Cruise ship dancer slams BA and American Airlines as passengers were forced to sit together

A cruise ship dancer has slammed British Airways and American Airlines over a lack of social distancing after passengers are packed in and forced to sit together despite rows of empty seats.

Alice Percival, from Manchester, was forced to stop working on the vessel, based out of Florida, and return home due to the deadly virus.

The 26-year-old was shocked to discover upon boarding her American Airlines flight from Miami to London Heathrow on Saturday that social distancing measures were not taking place.

She said: ‘The flight was an absolute joke, everyone was sat next to each other.

‘When you are abroad working you don’t necessarily know all the new rules, but my uncle and mother were absolutely furious that we were all sat together.

‘If businesses like American Airlines are expecting the public to take it seriously they need to take it seriously as well.’ 

Footage taken on the flight by the cruise ship dancer shows people sat together in masks, but not two metres apart, as has been advised by experts to stop the spread of the deadly virus.

On Friday March 23 Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a lockdown plan to stem the spread of the coronavirus in the UK as he told the nation to stay at home. 

People are only be allowed to leave their home for ‘very limited’ purposes, such as shopping for basic necessities, one form of exercise a day, and travelling to and from work, if this is absolutely necessary.

If you do need to leave the house you are expected to keep two metres apart, to help prevent transmission of the deadly pandemic. 

Throughout the UK people are being asked to keep two metres (6ft) apart and staying indoors unless for essential travel or food shopping. 

The public are expected to follow this strict new rules, to try and prevent transmission of the virus. 

Miss Percival – who has been a dancer on cruise ships for four years – then had to take a further flight to her home in Manchester with BA, but was once again disappointed the measures implemented by the government to save lives were not being followed.

The three people sat next to each other on the British Airways flight who could not move

She said: ‘A lady on the flight sat next to two strangers asked if she could move seats due to social distancing rules.

‘But the air hostess replied “no, you need to stay in the seat which was given to you for the balance of the flight “

‘This was apparently due to the balance of the flight. But there was a lot of seats free a full row in front and a full row behind.

‘I just don’t understand why they would keep three people sat next to each other.’ 

The footage she takes shows three people sat in a row, despite empty seats surrounding them and other passengers the appropriate distance apart. 

British Airways has been approached for comment.

A spokesman for American Airlines said: ‘American continues to take care of customers during this uncertain time as government-imposed travel restrictions continue to develop. 

‘We continue to operate two flight to/from London Heathrow (LHR). One flight from Miami (MIA) and another flight from Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW).’

He added: ‘In response to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) social distancing guidelines, American will temporarily relax seating policies for customers on most flights and reduce onboard food and beverage service levels. 

‘To encourage social distancing, gate agents may reassign seats to create more space between customers beginning March 24. 

‘Once on board — provided there aren’t any aircraft weight or balance restrictions — customers can move to another seat within their ticketed cabin subject to availability. 

‘American will also block 50 per cent of standard middle seats and all seats adjacent to Flight Attendant jump seats on every flight.’