BMI go overboard in trying to please Saudi's
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BMI go overboard in trying to please Saudi's
A British airline banned its staff from taking Bibles and wearing crucifixes or St. Christopher medals on flights to Saudi Arabia to avoid offend the country's Muslims.
British Midland International also has told female flight attendants they must walk two paces behind male colleagues and cover themselves from head to foot in a headscarf and robe known as an abaya, the Mirror newspaper of London reported.
Teddy bears or other cuddly toys also are not allowed.
Airline officials, who have sparked outrage, the paper says, explain the Islamic kingdom's strict laws – enforced by religious police – prohibit public practice of Christianity and figures of animals.
BMI spokesman Phil Shepherd said: "In providing air services people want, demand and use, we have an obligation to respect the customs of the destination country."
An airline employee who asked not to be named told the Mirror: "It's outrageous that we must respect their beliefs but they're not prepared to respect ours."
The employee said his grandmother gave him a crucifix shortly before she died that he wears at all times.
"It's got massive sentimental value and I don't see why I have to remove it," he said.
The airline's staff handbook says: "Prior to disembarking the aircraft all female crew will be required to put on their company issued abaya. It will be issued with the headscarf which must be worn."
The employees' union wants staff members to be able to opt out of the flights, but the airline says the only option is to transfer from overseas staff to domestic flights, which could mean a loss of about $30,000 a year in wages.
About 40 staff members have filed complaints since the route began in September.
Some of the male members who are homosexual have called in sick, because they are afraid of traveling to Saudi Arabia, where homosexual activity is punishable by flogging, jail or death.
From WorldNetDaily.com
British Midland International also has told female flight attendants they must walk two paces behind male colleagues and cover themselves from head to foot in a headscarf and robe known as an abaya, the Mirror newspaper of London reported.
Teddy bears or other cuddly toys also are not allowed.
Airline officials, who have sparked outrage, the paper says, explain the Islamic kingdom's strict laws – enforced by religious police – prohibit public practice of Christianity and figures of animals.
BMI spokesman Phil Shepherd said: "In providing air services people want, demand and use, we have an obligation to respect the customs of the destination country."
An airline employee who asked not to be named told the Mirror: "It's outrageous that we must respect their beliefs but they're not prepared to respect ours."
The employee said his grandmother gave him a crucifix shortly before she died that he wears at all times.
"It's got massive sentimental value and I don't see why I have to remove it," he said.
The airline's staff handbook says: "Prior to disembarking the aircraft all female crew will be required to put on their company issued abaya. It will be issued with the headscarf which must be worn."
The employees' union wants staff members to be able to opt out of the flights, but the airline says the only option is to transfer from overseas staff to domestic flights, which could mean a loss of about $30,000 a year in wages.
About 40 staff members have filed complaints since the route began in September.
Some of the male members who are homosexual have called in sick, because they are afraid of traveling to Saudi Arabia, where homosexual activity is punishable by flogging, jail or death.
From WorldNetDaily.com
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Re: BMI go overboard in trying to please Saudi's
Further to Mutt's comments .. .
Clothing - Even in Riyadh, the strictest of the major cities, headscarfs are not usually worn by Western expats, and airline crews are normally transported from airport to hotels in their uniforms. If you want to leave the hotel and go shopping, then an abeya (for the ladies only of course!) is very advisable, but this is not really either uncomfortable or onerous (my daughter lived here for 6 years, reckoned the abeya was in some ways great - you could get up in the morning, find you were out of coffee, and throw abeya over nighty to nip out to the supermarket!)
Teddy Bears - A real eggageration - cuddly toys can be bought in any toy store in Riyadh - who have the BM management been listening to?
St. Christophers - Anything like that would not be a problem as long as not worn in full view (you are not going to be wearing a low neckline anyway - except underneath your abeya!
Bibles - Officially, you should be able to bring your own (one only!) but some Customs guys may be "awkward". I often travel with a small New Testament - it's discrete - which is normally the best way to be about anything here. The worst that would happen would be for it to be confiscated (never happened to me, or anyone I know)
Gay? - Any homosexual should have no problem - as long as they don't practice it - being homosexual is not, AFAIK, illegal, but the practice of homosexuality is.
I've been RUH for nearly 20 years, not had any problems either at the airport or in the city. Maybe not the greatest place on earth, but I can think of places in UK or USA that make me glad I live in Saudi!
Clothing - Even in Riyadh, the strictest of the major cities, headscarfs are not usually worn by Western expats, and airline crews are normally transported from airport to hotels in their uniforms. If you want to leave the hotel and go shopping, then an abeya (for the ladies only of course!) is very advisable, but this is not really either uncomfortable or onerous (my daughter lived here for 6 years, reckoned the abeya was in some ways great - you could get up in the morning, find you were out of coffee, and throw abeya over nighty to nip out to the supermarket!)
Teddy Bears - A real eggageration - cuddly toys can be bought in any toy store in Riyadh - who have the BM management been listening to?
St. Christophers - Anything like that would not be a problem as long as not worn in full view (you are not going to be wearing a low neckline anyway - except underneath your abeya!
Bibles - Officially, you should be able to bring your own (one only!) but some Customs guys may be "awkward". I often travel with a small New Testament - it's discrete - which is normally the best way to be about anything here. The worst that would happen would be for it to be confiscated (never happened to me, or anyone I know)
Gay? - Any homosexual should have no problem - as long as they don't practice it - being homosexual is not, AFAIK, illegal, but the practice of homosexuality is.
I've been RUH for nearly 20 years, not had any problems either at the airport or in the city. Maybe not the greatest place on earth, but I can think of places in UK or USA that make me glad I live in Saudi!
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Re: BMI go overboard in trying to please Saudi's
. . . homosexuality illegal, maybe, but like drugs in the West, widely practiced. One male cabin staff told me his story of being offered 50 SR by one man in a Thobe to go with him in his car.
If they really want to go overboard in pleasing the PAX, then they should staff their entire inflight crew with Thais (female AND male). A nice Filipino band for inflight entertainment would be appropriate too.
Sorry, couldn't refuse!
If they really want to go overboard in pleasing the PAX, then they should staff their entire inflight crew with Thais (female AND male). A nice Filipino band for inflight entertainment would be appropriate too.
Sorry, couldn't refuse!
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Re: BMI go overboard in trying to please Saudi's
Once again if the original post truly relates to attitudes being adopted under the seemingly growing attitude of being s**t scared of causing offence to a group that it is perceived generally as being totally in tolerant to other attitudes, behavior, beliefs and thinking.
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Re: BMI go overboard in trying to please Saudi's
perceived generally as being totally intolerant to other attitudes, behavior, beliefs and thinking.
Whereas, generally, they aren't - as long as you are reasonable and at least show some respect to their culture
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Re: BMI go overboard in trying to please Saudi's
One continually spends time giving respect, generally what one receives back but is questionable, the point is that in ones homeland even Christmas Lights that are part of village, town and city life are questioned because of the possibility of giving offence to minorities, do we allow freedom of choice in our world Yes so lets start to see some back. Sorry but it all seems one-sided. The next step will be that the airlines decide that to avoid upsetting a minority they will stop serving drinks? The real world surrounds us, and we need to see common senses and understanding of our culture and not continuously keep following others for fear of criticism.
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Re: BMI go overboard in trying to please Saudi's
Just let BMI get on with it - if they feel that asking the female crew to walk behind the male crew is going to help them in a country that is one of the biggest abusers of human rights, then so be it. Bless.
Just shows they didn't do their research very well...
I usually found, (as an expat female back in the good ole days), when driving home from the embassy it was always more prudent to put the boyfriend in the back seat...stopped me from getting pulled over...
Just shows they didn't do their research very well...
I usually found, (as an expat female back in the good ole days), when driving home from the embassy it was always more prudent to put the boyfriend in the back seat...stopped me from getting pulled over...
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Women walking behind . . .
Of course, you probably remember that in nearby Kuwait, at the end of "Gulf One", the tradition was reversed, and the women walked 10 paces in front of the men-folk. 
I think the local name for the new cultural tradition was mine detection
I think the local name for the new cultural tradition was mine detection
