant to see people chewing gum. Same for airline staff on the ground, and indeed in the air.

I've got no problem with crew chewing gum, eating, etc. out of direct passenger view. However...doing it on the cart is verboten.

WHEN YOU'RE DOING YOUR JOB IN UNIFORM, YOU HAVE AN IMAGE TO UPHOLD. Can't deal with it? Leave. Someone else will be able to 'hack' the inability of chewing gum in front of passengers for another time.

It's called a service industry. Nothing new under the sun. Can't figure out why people in this thread are so shocked by the notion that you SHOULDN'T chew gum in front of pax!?
Mr Seatback 2 is offline  
Old 1st Jan 2006, 09:21
  #10 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 305
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Isn't it just as easy to pop a mint instead?!?
smile is offline  
Old 1st Jan 2006, 10:00
  #11 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: 18A
Age: 38
Posts: 405
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
or why cant people get those little thin mint things that u jus put on ur tongue and they melt,like a bit of paper??
tiggerific_69 is offline  
Old 1st Jan 2006, 13:59
  #12 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Dublin
Posts: 1,806
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Tiggerific...Those things are rank!!! Its like going up for communion!!! Hehe!
apaddyinuk is offline  
Old 1st Jan 2006, 14:45
  #13 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: UK
Age: 83
Posts: 3,788
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Carnage Matey:

"A word to the purser would have sufficed".

The trouble was that the "older gentleman" could well have been the purser!

At least he was a lot more circumspect in the way that he handled his gum whilst the young lady facing him over the trolley was doing her best to emulate a young heifer that had just been released into a field of spring grass for the first time.
JW411 is offline  
Old 1st Jan 2006, 15:46
  #14 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Canada/Malaysia
Age: 83
Posts: 269
Received 17 Likes on 11 Posts
....yeeesh!....hope they weren't flyin' LHR - SIN.....they'd be in for a world o' hurt
BlankBox is offline  
Old 1st Jan 2006, 22:14
  #15 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Caloundra Australia
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Snoop Re: Chewing Gum

Mmm,In the big scheme of things,who gives a bugger......
MudCrab is offline  
Old 1st Jan 2006, 22:50
  #16 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Camp X-Ray
Posts: 2,135
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Re: Chewing Gum

The people who pay the wages. Or if thats a bit too far-sighted, the offenders managers.
Hand Solo is offline  
Old 2nd Jan 2006, 11:07
  #17 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Re: Chewing Gum

Originally Posted by MudCrab
Mmm,In the big scheme of things,who gives a bugger......
I agree...it seems a bit petty...
Katie is offline  
Old 2nd Jan 2006, 12:05
  #18 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: all over the shop
Posts: 986
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Re: Chewing Gum

I personally think chewing gum in the galley/out of view of pax - go for it, however in front of pax its a big no no - looks tacky, like a cow chewing cud!
sinala1 is offline  
Old 2nd Jan 2006, 14:02
  #19 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: England
Posts: 332
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Re: Chewing Gum

I was a number 2 at my previous airline and a seasonal number 1
If i seen some one chewing during a service i wouldnt be impressed i think it looks so bad! the airline i worked for wasnt exactly a top rated airline and had a repuataion for being unprofessional, however not if im the number one! i was trained better than that!
I agree, chewing behind the galley curtain (not that i like it drawn but someone you do need that bit space from the herd!) is fine, however the minute u entre the cabin BIN IT or SWALLOW IT!
crewboi83 is offline  
Old 2nd Jan 2006, 15:00
  #20 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: About 3000 below Midhurst SID I reckon
Posts: 691
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Re: Chewing Gum

Swallow it??? Are you crazy?? Its solid non-bio matter, your digestive system can't break it down!!

It is not permitted for a BA uniformed member of staff to chew gum in public.
Eating and drinking must be done discreetly if necessary. In their defense however, being up early, long days or not being able to drink at regular intervals can lead to a need to freshen the breath, and sometimes chewing gum can get into areas breath mints cannot. But as many have said, and I agree, it should not have made it into the public eye!

I used to be an in-charge crew member and if any of the team were chewing anything in front of a passenger, they'd be pulled to one side and reminded of the uniform code.

Also I used to carry a bottle of hand sanitizer at all times, and if a crew member had to refasten their hair during the service, sneezed or scratched their nose, I'd be there to ensure they'd either go wash their hands or use the sanitiser.

Health & Safety regulations suggest chewing gum is regarded as eating, and food handlers must not eat during the handling of food.

To some its a big deal to others its not. Clearly from this thread, some are bothered by it, therfore it proves there's a reason why uniform standards and codes are in place. Gum should not be chewed. Simple enough.

I'm off to brush my teeth again.
sixmilehighclub is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.