Date: 202012
Aircraft: Commercial Fixed Wing
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Cruise
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: First Officer; Pilot Not Flying
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Human factors: Communication Breakdown
Anomaly: Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: General None Reported / Taken
Contributing factors: Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors; Company Policy
Primary problem: Environment - Non Weather Related

Narrative: I am writing this report due to the potential this type of incident has to distract aircrew; particularly the pilots.   I believe Purser X; was attempting to implement her own personal mask policy with respect to eating and drinking.  Even though I complied with her excessive demands after our first encounter; she immediately escalated the issue and contacted the flight crew (because I asked her name); thereby creating a potential distraction to the flight crew.Summary of events follows:  A couple of minutes after being served a drink; I was actively drinking and had my mask down.  Purser X; came by only a few minutes later and said I had to put my mask up.  I told her I was actively drinking and I had actually just set the cup down.  She said my mask had to be replaced between each sip.  I identified myself as an employee and told her I disagreed with her interpretation of the policy.  Of note; I have never had a Flight Attendant make such an assertion before.  I told her I was actively drinking and she said; that what I was doing was not allowed and reiterated; I had to put my mask up between sips.  She also immediately threatened to 'Go to the pilots' when I challenged her interpretation. I complied with her dictate; though I believed it to be errant; and put my mask up; dropping it only between sips of my drink thereafter.  Of note; the Flight Attendant deadheading adjacent to me left his mask down for long periods of time while eating and drinking; so it appears he had the same opinion as I did.  Afterwards; when she passed back by; I asked her if she would give me her name as I felt I needed to report this incident; since she threatened to go to the pilots and I considered her interpretation of the policy to be errant.  She refused to give me her name and said she was ' Going to the pilots' now; because I asked her name.   If Airline X intended her rule to be the standard; then I'm certain Airline X would specifically state that mask must be replaced between sips and bites as opposed to actively drinking or eating.  I reread the policy and I still believe her interpretation is errant.  I also checked with the ZZZ Chief Pilot office and they also believe there is nothing to support her interpretation of the mask policy.In summary; I believe her actions; specifically developing her own policy and her abrasive engagement has the high potential of creating additional conflicts with passengers and unnecessary distractions to the cockpit.




Synopsis: First Officer who was deadheading reported a disagreement with a Flight Attendant regarding interpretation of mask policy.