PAX INADVERTENTLY ALLOWED INTO COCKPIT ON AN ACR FLT.

Narrative

THIS EVENT WAS THE RESULT OF A MISCOM/MISUNDERSTANDING BTWN CAPT (ME) AND FLT ATTENDANTS THAT RESULTED IN A PAX BEING ALLOWED TO ENTER THE COCKPIT OF A TRANSPORT JET WHILE IN CRUISE. ABOUT 1 HR INTO A TRANSCONTINENTAL FLT (EWR TO LAX); ONE OF THE FLT ATTENDANTS CAME INTO THE COCKPIT AND ASKED IF WE KNEW THERE WAS A CELEBRITY ONBOARD. I WROTE A NOTE OF WELCOME TO THE PAX; AND ASKED IF THE FLT ATTENDANT WOULD DELIVER IT TO HER. SHE ASKED IF I WOULD LIKE TO MEET HER. I SAID 'YES; BUT ONLY IF SHE WANTS TO COME UP TO THE COCKPIT LATER.' THEN THE FLT ATTENDANT LEFT. LATER WE HEAR A KNOCK ON THE COCKPIT DOOR AND A DIFFERENT FLT ATTENDANT ENTERS WITH A YOUNG WOMAN IN PLAIN CLOTHES. I REALIZED IT WAS THE ACTRESS WE'D TALKED ABOUT A FEW HRS BEFORE. I WAS SHOCKED; BUT DECIDED I'D BETTER HANDLE THIS SIT AS GRACIOUSLY AS POSSIBLE. JUST AS I WAS ABOUT TO INFORM HER THAT SHE SHOULD RETURN TO HER SEAT; SHE SAID IT BEFORE I HAD A CHANCE TO; AND LEFT THE COCKPIT. LATER; WHEN THE FLT ATTENDANT I HAD ORIGINALLY SPOKEN TO RETURNED TO ASK HOW I LIKED THE YOUNG LADY; I INFORMED HER THAT HAVING A PAX IN THE COCKPIT WAS COMPLETELY ILLEGAL. SHE SAID THAT SHE WAS AWARE OF THAT; BUT THOUGHT I HAD 'AUTH' THE VISIT. I TOLD HER THAT NO CAPT HAS THE AUTH TO VIOLATE AN FAR; AND SHE WAS DEEPLY APOLOGETIC. I MADE THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE FLT ATTENDANT UNDERSTOOD THAT A PAX COMING UP TO THE COCKPIT 'LATER' MEANT AFTER LNDG; NOT INFLT. IN THE FUTURE; I WILL BE CERTAIN TO SPEAK IN MUCH CLRER TERMS SINCE THERE COULD BE A POSSIBILITY OF MISUNDERSTANDING.