Airline staff fired over Facebook gaffe

 

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By Matthew Sparkes

Posted on 5 Nov 2008 at 11:11

Thirteen Virgin Atlantic cabin staff have been fired after posting "totally inappropriate" comments on Facebook which questioned the safety of aircraft and labelled customers "chavs".

The airline launched an investigation last month after it was found that "malicious" comments left on Virgin's official Facebook site were made by its own staff.

"Following a thorough investigation, it was found that all 13 staff participated in a discussion on the networking site Facebook, which brought the company into disrepute and insulted some of our passengers," says Virgin Atlantic.

"It is impossible for these cabin crew members to uphold the high standards of customer service that Virgin Atlantic is renowned for if they hold these views," continues the statement.

British Airways staff may also be in trouble this week, after it was found that several employees had posted in a public forum, accusing passengers of being "smelly" and criticising Terminal 5 for operating in a "shambolic" matter.

The comments were again made on Facebook, this time in a group called "London Gatwick Ground Staff". It seems that customers who place boarding cards in their mouths before handing them over and celebrity passengers are on the list of BA staff pet hates.